Meditation on WS

Bridgewater's Ray Dalio calls Transcendental Meditation the single biggest influence on his life. Meditation is something I've seen many on the internet vouch for but never tried for myself, so I'm curious to see what you think. Here's why Dalio advocates TM to his Bridgewater employees:


I did it because it's the greatest gift I could give anyone — it brings about equanimity, creativity and peace.

What are your experiences with meditation? Is it something you'd recommend, especially to someone who has ample time for it?

Here's the article

 

I think there are studies that show that meditation can help with stress/focus/etc. Unfortunately it's still perceived as semi-esoteric and hence not taken very serious.

I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. See my Blog & AMA
 

Meditation is something I've always wished I had more time to do, but never gotten around to doing when I have more time.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, post threads about how to do it on WSO.
 

I have tons of time to meditate - holistic career preparation.

This site, after you skip the intro, gives you an easy to understand break down between TM and MM. http://workouttrends.com/transcendental-vs-mindfulness-meditation

"Every experience has its level of physiology, and so unbounded awareness has its own level of physiology which can be measured. Every aspect of life is integrated and connected with every other phase. When we talk of scientific measurements, it does not take away from the spiritual experience. We are not responsible for those times when spiritual experience was thought of as metaphysical. Everything is physical. Consciousness is the product of the functioning of the brain. Talking of scientific measurements is no damage to that wholeness of life which is present everywhere and which begins to be lived when the physiology is taking on a particular form. This is our understanding about spirituality: it is not on the level of faith --it is on the level of blood and bone and flesh and activity. It is measurable."

-Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

A good video that walks you through MM is here :

TL;DW: focus on your natural breath, feel it flow in and out. Dont try to control it just breath, as you do when you are not thinking about it. Don't try to make your mind a blank slate, or you will fail. Acknowledge any thoughts, then bring your focus back to your breathing. Focus on your breathing.

**How is my grammar? Drop me a note with any errors you see!**
 

F*** Maharish Yogi, f*** Gurudev and all the esoteric Indian monks advocating TM or some 'novel' technique to meditate. I was a student at one of their schools - as in a formal student. Some of my experiences there were forced meditations. When I joined, all students newly joining with me were given a unique "mantra" to chant and focus on during meditation, as part of what one could call an indoctrination. Advocates of TM would tell you that this mantra is to be kept secret and blah blah, but sooner, we discovered that the mantras were handed out randomly, sorta similar to how checkout counter waiting lines work in a supermarket. We had pictures of guys floating in air and people meditating, along with pictures of Hindu goddesses in our classrooms, instead of the usual gamut of classroom paraphernalia. Our lunch breaks were essentially divided as 'eating time' and 'meditation time'.

Soon, all students figured out that this was just an elaborate hoax by the entire organization. The school was just another ruse by the organization to obtain funds for expansion (profit much??). They even tried to force some of the students' parents' hand to obtain more funds through all sorts of extra classes and (pressured) 'donations'. They try to inculcate a cult-like devotion to MMY, so that they can essentially proselytize their weird practices, TM being one of them. Some teachers even confessed that they were sent to India for extra training in teaching TM. I mean, it's one thing if TM mentors teach you; it's another when your physics or math teacher begins teaching TM more than the core subject. Not to mention that the MMY foundation was just an elaborate ruse, as other Indian godmen and the Hare Krishnas do, to take others' wealth for themselves and stash it away in a secret account.

At the end of the day, 'meditation' can simply be done by focusing intently on any natural sound, while blocking out other thoughts. Though I have found more productivity focusing on verses from classics such as AoW, Aurelius and Clausewitz. Other friends of mine have gained more by simply closing their eyes and listening to classical, military or modern instrumental music (even think Lindsey Stirling types). Perhaps the wisest technique was handed to me recently by an MD about to retire - visualize your dreams and ambitions, and block everything else out. Even Gordon Gekko's chest thumping would work better than 10 minutes of TM for most guys around here (judging from their previous posts).

tldr: Don't listen to hacks who 'innovate' new meditation techniques - there's almost always one popping out every month. Focus on what your brain can best work with, the environment around you and defocus from all other kinds of distractions.

GoldenCinderblock: "I keep spending all my money on exotic fish so my armor sucks. Is it possible to romance multiple females? I got with the blue chick so far but I am also interested in the electronic chick and the face mask chick."
 

But look at it from this perspective. What if meditating for 10 minutes helped you to get done another 1 hour of quality work? The alternative to not meditating and doing 1 hour and 10 minutes of no the best quality work with higher possibility for error in whatever you are doing.

