How meditation can change your life and mind | Sam Harris, Jon Kabat-Zinn & more | Big Think

Change Your Behavior with Adorable Rewards - and Pavlovian Shocks |
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Whether you're hatching "new-you" resolutions or need to end a bad habit, there's a world of transformative wellness tech at your fingertips. Though some of it may shock you - literally.Willow Group, a company that aims to leverage technology to bring people peace of mind, is led by CEO Nichol Bradford. She is the first to admit that nothing replaces human connection, but the other side of the coin is that we don’t live in an all-or-nothing world; there can be a suite of tools to help people cope in their lives. If your loved ones can support you in breaking a bad habit, for example, that’s excellent. You could meditate and read to expand your understanding of what’s beneath your bad habit. Or, another tool in the box is the Pavlock.
What’s that? The Pavlock is an example of transformative technology that are coming into the market to help improve people’s lives. It’s a bracelet or cuff you wear, you can select a bad habit you want to break, and when you engage in that bad habit, the Pavlock will… electric shock you. It sounds like a gimmick, but this device works on our reptilian brains, creating an aversion that becomes associated with the habit you want to quit. There’s also a toned-down vibration setting that can promote awareness and mindfulness without all the voltage.
The Pavlock is a great example of transformative tech because it has a counterpart that helps you reach the same goal by a very different road. If the Pavlock is disciplinary, the MOTI works on positive incentives. It’s a small device that sits on your desk or table, and every time you engage in a good behavior you’d like to do more of, you touch it and it blinks colors, vibrates and coos. That’s pretty strange, but it turns out that on a deep level, humans love it. If you’re going to bed early, going for a short run, cooking dinner instead of getting take out, you press it for reinforcement, and it accumulates rewards for your positive action.
In transformative tech, the limit is our imagination, and in remembering that you choose your level of involvement. Nothing beats human connection, but a few science-backed bots can be empowering in achieving your personal and professional goals.
Nichol Bradford is the author of The Sisterhood.
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NICHOL BRADFORD:
Nichol Bradford, CEO/Founder, Willow. Nichol Bradford is fascinated by human potential, and has always been interested in how technology can help individuals expand beyond their perceived mental limits to develop and transform themselves to the highest level. She spent the last decade exploring these ideas in the online game industry, serving as a senior executive with responsibility for strategy, operations and marketing for major brands that include: Activision/Blizzard, Disney, and Vivendi.
Most recently she managed the operations of Blizzard properties, including World of Warcraft, in China. Now, as the CEO of the Willow Group, Nichol is applying same skills to the realm of elevating psychological well-being. Willow is a transformative technology company focused on employing rigorous scientific research to develop training protocols, hardware and software that can produce a reliable and positive change in the human experience.
Nichol has an MBA from Wharton School of Business in Strategy, a BBA in Marketing from the University of Houston, and is a graduate of Singularity University’s Graduate Studies Program 2015. She is a fellow of the British American Project, currently serves on the board of the Project 375/Brandon Marshall Foundation for Mental Health, and is a former term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She is the author of The Sisterhood, and an amatuer boxer.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Nichol Bradford: People often ask me what I think the limitations are for transformative technology. And I would say that I don’t think anything replaces sitting down one-on-one with someone that you love or care about. There’s nothing that replaces that. But we don’t live in an only one thing world. I really believe in having a suite of tools that we use. And so when you can’t be one-on-one with your loved one and you are forced to be at distance then to have things that support you in that. And in terms of other limitations I think a lot of the limitations are really our imagination because it’s out of our imaginations that we develop products. It isn’t really a coincidence that the first flip phones look like the communicators on Star Trek.
Read the full transcript at bigthink.com/videos/nichol-br...

[@bigthink]

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[@priyakulkarni9583]

Why is the consciousness is so weak and transient and easily removed by mind? Why mind is so powerful and it suppresses conscious awareness. Is mind part of entropy and inevitable? Why consciousness is so elusive if it is so ubiquitous?!?!?

[@PulinAgrawal]

Hey Big Think, Big fan here. There is a major flaw in these kinds of videos where you take a topic and bombard us with a lot of people talking about it. There are a lot of problems with this format. 1. Long videos 2. Lack of coherent narrative 3. Frequently changing faces make it disorienting. Please re analyze if this is a useful format

[@edzardpiltz6348]

How can we know if anything existence outside of or apart from the sense impressions arising in conciseness?

[@edzardpiltz6348]

Or, what is a self, where is its location and how does it come about?

[@edzardpiltz6348]

What it's the origin of conciseness? Where does it aside form?

[@plumeater1]

“We suffer more in imagination than in reality.” - Seneca

[@helenamcginty4920]

He obviously never suffered from hard work. The sort that wears your body out so every movement causes pain.

[@shyaaammeneen63]

@@helenamcginty4920 Reduce overthinking. Be careful what you feed your mind. Avoid comparing yourself with others, avoid storing bottled up emotions, reduce watching negative social media and avoid constipation as it affects the mind. Your breathing is closely related to the brain [mind] and gives relief from stress and overthinking. For a relaxed mind observe the sensations of your incoming--outgoing breath at the entrance of the nostrils and within the nostrils for 10-15 minutes or more. You can sit on a chair or lay down anywhere, be as still as possible, eyes closed but no deep breathing. Don’t fight your thoughts. Make it a lifetime habit to observe your breath before sleep, when travelling, when reading, at the workplace etc, if needed with eyes open. Best wishes--Counsellor.

[@krishkid]

Science will ground us as a species so we don't get all loony.

[@YouMustBeMadReplyingToMe]

@@helenamcginty4920 The father of stoic philosophy and one of Seneca’s influences was a literal slave.

[@SamplePerspectiveImporta-hq3ip]

​@@helenamcginty4920You are Exhibit A my friend.

[@QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“If you are depressed you are living in the past if you are anxious you are living in the future, if you are at peace, you are living in the present.” -Lao Tzu

[@freerideziege6047]

I heard that a lot in my life and I can say that this is just a nice sentence that make YOU feel better when telling that to someone with real depression or anxiety. Please dont. Thats called "Gaslighting".

[@QuestionEverythingButWHY]

@@freerideziege6047 been there myself and also seen so many. Both depression and gaslighting. It was relevant in our cases. But obviously I cannot speak for everyone. I just might be ignorant on this one.

[@freerideziege6047]

@@QuestionEverythingButWHY At second thaught, it might make a difference where the deprssion comes from. Definitly not helpfull in combination with autism.

[@QuestionEverythingButWHY]

@@freerideziege6047 yeah I agree. I've also heard that some depression are genetic or biological.

[@glamdrag]

@@freerideziege6047 Sharing useful information on the subject of depression with someone who is experiencing a state of depression isn't inherently gaslighting. You'll need a lot more context to determine what is and what isn't gaslighting.

[@jerryjones7293]

Accepting that I am not my thoughts has lifted and sustained me from depression.

