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There is no need for scientific proof. I observe that being mindful changes things for me: The way I listen to people, the way I eat, the way I handle rejection

There is no need for scientific proof. I observe that being mindful changes things for me: The way I listen to people, the way I eat, the way I handle rejection or anger or any other feeling. I realize that being mindful (vs mindlessly and blindly doing things) sharpens my senses, makes me think clearer, makes me change perspectives, create more categories or realize that I think within categories. I got in touch with mindfulness by reading one of Jon Kabat-Zinn's books ("Wherever you go, there you are"). That was almost twenty years ago. Shortly after that I read Ellen Langer's book "Mindfulness", which is more about the negative effects of mindlessness. I think that the pure process of observing something (mindfully) has the potential to positively influence the results. Whether I sit down quietly and observe my feelings and thoughts (things that happened in the past or things that'll happen in the future) as they come and go. Or as I interact with people, or as I walk, travel or engage in any type of activity. I don't need scientific evidence that all of this has a measurable positive effect. My own observation is enough evidence for me. Edit: typo

smt88 9y ago
What does this have to do with the article? Proof is important for something used in a clinical setting when potentially suicidal people are involved. Proof that these things are safe and effectve is literally a life-and-death issue for some people. Similarly, laypeople prescribe these things for a vast array of problems, and we need to know if that practice is harmful or helpful. Whether it works for you or whether you need proof is irrelevant to whether proof is needed more broadly.
moretai 9y ago
If you need a book to meditate, you are probably doing it wrong.
- kranner 9y ago
  How else is one supposed to learn without access to a teacher?
- mistermann 9y ago
  If you read the proper book on meditation, you would be meditating on why your mind holds that belief.
sytelus 9y ago
Scientific proof is always a good thing. Many self-improvement stuff only have function of being placebo and you could as well be delusional that things are working as it was promised. I am curious about mindfulness, especially because different people claiming to practice it haven't been able to define it consistently. It's also hard to trust anything that is designed to be sold at executive retreats and leadership programs. Anyway, so how do you define and practice it?
- submeta 9y ago
  See, the problem is in trying to understand it all, with the thinking mind: the mechanisms, the effects. This is what Zen masters have been trying to teach us all the time: That we are not our thinking minds, neither are we are thoughts. There is a level beyond that. Meta. Holistic. Where you grasp intuitively. I do understand that every charlatan could argue like that. And the self help genre has turned into a huge industry in the US alone. With coaches, gurus, teachers who want us to buy yet another book or seminar to get rich, to find inner peace, etc The essence of Mindfulness meditation - the way I see it - is pretty simple: Being mindful in many situations. Hitting the pause button regularly. Taking time. Being more aware.

smt88 9y ago

What does this have to do with the article? Proof is important for something used in a clinical setting when potentially suicidal people are involved. Proof that these things are safe and effectve is literally a life-and-death issue for some people. Similarly, laypeople prescribe these things for a vast array of problems, and we need to know if that practice is harmful or helpful. Whether it works for you or whether you need proof is irrelevant to whether proof is needed more broadly.

moretai 9y ago

If you need a book to meditate, you are probably doing it wrong.

kranner 9y ago
How else is one supposed to learn without access to a teacher?
mistermann 9y ago
If you read the proper book on meditation, you would be meditating on why your mind holds that belief.

sytelus 9y ago

Scientific proof is always a good thing. Many self-improvement stuff only have function of being placebo and you could as well be delusional that things are working as it was promised. I am curious about mindfulness, especially because different people claiming to practice it haven't been able to define it consistently. It's also hard to trust anything that is designed to be sold at executive retreats and leadership programs. Anyway, so how do you define and practice it?

submeta 9y ago
See, the problem is in trying to understand it all, with the thinking mind: the mechanisms, the effects. This is what Zen masters have been trying to teach us all the time: That we are not our thinking minds, neither are we are thoughts. There is a level beyond that. Meta. Holistic. Where you grasp intuitively. I do understand that every charlatan could argue like that. And the self help genre has turned into a huge industry in the US alone. With coaches, gurus, teachers who want us to buy yet another book or seminar to get rich, to find inner peace, etc The essence of Mindfulness meditation - the way I see it - is pretty simple: Being mindful in many situations. Hitting the pause button regularly. Taking time. Being more aware.