**How is my grammar? Drop me a note with any errors you see!**
 
BatMasterson:

Dalio is correct in recommending it. Form what I understand his preferred moments of doing it are while sitting in traffic.

Depending on where you live, that may actually expand your life expectancy significantly.
I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. See my Blog & AMA
 

This. This. This.

I am a fan of hearing tips and tricks that people use to get to life, but cannot stand how some people pass meditation, reading five newspapers a day, taking a brisk walk at lunch, etc. off as if that has to do with their success. Ray Dalio is successful because he's smart and started in an industry before it matured (i.e. took some risk), not because he meditates.

 
Sil:

This. This. This.

I am a fan of hearing tips and tricks that people use to get to life, but cannot stand how some people pass meditation, reading five newspapers a day, taking a brisk walk at lunch, etc. off as if that has to do with their success. Ray Dalio is successful because he's smart and started in an industry before it matured (i.e. took some risk), not because he meditates.

True, but it's just easier for people to point to certain habits and credit success to those than to just admit it can be as simple as busting ones ass and taking risks.

I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. See my Blog & AMA
 

What people call meditation is actually self induced hypnosis. It still works to calm your nerve but there's nothing spiritual and transcendental about it. It's all in the mind and your brain believes what it wants to believe.

Absolute truths don't exist... celebrated opinions do.
 
kayz08:

What people call meditation is actually self induced hypnosis. It still works to calm your nerve but there's nothing spiritual and transcendental about it. It's all in the mind and your brain believes what it wants to believe.

Care to elaborate? Seem to know more

I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. See my Blog & AMA
 

The "meditation" hype has taken over the Western world and some "gurus" have been able to capitalise on this. Imagine if you had no clue what meditation was and I told you, sit down and let your mind be quite. Do you think you'd be able to reach that state? How would you know what the state feels like? But if someone told you what it's like, how to do it, you'd end up just imitating them. People reach that "astral plane" because they've been told to.

Food for thought: How come people in the same church tend to speak in tounges(holy language) in the same style but differently when compared to another church?

Absolute truths don't exist... celebrated opinions do.
 

I started using the headspace app everyday about a year ago now. Obviously I've made other changes in my life for the better but I can say that doing 10-30 mins of meditation everyday makes me feel calmer, I'm able to inhale longer and exhale longer which then helps me control my heart rate while working out. It makes me feel better and more in control of my thoughts and body. I wouldn't attribute my whole success over the past year to just meditation but it's definitely made me 10% happier than I was before. Link to the book 10% happier by Dan Harris: https://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works/dp/0062265423

 
UnbreakableGlass:

I started using the headspace app everyday about a year ago now. Obviously I've made other changes in my life for the better but I can say that doing 10-30 mins of meditation everyday makes me feel calmer, I'm able to inhale longer and exhale longer which then helps me control my heart rate while working out. It makes me feel better and more in control of my thoughts and body. I wouldn't attribute my whole success over the past year to just meditation but it's definitely made me 10% happier than I was before. Link to the book 10% happier by Dan Harris: https://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actual...

Which programs from headspace have you used?

I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. See my Blog & AMA
 

I started with the ones when you first open it - take 10. Then I moved on to just trying random series. The performance packs are all pretty good and I also liked the relationship packs. I think once you get into a rhythm it's more valuable to find what works for you just by trying them out because everyone needs something different with meditation.

 

I'm personally a big fan of meditation; I can honestly say it's changed my life. Meditation has helped to get me through some difficult times, simply by helping me to focus on what I can control. I've noticed a change in my demeanor, I don't sweat the small stuff anymore, and I've learned to keep things in perspective, all while maintaining a level head.

Would highly recommend.

Array
 

I too can vouch directly regarding the benefits of meditation.

When I take the time to do so, I see a drastic improvement in my mood and ability to think with clarity / not become stressed over the little things.

Here is something to consider. Meditation was founded between the 6th and 5th century BC, which was over 2,000 years ago. For the past 7-8 thousand years, users of meditation have spoken highly about it's positive effects.

Aside from drinking water, breathing air, eating, and having sex - tell me a single other thing that has been around for 2+ thousand years and primarily receives positive feedback.

Edit time duration changed because I am an idiot

 

Never really gotten the time for it before I made time for it this year, it really does clear your mind and help your focus. I'm putting in the same amount of effort I've always put in to work, but getting much better results just because I have clear focus.

 

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