[@InnokentyShuvalov]

You are.

[@Mel-os3ld]

Yes 💜

[@kiranraveendran2437]

Ask yourself, is the observer is the observed.

[@missbevpowers]

but you are.❤

[@ajwiebusch212]

Do we cease to exist when asleep? We're not our thoughts people. We are consciousness observing our thoughts.

[@coelhoigor]

The irony of watching this video while scrolling through the comment section.

[@sfarfalicaa]

The irony of also replying to comments! :D

[@tubular1020]

lol

[@theemperor4901]

THANK YOU FOR THIS

[@erlinggaratun6726]

personally I practice Mindlessness. My mantra is 'huh?'. Works wonders - every day. Especially these days. I'm not focused on efficiency or productivity. I'm simply happy. And I do go lucky. No seminars needed, no book to buy. No video to suffer your way through. Go ahead and try. It might set you free :)

[@chasevondeilen3143]

You feel caught

[@jsnel9185]

It's been over a year of meditation and mindfullness practices for me. It has changed my life. Not circumstances, but how I relate to them. It's not just external, its within me. The things that used to make me angry or frustrated can roll right over me. I am no longer a slave to my mind in a way I was before. I am grateful.

[@petagonkyi]

“The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered "Man! Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

[@DavidsonLoops]

it was an awesome answer to a bad question

[@sharongillesp]

Wow!

[@RamSingh-lg2fe]

I don't think it was the Dalai Lama.

[@vineetverma8430]

Truth

[@johnlawrence2757]

Ram Singh quite so ! Not at all given to long complex statement, the DL, especially on quasi spiritual subjects more suited to the DAILY EXPRESS . More likely to be shocked by the price of rooms at the Park Lane Hilton

[@ronjoberts79]

I enjoy washing dishes, looking into my love's eyes, sweeping, skateboarding, carving spoons, walking down the sidewalk, strolling through the woods, drawing, petting dogs and cats, watching weather systems move the clouds around, building and watching a fire, scanning the stars with no feeling of separation. All these, and more slow down time for me.

[@johncoe6304]

Nice brother!

[@Mel-os3ld]

Absolutely.. I’m just at the stage where I’m getting a pay off.. I’ve been in a very sad state for many years, lockdown was the final straw, I felt like I was in sinking mud .. and I was convinced I had other illnesses in the body.. anyways thank goodness I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, and got some changes for the better.. it’s amazing, it’s all starting to make sense!! 💜

[@intensedays4965]

@@Mel-os3ld aaa

[@intensedays4965]

@@Mel-os3ld aaa

[@intensedays4965]

@@Mel-os3ld a

[@lungacirylntenga1676]

I was starting to lose myself,then I begun mediating just for 10 minutes,two times per day and the anxiety dispersed.

[@leonorlizardo5867]

I started having panic attacks, then suffered free-floating anxiety about 2 yrs. ago. I began to meditate 20 minutes daily and have banished them. Keep meditating and sending light to you.

[@AndreS-ie7if]

Leonor Lizardo what is free floating anxiety ?

[@oolala53]

You are very lucky. I have meditated much longer (way more than 10 minutes twice a day) for a longer time (months at a time during multiple years) and I still get many anxious thoughts on and off all day long about unpleasant situations from the far past and recent. Not asking for anyone to fix this. Just reporting.

[@AadhilRizwan]

@@oolala53 maybe you are doing it wrong

[@ramadevigokarla625]

@@AadhilRizwan or may be I doesn't have to work with everyone

[@JT-vt5kk]

As someone who has meditated for thousands of hours during the last 45 years, I would say this conversation was amazing! Yet it skirted something which has been central to my (and millions of others') experience in meditation from almost the beginning: a sense of Oneness, a connectedness with all beings and even non-living matter and space. In my view this is the actual source of compassion, as well as peace and, from peace, joy. Oneness, called by many names around the world, is a central tenet/experiential basis of most (all?) mystical traditions, which are grounded in meditation and other contemplative (mindfulness) practices. I don't know why this is scrubbed from these discussions, although I assume it's because some people might feel scared of losing their self/ego (which is the point!), be critical of perceived woo-woo New Ageism (which it predates by many thousands of years), or feel that it is less "scientific" than EKG results, etc. As to the scientific issue, yes, at higher levels of abstraction (e.g. love, mind, spiritual experience) we have no clear comprehension of what or where these are, beyond some physiological correlates; I doubt we ever will, because they are larger than the thoughts which are considering them. We can point to the scientific basis of the experience of Oneness, which was elucidated decades ago by Fritjof Capra (The Tao of Physics) and others in the physics/chemistry realm, and in the biological/ecological sphere by James Lovelock (the Gaia hypothesis) and others. I believe if we don't make the Oneness experience--the root of compassion--the basis of our efforts in mindfulness, then we are simply promoting more efficient action that is ultimately meaningless. I appreciate what Dan Harris says about meditation becoming an accepted component of health like exercise and good nutrition. Let's not suck out the essence of it--as I would argue we've done to some degree with yoga, turning it into exercise--but rather embrace the ancient core of it. Perhaps by celebrating Oneness we can overcome our greed and aversion to actually experience a Love which encompasses the natural and human world, instead of destroying both.

[@Gaze73]

That's almost 3 hours a day, doesn't that get boring? There must be diminishing returns when meditating so much.

[@robbiepaterson5072]

incredibly powerful. I stand with you!

[@JT-vt5kk]

@@Gaze73 I've almost never meditated for 3 hours consecutively. Half an hour in the morning seems to set me straight. Longer is, in my experience, more joyful, but if you do it every day, the cumulative effect of a half hour a day (AM) is the critical mass. Not sure what others think.

[@Gaze73]

@@JT-vt5kk 30 minutes a day equals 8212 hours in 45 years. So you must've done a lot more to get to 40k hours.

[@JT-vt5kk]

@@Gaze73 Thanks, not sure how my math was off that much. I edited that. I think after a few thousand hours, it probably doesn't matter, at least if you have a consistent practice.

[@steveb4400]

I've been meditating for about six years (approx, 620 hours) and will continue for the rest of my life. There are too many positives to mention but I will tell you that it really quiets the chatter in your head. Some people have laughed at me when I talk of my meditation and I tell them they do not know what they are missing. Meditate!

[@harpreetweston]

Agreed mediating along with deep breathing exercises box breathing , double inhale long exhale my favorited , truly miracle ppl are missing out

[@Kaynos]

Try this and see what happen, it's from Echart Tolle : When you sit down to meditate ask yourself this question : I wonder what my next thought will be ?" Watch what happen.

[@basiachodanionek9111]

I can't find any thoughts????

[@Kaynos]

@@basiachodanionek9111 It's nice eh ?

