Meditation does it work?

[Vladimir Lenin]

The title is straight forward, do you think that meditation works at what it's aims are:

1. Stress relief
2. More emotional control
3. Healthful purposes
4. Advance spirituality


What do you think?

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

The title is straight forward, do you think that meditation works at what it's aims are:

1. Stress relief
2. More emotional control
3. Healthful purposes
4. Advance spirituality


What do you think?

There's good evidence for the first three. The last one is hard to provide hard evidence for. I'm not "spiritual" (I'm not even sure what it means, it seems to be one of those vague New Age words like "energy" or "vibration"), so I'll leave the answer on No. 4 to those who are.

[Lunar4]

Yeah it does.

[So Much Fire]

Yes, the first three can be supported very easily. Meditation has been a regular practice for me, and it really does serve to calm, and it's actually relieved a couple of headaches (makes sense from a medical viewpoint).

[Richard]

First 3 certainly, number 4 is subjective I suppose but if advancing spirituality is the intention of the meditation then it likely helps with that too.

[Captain Arrrgh!]

I'm floating. Right now.
...and spontaneously combusting.

[Garbarsardar]

Given the well documented relation between stress and the immune system meditation has similar beneficial effects on general health and psychosomatic (or somatoform) disorders as psychotherapy, progressive muscular relaxation and CBT.

As to "spirituality", meh, what was this again?

[removeduser_487563287433]

The title is straight forward, do you think that meditation works at what it's aims are:

1. Stress relief
2. More emotional control
3. Healthful purposes
4. Advance spirituality


What do you think?

1. Yes.
2. Limited
3. Yes
4. No

[chilon]

The title is straight forward, do you think that meditation works at what it's aims are:

1. Stress relief
2. More emotional control
3. Healthful purposes

It is scientifically proven to work.

Zen and the Brain

[Pyrrus]

I have to say after reading Dharma bums ive really started seeing buddism, particularly intellectual zen buddism and what Gary Snyder calls 'active buddism', as a truly effective attitude to better one's self and life. Ive never tried meditiation but it is something I would like to try.

[Denny Crane!]

The first three have concrete answers as have been given as to the fourth:

If you class spirituality as being a more calm reasoned balanced person then yes.

The meaning of the word is very subjective and I have always taken it to relate to me personally in terms of mental health and sanity, how connected and intimate I can be with those I hold close, how well you grow as a person and relate to the world around you. In many ways being spiritual can be as simple as striving to better yourself as a person.

This isn't me forcing a meaning on the word that I like, but is influenced by some eastern thought on their concepts of spirituality.

[Vladimir Lenin]

You see I specifically termed spirtuality so loosely. Because if I provided a strict definition, people would simply say no.

Leaving it loosely allows room for interpretation.

I personally believe that all four are yes answers.

Also a question to those that said it provided the first three and that it was documented, Do you meditate? If not, Why don't you?

[Cyphon88]

I've seriously though about trying to take up meditation for the first 3 reasons. No idea how or where to start though. Any head's up would be appreciated.

As for spiritual, i agree with what Seneca means. I'm an atheist yet sometimes i cannot help feel there is a spiritual aspect to people as well, perhaps its just wellness of mind and acceptance of yourself and all your functions. Who knows?

[joerd9]

A definite yes to all four, with a deliberate reluctance to make a clear definition on #4, for it is simply too individual a thing.