Do you think meditation is necessary? (ritual, spiritual, philosophy, Article)

[Hacker]

http://www.physorg.com/news10312.html
From the above website, there is some startling news as evidenced by the research on meditation and how it can transform the brain. I find this facinating!

Do you think that meditation is a necessary practice to achieve spiritual advancement or to achieve the many other benefits meditation allegedly has to offer? Why do you feel meditation is necessary, or why not?

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/145/story_14571_1.html

http://www.beliefnet.com/index/index_207.html
Above, there is some free meditations sessions on belief net that I found to be very cool!

[Bishka]

Not necessary, but it does help.

[Hacker]

Why so Beck, if you don't mind me asking?

[eudaimonia]

Originally Posted by tlcmel

Do you think that meditation is a necessary practice to achieve spiritual advancement?

It depends on what you consider spiritual advancement... and even what you consider meditation.

I voted , because spiritual advancement in my spirituality involves values that don't necessarily require meditation to achieve (though it couldn't hurt and might help), such as self-knowledge, self-actualization, and self-esteem.

While meditation might help with acquiring self-knowledge, I don't think it is required. One can study and discuss philosophy, be rationally reflective (not really meditative in the usual sense) about one's values, worldview, and motivations, and possibly do other activities and gain self-knowledge.

And I don't think that meditation is needed at all for self-actualization or self-esteem.


eudaimonia,

Mark

[Sunstone]

So far as I understand it, meditation is sort of a house cleaning for the mind. As such, I think it is necessary at times.

[PHOTOTAKER]

so far i like it; it calms me down and opens up my mind and sprit to the sprit of God... but i do not thank it is nessary but it help with the focus of much in this a strange and busy life...

[CaptainXeroid]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

So far as I understand it, meditation is sort of a house cleaning for the mind. As such, I think it is necessary at times.

This is what I was thinking, so I voted . I don't know how big an impact those thousands of an inch will actually make on brain functioning, but I know that I need quiet time each day for my sanity's sake.

I read through the responses to the article and was a bit surprised some of the posters on physorg seemed so upset by it. Perhaps they are in need of some meditation time.

[michel]

Originally Posted by tlcmel

http://www.physorg.com/news10312.html
From the above website, there is some startling news as evidenced by the research on meditation and how it can transform the brain. I find this facinating!

Do you think that meditation is a necessary practice to achieve spiritual advancement or to achieve the many other benefits meditation allegedly has to offer? Why do you feel meditation is necessary, or why not?

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/145/story_14571_1.html

http://www.beliefnet.com/index/index_207.html
Above, there is some free meditations sessions on belief net that I found to be very cool!

I voted "No " because I don't believe that it is necessary. Although I practice meditation and find it enlightening, I can quite imagine that to some, it would not be suitable. Had you used the word 'helpful' instead of necessary, I would have voted yes.

[akshar]

It's good but not nececarry so i voted for the last one, always worth having a go.

[Rejected]

I don't think meditation is necessary per se, but I do believe that in order to progress spiritually one must have a constant acknowledgement of one's connection and interaction with the rest of the universe.