[@TheMcKenzieHaus]

Oh!!! That’s almost scary lmfao lol oh man lol deff doing that

[@lambolim2178]

Awesome man appreciated it

[@vineetverma8430]

Actually what happens?? From doing this

[@moonsolpurpose8221]

I think the key is to remind yourself when meditating, once your thoughts start to wander, is to remind yourself there is absolutely nothing you can do in the moment other than to just sit and breath.

[@gribwitch]

"Breathe", not breath. Breath is the result OF when you breathe. Different things.

[@moonsolpurpose8221]

@@gribwitch thanks

[@vangogh2486]

@@gribwitch thanks

[@CyclicC]

@@gribwitch thanks

[@gribwitch]

@@CyclicC You're all welcome. I like to correct spelling mistakes and get everyone to do it right. Though some people don't like it !

[@riririri7957]

I started meditation about 3 months ago and it is one of the best decision in my life!

[@nowornevernever5860]

wish I could say that soon

[@gribwitch]

How so ? Have you contacted God or spirit ? If so how did it work ? Do they speak in words or do you have to subjectively interpret ?

[@riririri7957]

@@gribwitch huh? No? I just focus on flow of my breath and it help me to being present. Being present does make a different.

[@keuzl]

@@gribwitch LMAO

[@gribwitch]

@@riririri7957 How was it ( quote ) "the best decision of my life" ? Did you make contact with any entities, angels, guides, God Himself ? If so, how did they communicate ? Did you understand them ? Serious questions. More details please.

[@fleurosea]

To start a habit do the activity for 2 minutes. This amount of time is small enough that there is pretty much no cost to doing 2 minutes, if your busy or can’t be bothered etc 2 minutes is easy to convince yourself to do.... and 2 minutes is better than no minutes 👍👍👍

[@Mel-os3ld]

👍😊

[@sofimazi555]

😘

[@motomojo9229]

Yes! It’s easy to stare at your phone for 2 minutes but just as easy to meditate. But I find it ironic sayojg that as I’m watching a 28 minute long video on it lol

[@craigphillips6308]

Meditation is simply about, 'allowing the present moment to be as it is." This is the definition as given by Eckhart Tolle, and it certainly resonates with me.

[@jamesshaw3850]

I love simple is, simple does explanations. Thank you.

[@sspbrazil]

Eckhart Tolle doesn’t have kids. Lol.

[@bobobrien8968]

Then there’s guided meditation. Or focusing on an ethereal point, etc.. Dr. Joe Dispenza has excellent material on how to overcome the self.

[@danielwalker6436]

sure, takes work! And not chasing judgements.

[@multicrogamer]

@ok joy Meditation is not an experience, it's an action which you perform.

[@dilayumurtaci2292]

The best video in which they explain what is meditation, scientifically, thank you! I wish daily dose of meditation for humanity.

[@jakesnake6842]

How do u meditate

[@govelasco]

Sam Harris is a white nationalist.

[@longfellowcomedy]

@@govelasco 😂

[@brentstafford6289]

@@govelasco you should go meditate

[@uncletrashero]

@@govelasco what a sad existence to be you

[@pantepember]

3:37 ".. rather than merely feel an emotion like anger, we spend our time thinking of all the reasons why we have every right to be angry."

[@goodenoughpsychiatrist]

that was my favorite line as well.

[@actionforanimals4862]

What is difficult to explain is that meditation help you to understand that just because you have the emotion of anger or jealousy or envy, etc, doesn't mean that you have to be those emotions. In other words, you don't have to express anger, jealousy, envy, etc. You are capable of watching your mind be angry without expressing anger, etc. You are capable of being aware that you are angry w/o being angry, w/o attaching yourself to the anger or any other emotion. Just acknowledge it and let it go by.

[@gribwitch]

Huh ? How can you "watch" your mind ? You'd have to be outside of yourself to truly do that. And we're not. You ARE your mind ( in a sense ). You require its constant use to stay alive. Even reading this means you are using that mind to interpret it. You can't "turn it off" at will.

[@leearmitage6694]

Iv been meditation 🧘‍♀️ for 3 month it’s scared me I feel soooo much calmer and I’m never angry I talk calmly if people annoy me 😱💕 fuckkng love it

[@nsanenthembrane]

I can’t wait to be at this level haha I wanna feel less annoyed by people too

[@sofimazi555]

but you still fucking love it... don't be surprised when you explode for some reason...

[@shyaaammeneen63]

Very informative video. One more suggestion. Reduce overthinking. Be careful what you feed your mind. Avoid comparing yourself with others, avoid storing bottled up emotions, reduce watching negative social media and avoid constipation as it affects the mind. Your breathing is closely related to the brain [mind] and gives relief from stress and overthinking. For a relaxed mind observe the sensations of your incoming--outgoing breath at the entrance of the nostrils and within the nostrils for 10-15 minutes or more. You can sit on a chair or lay down anywhere, be as still as possible, eyes closed but no deep breathing. Don’t fight your thoughts. Make it a lifetime habit to observe your breath before sleep, when travelling, when reading, at the workplace etc, if needed with eyes open. Best wishes--Counsellor.

[@gribwitch]

Meditation is overrated. If I had ambitions to be a concert pianist for example, but lost my hands in an accident, feeling in a relaxed state of mind through meditation is not going to restore my hands and enable me to fulfil that dream. It won't take away the bitterness I'd feel.

[@goldie9731]

@@gribwitchIt depends what meditation you do. Mindfulness as spoken about in this video is not the mindfulness as taught by the Buddha. Buddhist ‘Right mindfulness’ is at the service of overcoming suffering, at the service of the other steps on the path. Buddhist practice is really one of effort. Right mindfulness serves right effort, right effort is the process of preventing and removing unwholesome mental states (five hindrances) and arising and cultivating wholesome mental states (factors of awakening). Right mindfulness is not the process of watching our thoughts/mental states and letting them come and go without attachment, it’s what we do with them with right effort that begins to shape our experience for the better and provides mastery of the emotions. If when focusing on the breath a negative thought/feeling arises then mindfulness should not only notice the thought/feeling but also identify it as unwanted, it is then to be removed (including the tension that arises in the body along with it) and focus returned to the breath (or a positive feeling and then breath). If a positive thought/feeling arises, that feeling (love, joy, energy, feeling light, serenity) is to be cultivated whilst the thinking is again replaced with focus on the breath. Peace

[@rammohanv]

🙏 I am grateful that the ancient wisdom of India and Hinduism ( yoga and meditation) is being appreciated and adapted all over the world now...

[@jamielight7185]

Its also in the Bible.

[@KishoreRana567]

@@jamielight7185 yeah right

[@jamielight7185]

@@KishoreRana567 lol

[@DatDoodman]

Literally almost every culture has it tbh…… native Americans to Muslims and many others this ain’t new

[@Sherryn_ne]

India - hindu and buddhist have it first before bible though. They are a lot older than bible as well. Hinduism can dating back to 10000 years old, buddhism is 2565 years old while christianity is just 2022 years old and copy meditation philosophy from Asia.

