Jason Wehmhoener

""The goal is to pay attention to sensory experience, rather than to your thoughts about the sensory experience," Lazar explains. "For example, if you suddenly hear a noise, you just listen to it rather than thinking about it. If your leg falls asleep, you just notice the physical sensations. If nothing is there, you pay attention to your breathing." Successful meditators get used to not thinking or elaborating things in their mind. Study participants meditated an average of about 40 minutes a day. Some had been doing it for only a year, others for decades. Depth of the meditation was measured by the slowing of breathing rates. Those most deeply involved in the meditation showed the greatest changes in brain structure. "This strongly suggests," Lazar concludes, "that the differences in brain structure were caused by the meditation, rather than that differences in brain thickness got them into meditation in the first place."" - Jason Wehmhoener via Bookmarklet

meditation is not easy for me. - edythe

edythe: I don't think it's particularly easy for anyone, at first, though us multitasking digital info addicts might have it harder than some. I'm told it gets much easier with practice. - Jason Wehmhoener

But I adore my random thoughts... - Michael W. May via twhirl

Michael: of course you do, but they're talking about 40 minutes per day. I think the idea is that by noticing that "you" (and your thoughts) are not "all" you can as a result expand your capacity. - Jason Wehmhoener

Sorry, was a truth, but was being smartass with it. I have great affection for the deep relaxation, pain management, and meditation techniques I was taught by one of only two or three competent Army doctors I dealt with. And there is a comfort beyond the physical in being able to 'not think' for a time. - Michael W. May

we're too freakin' wired and tired to sit still (away from a computer! eeek!) ... com'on!! - Susan Beebe (Santa Claus)

Susan: For some reason, all I can think in response is Tommy Chong saying "mellow, mellow" in Up In Smoke, and then comes Donovan: "Electrical banana Is gonna be a sudden craze Electrical banana Is bound to be the very next phase They call it mellow yellow (Quite rightly) They call me mellow yellow (Quite rightly) They call me mellow yellow" Hmm, I wonder if that reveals a bit much of my multi-colored past? ;-) - Jason Wehmhoener

LOL @ Jason's comment!!! - Susan Beebe (Santa Claus)

Simple Meditation: Sit. Close eyes. Breathe in, count 1. Breathe out, count 2. Continue to 10. Start over at 1. If you count past 10 as soon as you notice, start over at 1. Don't try to "not think." Just try not to dwell on thoughts. Let them enter and exit your mind. Start with 5 minutes. Increase the time as you see fit. Try to do it every day. Warning: You may awaken your inner Buddha. - Tad, better than boredom

I'm gonna go do that right now while I'm thinking about it... - Tad, better than boredom

mwm, army doctors taught you meditation techniques?! - edythe

edythe: you might be surprised at how woo woo the military can be. - Jason Wehmhoener

so is that my inner budda that hangs out with me everyday and tells me to stay on FF forever? - Susan Beebe (Santa Claus)

heh - your inner buddha is the guy who whispers in your ear, "this is all an illusion" - Tad, better than boredom

I find it really challenging to turn my thoughts off. It probably just takes practice huh? - Jason Toney

it scares me, being totally still. then those thoughts i don't want to come around come around... eeee! ;) - edythe

Jason: yes, practice helps. It's not so much "turning thoughts off" as it is not hanging on to them, not chasing them down to the next thought, letting it go. edythe: I wish I understood fear and knew the secret to letting go of it. Fear can have a tight grip sometimes. Perhaps you can learn to observe your fear without elaborating on it? - Jason Wehmhoener