Any other folks here practice Buddhist-style meditation?

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I have always been sympathetic towards Buddhism at a philosophical level, it fits my philosophical views very well (the Buddhist "3 marks of existence" are Impermanence, Suffering, and Egolessness) and traditional Buddhist psychology fits very well with what we know about how the brain works (once you translate the stuff out of the South Asian religiously-derived terminology and cultural prejudices). Buddhism is Humanistic, belief in God is irrelevant.

I actually ran into this stuff because Buddhist-style meditation techniques are increasingly being used by some practitioners of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and because there has been a lot of neuroscience research on meditation.

I don't resonate with the harmony of the suffering of the world. I see it as something to conquer. Perhaps that is the Aryan in me though. I suspect that if I was more enlightened, I wouldn't care. I still would argue that point at this time.

hi Odin, yes I very much appreciate the principles - that our existence is suffering, and by training one's mind it's possible to overcome the suffering. One thought leads to the next one. So if we harbour negative thoughts it will only continue the suffering. If we adopt positive thoughts and practise maintaining this mind-set, our happiness will be the result. The term 'meditation' basically means 'familiarising one's mind with a virtuous topic' and it is said that virtue is the cause of happiness. The meaning of 'virtue' is what benefits others, or at least doesn't harm anyone. I for one definitely feel like I've suffered enough so I'm keen to try these techniques to find happiness. I've so far managed to stay a little happy, but it hasn't yet helped with my low-level of functioning when it comes to the challenges of everyday life. But oh well.

Sometimes I do, but only usually thru Enthogenic or Canthiest methods, as I am generally far to distractable to reach a useful plane in a normal state of mind, I hope that will change one day, if I can actually get there I would love to goto Nepal, I think maybe a simpler life may be useful me!

Forteuntly I discovered Trance Dancing before my dysfunctional brain sent me into a complete mess @ 18, which reaches the same states of Bliss as traditional asian meditation methods, Music has been my greatest obsession since I was a child, so to find that it could open my mind up in the way it did whilst tranced out was a massive boost to my 'quality of life'.

Eventually, once I have dealt with my 'demons', I want to practice Dzong Chen, I have had a glimpse of its power in other techniques, and also a glimpse of the destructive potential of it, if personal demons are not dealt with before hand (Psychosis in some cases), so...better get on with the demon slaying! ommm

My beliefs are a fusion of Buddhism, Druidism, Mystism, 'the teachings of Jesus' (not 'Christianity') and modern Science, but thats for another thread i think!

Even though I believe in Buddhism, I don't meditate that often. Sometimes I do it when things get overwhelming.

i've meditated a lot for a long time. i feel i'm kinda addicted to it tho i do it in my own way. a mix of things i've read and things i've discovered myself. half meditation half contemplation half yoga and a little stimming too i use kind of "pure attention" style method .. more or less focusing on attention itself. also trying to use warmth instead of intellectual control/focus. if that makes any sense. i try to achieve inner silence and i guess i normally try to work internally until i get silence. then i try to remain there ..

Meditation is a powerful tool. I have used it to control my heartbeat. If I get anxious, I slow it down. I also use it as clarity and to strengten intuition. There is science to backup that your brainwaves increase during meditation. Often, your subconscious thoughts have a higher frequency which explains why dreams are very odd. At least that is what I am aiming for.

I used to, all through my teens. when I got older and less hormonal I discovered that my mind naturally operates in a zen-like state, I do it effortlessly. not sure if it's normal or a thing of stimming and spacing out or a consequence of having practiced meditation though.

Hum, dunno if that counts, but i use their breathing and focusing methods.... <.<

Yes. I meditate every time I use the john

ruveyn

I love you all so much for posting on this topic!! ! lol! I love the sound of the Trance Dancing, miszt. Tantra (not sex by the way!) means a transforming, transcending meditation - where we utilise mundane experiences and transform them into something 'divine' through the power of seeing the ultimate meaning in everything - for instance something mundane as washing the dishes! Through this method everything we experience can become blissful. It requires initiation from a qualified lama if the benefits are to be achieved. Dzogchen in my opinion is the 'real deal'. There are rules/vows involved - and I think it can only get dangerous if these rules are disregarded. When practised respectfully, and with guidance from someone qualified I think GREAT things are possible, to say the least.

I'm a proponent of Tolerance more than one religion/philosophy in particular. And I think buddhists throughout the world would agree with this statement! lol The world is made up of people with different mental inclinations - so therefore there NEEDS to be different beliefs/non-beliefs! Acceptance of this fact would bring us a long way towards World Peace.

Thanks for the responses, everyone!

The folks of Northern India are Indo-Europeans.

yeah, I guess if you get down to it, we all come from one source, but I'm just saying that I don't subscribe to the Buddhist philosophy. It seems apathetic. When I do meditate, it makes me feel serene, but I wonder if it is just self absorption and escapism. I'd like to be at peace like that all the time but when I open my eyes, I want to change the world.

hi Magnus - that's awesome about wanting to change the world. World peace is not going to be achieved through a dictatorship, but rather like your signature suggests - by each of our own efforts, in our own minds. Individually we change the world via our own projections of it. That's actually the power of meditation - it's not apathetic at all. Quite the contrary! I totally agree with what you're saying - a temporary feeling of peace and serenity is not good enough! And that's not what buddhism is about either. Buddhism is about achieving ever-lasting peace, and for that to occur a complete transformation needs to take place - in the mind - through meditation. Imagine if each individual was able to project that feeling of peace and love on the world - and maintain this projection beyond the limitations of the meditative state through constant familiarity. Everyone - in their own time, and their own way. This, I believe, would be the desired effect. It's a complete transformation of our existence, and definitely not apathetic!

Where else is the peace and love going to come from, if not from our own minds?

i was a serious vajrayana practitioner for over 15 years. i spent many summers living at tashi choling (traditional tibetan temple on the cali/oregon border). i've done many retreats. and yes, there's power and potential danger, which is why in that particular form of buddhism, a teacher is considered essential.

i haven't done formal practice nor seen my teacher in nearly 8 years, due to both internal and external obstacles. i hope one day i return. there's so much more i could say, but not at this time in my life.

better right now is this short video of sogyal rinpoche, which i ran across the other day and liked. sogyal rinpoche was at our dharma center at least once when i was there, possibly twice. it was awhile back.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tIBYxed16s[/youtube]