[@KeenanReimerWatts]

I learned how to be present a long time ago, just by being a ball in the void. Nothing to do, nowhere to go, just hanging out. It's a very mindful life, being the earth.

[@wsl3119]

Awesome explanation behind the science of mediation. Teachings from Buddhism and Hinduism explain the process of meditation in great depth. At a pure beginner state, it can expand attention,help deal with stress and increase compassion. However, as for the “Olympic” level meditators. They can tap into our collective consciousness and understand concepts normally people wouldn’t be able to comprehend. Most of which science has been unable to prove, just like our fascination with death. My son has ADHD and after just a month or so of mediation, stopped taking meditation completely. 30 minutes per day would be optimal but practice is essential, just like going to the gym. May peace and compassion be with you all🙏 Btw 62,000 hours in meditation adds up to 3.5 years non stop or 84 years if you meditate an hour a day😅

[@jacquelinedonath4605]

🙏

[@ujjwal663]

The math is off. 365 days a year, an hour a day makes 3650hrs in 10 years. So for an hour/day it’ll take 16.99 or rather 17 decades. That is 170 years. God bless your son.

[@uncletrashero]

ADHD is just a clinical excuse for depression and anxiety. We cant "pay attention" because we are emotionally compromised by the externally forced requirement of "paying attention" when we dont WANT to be paying attention to that thing. The reason we dont want to be paying attention to that is because we WANT to be paying attention to something else. This is a completely normal function of a completely normal brain. Whereas, the ability to fight through your anger/depression/ lack of desire to pay attention is a SKILL that has to be learned and nurtured and the only way to do that is for the person to VALUE that SKILL. The only way to cure adhd is to learn to VALUE the ability to turn off your desires and give up your precious time to someone else simply because someone or society wants you to. Like going to school, thats what society wants you to do, thats what your parents want you to do. thats not what YOU want to do unless you can FIND some good REASON to actually WANT to do it. For some people that reason is: to please their parents. for others its to "fit in with society" or "not stand out", for others its because they believe they will be "paid" for their time in a reward such as knowledge or growth of other skills, etc etc. but for a lot of people it is simply a SACRIFICE. I was forced by society to waste countless hours of my youth because most children around me learned a lot slower than me. I could be given 1 hour of instruction and pass a test on that instruction with A's every time. but the other kids needed 3 or 5 or 10 hours to get the same results. but i was FORCED to be there for those extra 10 hours of repetitive bullshit because society doesnt give a fuck, because school i PRIMARILY a DAYCARE service. and then they would send me HOME with MORE repetetive useless fucking work to do, and i would become so fucking mad, LEGITIAMATELY. THAT WAS A LEGITIMATE FUCKING REASON TO BE MAD. MY TIME WAS BEING WASTED. THE MOST FUCKING PRECIOUS RESOURCE IN MY LIFE WAS BEING STOLEN BY STUPID HUMANS AROUND ME. there was nothing wrong with me. there was EVERYTHING wrong with society around me. call me ADHD and it makes YOU feel better, it doesnt solve a SINGLE FUCKING THING for M E If you want someone to pay attention to something they arent naturally inclined to pay attention to, you have to help them develop a REASON to be interested in paying attention. ADHD as a clinical diagnosis of "disability" is a tragic disingenuous mischaracterization of PERFECTLY NORMAL innocent people. its disgusting.

[@huangpopupcam]

@@uncletrashero y u so mad bro?

[@uncletrashero]

@@huangpopupcam i guess you didnt read it

[@johnwest3518]

The mind wanders, the mind is happier in the present moment. Ppl have impression that it is just sweeping thoughts away, but when you see you are not your thoughts, you can see them as an observer and practice self compassion (if you don't caught in these thoughts, they self liberate naturally in awarenes) You don't need to do anything with these thoughts, they're not corporeal. Past Anger isn't here anymore, it arises and subsides. We continue to think about all the reasons we have the right to think about it, but if you just witness it. If you try to be angry for an entire day, without continually manufacturing this emotion, you're mistaken. This is an objective truth claim and testable. When you can name a feeling, you have shifted a part of your brain in activity. Meditation-greed (more of what I want for me)-it is toxic- more egotistical you become-never ending trajectory. With awareness, greed can start to be attenuated. You can also practice this with aversion. And once you're liberated from these and other vices, then you're liberated and the rest is up to you. You are finally yourself. Wiser relationship to your possibilities. Being lost in thought. Problem is-this automaticty is king of scrim thrown over the present moment. It engineers our unhappiness, judging others and worrying about the future. Much of this self talk is unpleasant and diminishing of our happiness. So mindfulness meditation is a tool for interrupting this continuous conversation we're having with ourselves. We're all multitasking these days. Focused attention is endangered. Hunter gatherer times, attention goes automatically, summon resources to take opportunity or avoid the threat, purpose of attention. There is so much happening, so absorbed, barely able to be present. Mind quiets, equals what the mind called eudiamonia. Intentional blink- after meditation, ppl show it less, makes us able to pick up and register more. Meditation sets new default mode of focusing on what is happening right now. Gamma waves-monks researched after meditation for many years. We get a brief amount when bite into something for example. 62000 lifetime hours of meditation. They show it's not a state effect for them alone, just everyday state of mind. When they practice something involved with compassion, they exhibit levels of gamma rays jump in a few seconds by 700|800%. Which is a state of being that can be considered to be enlightenment. The Science is really compelling. It shows a lot of physiological benefits. Neuroscience-can increase grey matter in positive areas and reduce in the amygdala-area which reacts to stress, trigger area (fight or flight). Amygdala is calmer with meditation. One mental good quality travels into the next and next. Patience is important to have as a human being. We all have our room to grow. Looking at all to theology littérature, the most important thing is get less focused on self and more focused on needs of others. Ppl do more than 1000 or 2000 a life, that cumulative amount makes ppl more able to tune in and also empathize. The nucleus accumbens, which is the focus of craving in the brain, ie drug addiction, becomes smaller, with lack of me me me mind. More obvious in Olympic level meditators, where they are genuinely selfless, they focus on the others. How become regular, start very very small. Big mistake was to try to meditate for too long. Or forcing the habit. Do it with things like yoga, can help you build your muscle. Powers of prognostication are not often great for people. But wants to predict that meditation will be the next big public Revolution. In 1940s, if you went running, ppl would ask you, what are you running from, who's chasing you? If you tell ppl you meditate right now, ppl might look at you like you're weird, that's going to change, meditation is going to join the pantheon of no brainers like exercise, brushing teeth, taking meds. If you don't do, you feel guilty about, because Science is so strongly suggestive that meditation can do really great things for your brain and body. If reliving memories, prison cell meditation. Close eyes, envision yourself in a white prison cell. Only thing in the cell is a slit of a window. You need to grip the window sill, and pull yourself up to be able to see out of it. Feel everything about the wall and the strength required to lift yourself. What your muscles feel like straining, the walls scraping against your body and the cold of the concrete and then you finally see out of the the window and only see the white light and everything else obliterates; you can just keep doing this over and over

[@Mel-os3ld]

Love your comment, so what’s this prison cell meditation all about? Are there greater results when u imagine such scenarios ax you’re breathing deeply and relaxing ? 👍😊

[@tyramuffin]

I almost want to cry because of how many times i let my thoughts make me sad instead of looking at them as an outside perspective, and showing compassion 😩😩 thank you!

