Meditation- Does it work?

**Vladimir Lenin** · October 14, 2008, 02:44 AM

Recently I've started meditating and I've noticed I'm a lot calmer, much more relaxed, and a tad bit more creative. Not to mention feeling much closer to God.

Do you think there are any spiritual or health benefits to meditation?

**Kiljaden** · October 14, 2008, 02:45 AM

Depends on what you are trying to get out of it.

Does it give you an opportunity to calm yourself, attain a state of mind where deep entrancing thought or simple pleasurable emptiness is possible? Of course.

**Zuwxiv** · October 14, 2008, 02:47 AM

Certainly doesn't hurt. Could just be the psychological effect of thinking it will work, but it makes 'common' sense.

I don't regularly do it, but the times I have were rewarding. It's relaxing and calming - it doesn't have to be religious at all, it's just like a short nap for me.

**Kiljaden** · October 14, 2008, 02:49 AM

I positively assert that God does not exist; I don't believe the claims of afterlife, spirits, or anything supernatural. But I meditate with positive results.

**Vladimir Lenin** · October 14, 2008, 02:57 AM

Hmmm....

So most people it seems do get benefit....

Note: Allow me to apologize for every "Law of Attraction" and other self-help Google ad you will see for this entire thread.

**Bovril** · October 14, 2008, 06:41 AM

Different claims about about what meditation can do exist. I doubt anyone here is going to argue that it can make you levitate, but some people do. Obviously relaxation, certain types of breathing, and even the making of certain sounds have measurable physiological effects.
The only case in which I would argue avoiding meditation is in people who have extremely poor concentration and uncontrolable unpleasant thoughts due to mental illness.

**Hand of Nergal** · October 14, 2008, 07:22 AM

Yes, I believe it does. You can make fun of me all you want, but on several different occassions I had an epiphany type of moment, I had what many might call visions, waking dreams, I even read someone's mind once.
At moments like those I began to undertsnad why people believed they could interpret bird signs and read bones, when one is in a really good meditative state one feels like they can interpret the suttlest change in nature, assign reason to things that are mysterious, and have a deeper understanding of trivial things that we often take for granted or overlook.
The feeling goes away after a while, unfortunately, I think the Hindus call it the Maya, the world of illusions that blind us from true enlightenment.

**Dayman** · October 14, 2008, 07:23 AM

Define "closer to God".

I think it can help someone calm down and relax them, that's for sure.

**Jams79** · October 14, 2008, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by Boeing

I think it can help someone calm down and relax them, that's for sure.

Agreed.

**Aldgarkalaughskel** · October 14, 2008, 10:36 AM

Funny poll, because whether meditation works or not is out of question, the only question is: are you able to use it?

**Bongfu** · October 14, 2008, 11:09 AM

I have been in martial arts since I was nearly six years of age. With my life long instructor I have learned much more than just ways to defend myself and others. He has helped me find myself, and much of that was through daily meditation.

While I do not have much time for it anymore, I do meditate at least twice a week. It really calms your body and focuses your mind. It is especially useful if you have an important project or idea your working on.

I suggest that you get with a yoga instructor or a martial arts instructor that knows how to meditate properly. They will give you basic guidelines to really help your body get in the meditative state. With daily meditation you will see that your mind and body feels less fatigued and you are more energetic and focused.

So in my opinion, yes meditation works, but only if you do it properly.

**hellas1** · October 14, 2008, 09:28 PM

Hi all,

There is much confusion AND ridiculousness regarding "meditation."

There are MANY forms of meditation from Buddhist to Sufi to Jain to Advaita Vedanta to Raja yog to Esoteric meditational systems, i.e. Theosophy & Anthroposophy AND Eastern Orthodoxy via Hesychiasm.

What are you specifically talking about?

I, for example, have been initiated into the Light & Sound teachings and was initiated into Dzogchen by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu. Not to mention that I study Jiddu Krishnamurti's "Choiceless Awareness" meditation.

Please elaborate poigniantly and precisely, I'll be glad to contribute and share.

hellas1

**Vladimir Lenin** · October 14, 2008, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by hellas1

Hi all,

There is much confusion AND ridiculousness regarding "meditation."

There are MANY forms of meditation from Buddhist to Sufi to Jain to Advaita Vedanta to Raja yog to Esoteric meditational systems, i.e. Theosophy & Anthroposophy AND Eastern Orthodoxy via Hesychiasm.

What are you specifically talking about?

I, for example, have been initiated into the Light & Sound teachings and was initiated into Dzogchen by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu. Not to mention that I study Jiddu Krishnamurti's "Choiceless Awareness" meditation.

Please elaborate poigniantly and precisely, I'll be glad to contribute and share.

hellas1

I generally do restful and introspective and have found a lot of results. I don't know what tradition it is.

**jankren** · October 14, 2008, 09:41 PM

The mind controls the body.

As the saying goes, "Those who cant fight worry die young."

**Playfishpaste** · October 14, 2008, 09:43 PM

Depends on what you mean by "works".

It benefits your health because of the placebo effect removing stress.

**Tiberius Tosi** · October 14, 2008, 09:45 PM

Supposedly many people in the Army have started using a modified version of an old samurai meditation to treat PTSD, so I guess it must be rewarding to some people in very positive ways. I have never really meditated myself (never can relax enough, thoughts are always racing too much) so I can't really judge though.

**Vladimir Lenin** · October 14, 2008, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by Tiberius Tosi

Supposedly many people in the Army have started using a modified version of an old samurai meditation to treat PTSD, so I guess it must be rewarding to some people in very positive ways. I have never really meditated myself (never can relax enough, thoughts are always racing too much) so I can't really judge though.

Hmmmm that's rather intresting, I'll have to go look for the results on that.

**Aonghus G. Friedhold** · October 14, 2008, 10:32 PM

Yes, but not like some miracle. It helps me sort my thoughts and sleep well, but that's because of the calm it brings. I don't get anything nearing a religious experience from it.

**Roman Knight** · October 15, 2008, 05:39 AM

While it does seem like the kind of thing where you can disregard it as yet another naturalistic new age fad, it does work. I can't remember the exact thing, but it's something like 1 hour meditation = 3 hour sleep.

**Admiral Piett** · October 15, 2008, 05:44 AM

Everyone meditates, everyone just has different forms of it. Some listen to music. Some pray to their god. Some knit. Meditation is simply a state of mind in which there is heightened concentration and relaxation. There is nothing known to man that is more healing to body and mind. It is a heightened state of awareness where you delve beyond normal capacities in a sense. It's not something that takes effort, just patience. Yoda was right.