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Do You Practice Meditation, Whether Religiously or Secularly?
- Thread starter Debater Slayer
- Start date
Yes I try to do so both for my religious traditions, which place a high spiritual value on it. And secular just to try to mellow out after a stressful day or of I’m in the need of a bit of a boost
Should do it more often though lol
Should do it more often though lol
The poll needs another option. I meditate for spiritual reasons. That is neither "secular", nor is it "religious". I identify mostly as an SBNR, spiritual but not religious.
That's what meditation tries to correct. It's all the constant unchecked thinking that is going on that's the problem. When I first started meditating, it was shocking to see just how much chatter goes on it the mind that we never notice until we try to actually look at it and manage it. In other words, you weren't doing anything wrong. You were seeing what is the normal state of affairs for the first time. The mind tends to freak once you are actually seeing what's going on unchecked by anyone in there. "Oh no! You don't want to do that! Leave me alone!"
There are many ways to learn how to quiet the mind, many methods and techniques to try to work with yourself in order to do it. There isn't a one size fits all practice. Some sit staring at wall. Other incorporate movement. Some use music. etc. But it's all about not letting thoughts just whirl about without any discipline, rehashing the same six stories for the day over and over and over for no real purpose.
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I've edited the first option to be "religious or spiritual."
No. I have an extremely short attention span. Unless you can consider meditation to be sitting somewhere quietly and daydreaming and letting my mind wander. The closest I can come to religious meditation is using a set of prayer beads to chant God's name(s), not unlike the Catholic rosary.
This could probably be it's own topic, but what is the difference (if any, aside from words) between meditation we put in "religious" box and meditation we put in "secular" box? Are the practices different? The intention? The types? The goals? What's different? What makes it one not the other?
amorphous_constellation
Well-Known Member
For many years I did a sort of walking meditation in sort of half hour sessions, which is kind of like going for walk, but focusing on a meditative state while doing it. I just could not sit for long. Eventually I quit doing that, ever since podcasts became a thing, and so now I walk and listen to those.
And now, ever since about december or november of 2021, I have basically been doing the wim hof method, which in my opinion, is a very intense form, which involves breathing mediation and cold exposure. I will not recommend it. It is just something I am doing. I don't know how many people can sustain it, or if all the outcomes are good - if things can go wrong with it. I think I will continue doing it
I guess I see the body and soul as comprising a whole, where, I feel a need to compel it somewhat, and try to knock the dust off it. To trim the pie-crust off the pie. To try and sharpen the whole tool, inner and outer. I don't know. Wish me luck. I wish all of you luck with whatever you're doing as well
And now, ever since about december or november of 2021, I have basically been doing the wim hof method, which in my opinion, is a very intense form, which involves breathing mediation and cold exposure. I will not recommend it. It is just something I am doing. I don't know how many people can sustain it, or if all the outcomes are good - if things can go wrong with it. I think I will continue doing it
I guess I see the body and soul as comprising a whole, where, I feel a need to compel it somewhat, and try to knock the dust off it. To trim the pie-crust off the pie. To try and sharpen the whole tool, inner and outer. I don't know. Wish me luck. I wish all of you luck with whatever you're doing as well
TagliatelliMonster
Veteran Member
Made a post the other day how I see my drum-sessions as a type of meditation.
In the sense that the effect it has on me, seems similar to the effect it has on those who do traditional meditation.
It's an escape root where I can destress and let my feelings out freely.
My mental health is greatly improved if I get my "dose" a few times per week.
Sometimes one or more of the above. For example, while some religious people may include a religious concept such as oneness or the soul in their meditation or use religious chants in their practice thereof, a secular counterpart would include neither.
Both my former yoga instructor and a few therapists I have been to have said that one of the key elements of meditation is how much a person can tailor their practice of it to their own values and worldview. I have long had that impression too.
I have meditated habitually as a part of both my spiritual and secular practice. I attended group meditation for a few years in the middle, but nowadays I just do it in the middle of regular life. Comes naturally to me.
I mediate on the Names of God.