[@singainfinite3288]

practicing meditation lessens the inflammatory response in people exposed to psychological stressors, particularly for long-term meditators. According to neuroscience research, mindfulness practices dampen activity in our amygdala and increase the connections between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Both of these parts of the brain help us to be less reactive to stressors and to recover better from stress when we experience it.

[@cellardoor9882]

You completely miss the point of meditation bro What you just mentioned could be side effects

[@natraajgarima]

@@cellardoor9882 could you explain more for other people like me ?

[@jamsjeggings2968]

When I have inconvenient thoughts during work , I bring my hand to my head and flick my hand outward imagining the thought as a fog that dissipates into a void; if I can hold the image of an empty void long enough, the thought will stay gone ( this only works with thoughts that don’t directly impact you or the world around you; not thinking about pressing issues will get you hurt )

[@Mel-os3ld]

That A ha moment you get when it finally kicks in, knowing the difference between being in the moment and not??? 💜💜💜💫💫💫💜💜💜

[@gribwitch]

I urgently need an Aha ! moment. I have not had an awakening call that many get. Please tell me more. How long did it take for that to happen for you ?

[@kiruthigakuppuswamy3711]

I am a hindu and I meditate almost daily for the past 4.5 years and I cant explain how much it has changed me for the better. I follow sadhguru. 🙏🧘🏽‍♀️. Before that I would was just doing yoga and I would have been the last person one would expect to meditate, considering I had a "I know all " attitude. My mind was ruling me. Then i wanted to just try meditation and viola here I am. Thanks to my guru.

[@MrAnandG87]

I am a Hindu ???? Do you really need to say this...... follow osho

[@MrAnandG87]

@@DT-bp2om maybe you are right.. But remember The person who meditates mindfully, will not tell he belongs to this religion or that religion ,he will be just blissful Human...

[@kiruthigakuppuswamy3711]

@@MrAnandG87 I see it as it is. I am proud to be in a way of life ( religion) that put me on this path. Once u start meditation you let go of the prejudice u see. I used to exactly think like you before. Religion was a bad word for me. Not anymore.

[@kiruthigakuppuswamy3711]

@@DT-bp2om Very true. Few people acknowledge Hinduism when they talk about Yoga and Meditation.

[@seclista]

This State saved my life and changed it radically I used Waking up by Sam Harris

[@samoomoo6675]

"Yesterday is history tommorow is a mystery but today is a gift That is why they call it the present"- Master Oogway

[@sakikogookheng]

Pretty sure he said it with some punctuation

[@MOE13576]

@@sakikogookheng who cares

[@MOE13576]

That's a nice quote

[@herrweiss2580]

tomorrow* 😀

[@iloveyellow7214]

This explains why Im at peace with my feelings and emotions when I had my brain injury and experienced the two types of amnesia when I started meditating 😍 I was so enlightened by this thank you so much for sharing

[@MD-rd2lz]

I wasn't sleeping much., 2-5 hours a week for about a month., didn't know what was happening, so I started meditating, just focusing on what was happening behind my forehead., until I was finally able to sleep again. Sleeping for five hours a day is a lot better than five hours a week.

[@viggos.n.5864]

It kinda sounds like you might have serious insomnia... Ever thought about going to a doctor about this?

[@francisfrancis1153]

@@viggos.n.5864 in most cases the doctor will make it worse by prescription of some sleep medication. The meditation path is better for him or her. I have been there myself and told the doctor I don't want any medication.

[@simonpaterson4596]

Especially as a beginner, sometimes we notice our minds have been thinking for a long time without even being aware of it. Lost in thought. Systematic practice will reign the mind in .

[@sofiavargas25]

I have an autoimmune disorder, and whenever I had flares (severe sinus pain), I would meditate for 20 minutes before going to bed hoping to reduce the stress the pain was causing me. Next morning I would feel a great improvement with almost zero pain. I used to think it was just by chance, that maybe the flare has run its time, but no. It was the meditation.

[@juicebox5883]

That’s amazing I’m so glad for you☺️

[@BenCaesar]

That's crazy I just did a video on this exact thing, because I got into meditation to empower my mind and make me sharper. It is the greatest asset in my life.

[@marcelomiceli5291]

if you don"t purify yourself (mind , body and emotions) and get rid of distractions, your mind won't stop. The Ashtanga method is very effective , but takes a lot of practice; meditation is not something that you do, it is a state you fall into when the mind gets tired of showing and all of the sudden it disappears ( and that happens trough concentration). Everything that enters into your being trough the senses, makes your personality and the state of your mind .There are many thing that helps the mind to be quiet, but again it takes practice like everything else.

[@beckwilde]

Best thing that's ever happened to me has got to be the Vipassana course. 100 hours of meditation in 10 days can change anyone's life.

[@gribwitch]

Ten hours a DAY for ten days ? That's a lot of time !

[@drbookie2169]

the irony how its bad to waste time mindlessly scrollnig but doing exactly that is what led me to this video to teach me that I need to stop and focus on the present.

[@hidalgov1]

Sam is the greatest. “Being lost in thought, to be thinking without knowing that you are thinking”

[@user-yx6om1yy2i]

From my experience, I could stop thoughts entirely for 20 minutes, just an amazing emptiness but I did 70 hours in a week before that to happen

[@aadishjain6838]

my awareness just increased 10x from watching this video

[@fabriziocamisani5477]

I've started meditating about a year ago, I do it daily, on 30-minute basis, I can see some benefits in it but it's not always easy. I struggle with te concept that I am not my thoughts, i cannot disconnect completely from that. They arise in my mind, they relate to my past, my experiences, my future aspirations even my senses...Still trying to wrap my head around that and apply it fruitfully to the practice.

[@crystalclear6660]

This definitely gives me more motivation to meditate. I can definitely relate to the idea that we’re thinking even when we aren’t aware of ourselves thinking. I have become aware in my meditation how OFTEN I am thinking about my tinnitus. And I have started to think that it’s at least in part my thinking about it so much that increases my awareness of it. As I’m meditating I actually get tired of all of these thoughts! *L* and that’s where I have to PRACTICE nonjudgmentalism and patience. I will consider meditating for shorter amounts of time so that I can do it more often.

[@sienna7249]

"you will be in wiser relationship to your possibilities" 🙏

[@johnwarner3840]

Perhaps the best explanations of the meditation technique and the science of how and why its works. Bravo.

[@dh00mketu]

Empirical evidence is not why it works.

[@martinesejour3361]

I start meditating and then feel like I'm doing it wrong, so I stop. It's that thinking that prevents me from making it a daily habit and other people‘s experience of what they derive from it. Hopefully, I can attend a workshop or a class just to gain more insight.

[@sailormike77]

From what I’ve learned, what you’re describing is the actual problem. It seems strange to think you’re going into meditation without “aiming” for something, but if there is something you might want to try, maybe it’s this: when you realize that you’re trying to meditate and you feel as if you’re doing it wrong, focus on “who” is thinking that. Try to find the “you” in your mind that is saying you aren’t doing it right. I hope this description makes sense and helps.

[@martinesejour3361]

@@sailormike77 I'm supposed to aim for something? I thought the ultimate goal is to have no thoughts going through your mind? Just a sense of emptiness, peace, and harmony.

[@sailormike77]

@@martinesejour3361 i apologize if I wasn’t clear enough. I didn’t mean to imply that you should aim for something, I interpreted your original message as motivated with a particular goal or target. Essentially the idea is to be able to observe or experience what consciousness is like before the arrival of the next thought. It isn’t necessarily to have no thoughts, but to not associate with them.

[@erikljungberg1056]

Meditation is the process wherein the mind becomes transparent unto itself. But in the next step, as awareness looks at itself, it too becomes transparent unto itself. This is where all the interesting questions start to emerge. The first step is important; learning to relax the mind, to disidentify with thoughts, to have continuous awareness of ones thoughts and actions, to identify recurring thought-patterns - all of these things are crucial and life-enhancing capacities to acquire through meditation. But its just the first step. When the mind is clear, calm and focused, it can start to inquiry into itself, into the source and origin of its activity.

[@erlinggaratun6726]

personally I practice Mindlessness. My mantra is 'huh?'. Works wonders - every day. Especially these days. I'm not focused on efficiency or productivity. I'm simply happy. And I do go lucky. No seminars needed, no book to buy. No video to suffer your way through. Go ahead and try. It might set you free :)

[@douglasgyi]

This is Buddhist meditation Known as Vipasana practice. Or very similar.

[@BarefootBard]

This is an inspiring take on the power of meditation with some of my favorite teachers offering their generous, clear views. And Losang! Such a happy surprise! I still treasure those group meditations in Charles' loft in Soho with drop-ins from Allen Ginsberg and homemade momos for Losar. Good times!

[@wf2w323]

i have been meditating for a month and i am getting that weird feeling when am thinking of things and felt like there is something that's missing, and i was wondering if am getting crazy or lost brains cells, but a every time i get that feeling again i realized that that's where my anxiety show up, now if am listening to something and get a random idea that usually distract me and throw me somewhere else and i wont be able to remember what i was doing in the first place, its different now i feel aware of things around me and aware of my ideas and can recall what i want whenever i want. for a long time i though meditation is bullshit, because i try is once in a while and nothing really change, but for a while i set somerules to my self, lets say i have an assignment today i wont play videos games, i wont open my phone, i wont listen to music unless am working on the task, if i wasn't doing much in that task i would just sitdown and do nothing, and its boring as hell, but embracing boredom is what i realized is meditation, i was meditating without knowing, if i got any ideas, my first thought would be what are you going to do in five seconds?? its, nothing . i felt like a laying cat that does not care or give a shit about anything, just being there listening to the sound of the wind, and i would put my warm hand on my cold foot and analyze how my foot feels the warmth, and how my hand gets cooler, and i think everyone has his own way to meditate and my explanation might not be how you should think about it, i mean no one made it clear to me of how it really works for me. but damn i really cant wait to see how this going to change me in a month from now.

[@michaellopez112]

hey man how has meditation gone for you since?

[@yoursubconscious]

Meditation does not require you to be a stone buddha. you can literally meditate anytime if you understand how it works.

[@johndavis6119]

I find it helps to meditate during that interminable wait in the doctor’s office. I do shikantaza and Ki meditation. Ignoring the cacophony of thoughts racing through my mind. Very refreshing and relaxing.

[@yoursubconscious]

@@johndavis6119 chai mai!? 🙏 coolio to hear!

[@mindpalace7242]

meditation and mindfulness is genuinely the way even if I used to be skeptical

[@erlinggaratun6726]

personally I practice Mindlessness. My mantra is 'huh?'. Works wonders - every day. Especially these days. I'm not focused on efficiency or productivity. I'm simply happy. And I do go lucky. No seminars needed, no book to buy. No video to suffer your way through. Go ahead and try. It might set you free :)

[@sparingharbor2600]

Mindfulness and meditation is good… they talk about awareness, greed and how it effects our emotions. They made a whole video about meditation using all the teachings of Buddhism talking about our attachments and how mindfulness can make you aware of it… but they did it all without mentioning Buddhism. Same thing happening with yoga. White washing things.

[@ShesMongolianASMR]

I feel a tremendous weight lifted after watching this. Thank you so much for posting!

[@idlehour]

That last part with the technique. Really. Slowed me down in all the right ways. Thank you

[@dbunnysport]

Wonderful video. We are told to “live in the moment” but not what that means. I’m finally learning and taking it all in. We never have enough time in this hustle and bustle to practice and know until the positive effects can take effect. Thank you for all these great videos.

[@dbunnysport]

They very well may have. Many are exploring with them. But imo, one would need to do so with experienced and good healers to guide and make sure the person is safe. But lots of other things can help too.

[@britneyb8876]

Sometimes I hate my thoughts... but I am not my thoughts I like how they explained this

[@KnowledgeCollectiveOfficial]

*_Thank you guys so for this informative video!_* I wish everyone the best on their path and purpose in this dimension.

[@stephaniep30]

Over 10,000 hours of meditation time. A definite game changer as far as helping me connect the dots and problem solve along with reducing stress and anxiety. I also get visions.

[@thestarinthesky_]

try doing this guided meditation @23:26. It worked like a charm! That was amazing

[@shastinarae3176]

That was fantastic

[@vmangani]

One of the most useful videos on KZbin about mindfulness, simply explained and illustrated.

[@jareddunlop8411]

Let me first say that I like mindfulness and second that I get upset at the standards of high productivity, and people thinking mindfulness is a band-aid solution to maintaining high stress load. I feel mindfulness or any relaxation is a deeply personal thing. Personal in how we relate to ourselves, our feelings, sensations and perceptions. Mindfulness becoming just one of those things like diet and exercise, on one hand it seems good and fine. What happens, not just to me, but it is pretty wide spread, is some manage to attain stuff with out doing the basic things, and when some of us aren't attaining that same thing we are dismissed because we are not doing those basic things, as if they are direct causation of failure, when they can't be because others are attaining them. So these become part of a false standard, as if it is some exact recipe for something that it is not. Some people for some reason can't do stuff in the way possibly the majority do, and instead of modifying things individually for them or seeking alternative that works better for them, like in exercise or physio, some personally modified exercises, people are just dismissed because the "one size fits all" approach doesn't work. That is what happens when things become one of those standard things that everyone should be doing. The part that is left out is how we should be doing the standard things. That how does not work for everyone. So much of this video sounds so "results oriented", quantity over quality, build up your bank of meditation hours. Starting to sound like self-help fallacy of the 10,000 hours to mastery and backward reasoning that if you haven't put in 10 000 hours that is the reason for lack of achievement. I hope mindfulness does not go there. I can't even begin to relax while in results oriented mindset. So if something becomes one of those standard things, I'd rather it be a trend away from "results oriented" mindset as a cultural norm.

[@Mel-os3ld]

Once somebody gets meditation, when they see the benefits and the healing for some that have been traumatized... they realise it’s a way of life.. if you don’t practise it you won’t reap the benefits of living in such a relaxed state.. just what exercise does for us, the benefits it produces.. however we do the function!

[@jamrassbamrongratne9119]

To me, the practice of mindfulness is to nourish the state of sanity of mind. The ancient call it "the light", "the enlightened", to enlighten the mind. The light here is intelligence, life-intelligence which enhances the clarity of perception.

[@healing-waves]

“Life is a journey of tenacity. Only the tough gets to the top through the storm. Take the steps one by one though the errand may be arduous. Never give up though you may grow weary. Think of the purpose though its attainment may be tough. Dare to get to the crown though you may meet the obstacles. You are never born to relax all day but to dare to do the undone. If only it is reasonable enough within the real reasons of your life, and if your soul and spirit convince you of getting it done, then, you have the real reasons to dare for the crown.” ― Ernest Agyemang Yeboah Infinite Love Beautiful Soul! ✨❤

[@erlinggaratun6726]

personally I practice Mindlessness. My mantra is 'huh?'. Works wonders - every day. Especially these days. I'm not focused on efficiency or productivity. I'm simply happy. And I do go lucky. No seminars needed, no book to buy. No video to suffer your way through. Go ahead and try. It might set you free :)

[@naphza1]

Excellent presentation of how meditation can mediate problematic emotions and what it is NOT.

[@johnlawrence2757]

You should never give up on meditation being the tool to clear your mind of compulsive thought processes. What you need to do is give up all the activities that create these compulsive thought processes in the first place. You should read Maharishi’s books, really you should: no-one on earth understands consciousness like he does or explains it as clearly. From reading his books you understand what meditation is and what it’s goal is. Then you just get the TM teacher to give you the technique and go to as many follow up meetings as you can so as to get a clearer and clearer picture of what TM is. But remember: you can’t have your cake and eat it: you can’t live in the world of ambitions and desires AND have the peace that TM brings in the long-term to yogis

[@bluwater1422]

I definitely wanna read the book so that i can learn something

[@KennethD000]

Thank you for not only explaining meditation but giving me an actual example of how and what to do!!

[@vivtodd2473]

That was a visualisation exercise …it’s not meditation

[@SetemkiaFawn]

Fantastic teaching video. I learned much that will help my current practice.

[@danielwalker6436]

Pheneomenal video, because it will be useful to understand and eventually apply when our minds do quieten. Happy meditation and mindfulness!

[@jaikduhamel9248]

People undere-estimate the wondering time and anxiety. It's from that wondering that creativity and questioning comes.

[@pascalkolbe1691]

What about curiosity?

[@seanaguayo]

I am constantly in this battle with myself of trying to decide between letting my thoughts wander and think any and every thought that comes to mind, with new thoughts being triggered off of the previous ones or to try to silence my mind. I love allowing my brain to wander and often use a journal to keep track of thoughts I want to revisit. I usually come up with great ideas and plans for my life that have helped me in my success

[@AikiraBeats]

I just started doing meditation for two days, and it's interesting to see how my brain wonders to different thoughts, but I realized that the moment I had stopped focusing on my thoughts, my brain began to give answers to the questions that I had a problems figuring out.

[@NaughtyRody]

This is great! Thinking is quite the addiction. I find myself thinking a lot. Sometimes I believe that thinking of the top of my head while multi-tasking will be time efficient and possibly lead me to a new truth of my current reality. Sometimes i think about the same thing for weeks. It’s rare to come to a complete conclusions. I noticed that trying to be efficient all the time is inefficient. You’ve gotta reserve proper time for things that repeatedly take your mental space. Sometimes i write and this creates some structure so that my mind isn’t randomly wondering, desperate for an answer. It’s almost as if i set some words (to remind myself of topic) so that i am not all over the place. Channel your energy, i hope this was of some value to someone. I love you, hope you have an amazing life. Keep your chin up❤️🍒

[@NaughtyRody]

I apologize for the lack of structure to my comment, hopefully it made sense. Not sure if anyone will see this, haha. Im going crazy.

[@hwago123]

Would be nice to explain more about that visualization meditation at the end there. What’s the purpose? Why that imagery? Etc.

[@rohlay00]

So random

[@altonology1134]

To take your mind off of the intrusive thoughts

[@westsidesmitty1]

EVERY speaker, was passionately articulate and BURSTING with worthwhile (easily , self demonstrable) insights that amount to a formidable technique for improving your life now (without becoming a Buddhist monsastic!). There are so many wonderful videos currently be made about how some form of mindfulness meditation is a no brainer (and will be in 10-15 years), but this one stands our because of the rapid fire editing. Thank you. Metta!

[@Mel-os3ld]

👍

[@thanhngo4707]

for several days, i've observed my heart's pain. I no longer avoid it just observe it. Love it and embrace it. I feel gratefu for my heart.

[@vullmetal]

I watch guided meditations on here. It has helped me alotttttt!!!!

[@ArronSealmoyGuitar]

This video literally answer all my questions

[@kellyberry4173]

Well done!!! This helped so much! Again, thank you. 😊

[@Longtack55]

Wow! "Stanford University Centre for Compassion." The USA in particular needs this at this time. Good to see Sam again, and I grew a little from Jon Kabat-Zinn's observations.

[@Musiksfire]

Great video. Interesting though, most comments here are like totally the opposite of what is being discussed: Full of anger, grief and so on. That's why i usually don't read comments anymore - be it on news site or youtube and so on... It's just mostly full of frustrated and negative people/ emotions :'D

[@RUSE321]

Oftentimes I try to avoid comments but reading them can also be good mindfulness practice!

[@1Nate987]

Not sure what comments u are reading. It currently says 139 comments for this video and from what I can see they are mostly very positive.

[@Musiksfire]

@@1Nate987 At the beginning there were only a few and most of them negative, so it's seems to be changed :)

[@erlinggaratun6726]

personally I practice Mindlessness. My mantra is 'huh?'. Works wonders - every day. Especially these days. I'm not focused on efficiency or productivity. I'm simply happy. And I do go lucky. No seminars needed, no book to buy. No video to suffer your way through. Go ahead and try. It might set you free :)

[@ssotkow]

Jon Kabat-Zinn is the godfather of mindfulness practice as behavioral therapy here in America.

[@nicksenseitv4922]

the science behind this and the goal is to train your mind to not get affected by past and future. and its effective. if you're a professional about this. and you change your neuroplastocity because of doing a long term meditation even if you forcely think a past memories or future events, etc etc. you can't feel anything, even if you want to, because you HABITUATE to it. and for me thats what you called SUCCESFUL PERSON. a person who has THE POWER OF NOW.

[@Mel-os3ld]

No it’s not to train your mind.. it’s the effects of deep breathing have on our bodies is the key to this, it makes us stronger.. it quietens the mind down.. there’s no training the mind!

[@catful.meditation]

Great explanations from these scholars and authors! I like the way that meditation / mindfulness as an abstract concept was described / elaborated in so many different perspectives. It really helps to get a clear picture.

[@dugmai]

thank you. great simple video with useful tips and very solid reasoning 😏

[@mindsetguidance1556]

Growing up in a Science culture it was sorta hard for me to really believe the depth meditation contains years ago when I first started experimenting with various types of practices from Eastern cultures. Although it's sorta silly that thousands of years later it has to get validated by a current system to show it's proven to be useful, I do understand also to convince people who grew up in the current system. Also time and time in my cancer recovery journey of exploring other culture's medicine systems and practices I would come across "yeah but there just isn't enough scientific evidence showing that it works". If you're exploring it, keep at it! Also if you'd like some guidance, I teach one-on-one sessions with the first one being completely free.

[@iainmackenzieUK]

Attention (11:00) We have learned through evolution to pay attention to others in our group and this has helped us, as a species, to survive. We are social beings. I point this out because the most influential and frequent 'threats' that I am aware of are less likely to come from the natural environment than from within my social group. Mindfulness helps me to raise my awareness of my response to these 'threats' (Real or perceived) and the historical data that my responses are based upon. Mindful attitude Gives us mind-space to make choices about how we are relating/ reacting to other people. Hence, for me, a sense of self-empowerment, optimism and peace.

[@erlinggaratun6726]

personally I practice Mindlessness. My mantra is 'huh?'. Works wonders - every day. Especially these days. I'm not focused on efficiency or productivity. I'm simply happy. And I *do* go lucky. No seminars needed, no book to buy. No video to suffer your way through. Go ahead and try. It might set you free :)

[@user-hh2is9kg9j]

Ok, I will give it a go, how one start meditating? can anyone recommend an easy instructions source for beginners?

[@kicchan1662]

look up "the mindfulness solution" that site has a lot of guided meditations and they are great for starters

[@user-hh2is9kg9j]

@@kicchan1662 Cheers!

[@lukecabral4198]

The waking up app by Sam Harris rocks

[@samuelavraham4909]

One very common and powerful method is simply to stay aware of the sensation that arises when air passes in and out of your nostrils and nasal cavity. That is all. Do this and slowly build up to a daily sitting of 20 minutes every day (begin with 1 min, or five minutes, whatever you can accomplish), and then increase (over the course of several months at your own pace) the amount of time to one hour, and then ultimately 2 hours. One in the morning after waking up, and one in the evening. Or you can meditate three times a day, 20 min/20min/20min, or 40/40/40 for example. At the same time, strive to put in dozens if not hundreds of micro-meditations (a few breaths long) throughout the day until every possible moment is spent aware. This is a mindfulness practice, and it will feed into your formal meditation, and your formal meditation will feed into the mindfulness practice. You can stay aware of any sensation that appears, be it feelings, emotions, sensations of pain or pleasure, greed and wanting, or aversion, fear, and anger. It can help to repeat silently a single word that describes the feeling. Such as "..wanting..wanting.." when you realize you wanted something, or "anger...anger", when anger arises. Whether you name it or not, make sure to direct your awareness to whatever it is that arises at the moment. But for the most part, stay silent within and simply experience the sensation as the breath pass in and out of your nose/moth. Maintain awareness at all times, this is the exercise. The moment you realize that you've lost focus, relocate your awareness to the sensation of the air once more. This exercise is meant to force you to truly stay aware of the sensation of air, and create a sort of very stable one-pointed awareness. In the beginning, it will be very hard to maintain awareness, but over time you will be able to stay aware of the sensation for very long periods. This stability of mind is a large part of what will eventually change your life. For more info, check out Ajahn Sonas channel here on youtube (dozens of hours of lectures, freely available).

[@user-hh2is9kg9j]

@@samuelavraham4909 Great institutions, cheers mate!

[@iainmackenzieUK]

There is an in-congruence between the first set of speakers and the final meditation practice. Whilst all the speakers talk about 'here and now' and raising awareness of our experiential reality, the meditation is inviting us to 'create' an imaginary reality too far removed from here and now experience. In the extreme case, we are invited to imagine total obliteration. I agree with the idea of trying to get as much "tactile and feeling" into the meditation but how do you feel obliteration? Unlike the muscular strain and friction of the wall on our belly, this is beyond our physical experience. It may well be an effective form of meditation but it does not fit with the models of mindfulness presented by the earlier speakers.

[@Hopkins132]

At the end he says its a useful first step if you have trouble focusing on here and now which is hard for beginners

[@sile8389]

Through meditation I found self love and compassion for myself. I do a daily self love and gratitude meditation and thanks to the free up Insight Timer.

[@seille3774]

I am happy to know that I live in a time when humanity was beginning to realise that it can only change its world by changing itself.

[@cricket62200962]

I recommend watching Frank Yang on KZbin if you'd like to see where practicing this skill can possibly take you

[@matonmongo]

A useful perspective on the phenom... thx! Also maybe part of the problem is why we often have so many 'distractions' and so little mindfulness in the first place.... precisely to _avoid_ being alone with our thoughts.

[@paulshinn805]

Prison cell method, nailed it for me…6 months of real cell experience with the same exact window…🙌 so easy to recreate…

[@gladysma308]

Rasmus Hugaard; Emma Seppälä; Jon Kabat-Zinn; Sam Harris; Peter Baumann, Composer; 12:33 Dan Harris, Correspondent, ABC News; 13:09 Wendy Suzuki, Prof of Neurology and Psychology;

[@sofimazi555]

LOSANG SAMTEN 17:09 😊💚

[@hotepshow3009]

I been meditating for 6 years now... Thank you ASIANS

[@DEE-qu5mc]

95% of the time, my adhd brain is wondering, lol.

[@mitchelljack1590]

Just worry about making it 94% of the time

[@BlackandWhitecustoms]

Just notice that you are wondering. What knows that there is wondering. Even the wondering can be observed and when observed it disappears

[@brigittebuck1466]

probably the most helpful video I have fully watched in a very long time. Thank u.