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> There's an industry devoted to meditation. For such a thing to exist, you have to start by convincing people that they're not meditating right The second sen

> There's an industry devoted to meditation. For such a thing to exist, you have to start by convincing people that they're not meditating right The second sentence does not follow from the first. Why do you think it does?

sevensor 9y ago
Well, I think I'm meditating just fine, thank you very much, and I don't need a meditation industry to help me. This is a problem for the meditation industry, because it means they can't sell me meditation products. They need me to believe that I could be meditating better if I had their product or service, so there's a huge incentive for them to try to convince me that I'm meditating wrong.
- jamesrcole 9y ago
  Good for you. Just because a person can do something fine by themselves doesn't mean that a service can't help other people. Some people can work out fine by themselves. Personal trainers help others. The existence of personal trainers doesn't stop anyone from working out themselves, and they do provide a benefit to some people. Why does a, say, app have to be telling you're doing it sub-optimally?? Why can't it be something that provides things like convenience or assistance?
  - sevensor 9y ago
    > Why can't it be something that provides things like convenience or assistance Because the experience and practice of meditation is so entirely subjective as to make these claims absurd. What does convenience mean to meditation, when all that meditation requires is for you to be present?
    - mistermann 9y ago
      Do you consider this book to be snake oil? https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Illuminated-Complete-Meditation-Integrating/dp/0990847705 https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Illuminated-Complete-Meditation-...
    - jamesrcole 9y ago
      A convenient way to learn how to be present, or to bring you back to being present when you're drifting.
    - visarga 9y ago
      > What does convenience mean to meditation, when all that meditation requires is for you to be present? Reminding you to remain present. A guided meditation app can do that. That's convenience, but it won't meditate in your place.

sevensor 9y ago

Well, I think I'm meditating just fine, thank you very much, and I don't need a meditation industry to help me. This is a problem for the meditation industry, because it means they can't sell me meditation products. They need me to believe that I could be meditating better if I had their product or service, so there's a huge incentive for them to try to convince me that I'm meditating wrong.

jamesrcole 9y ago
Good for you. Just because a person can do something fine by themselves doesn't mean that a service can't help other people. Some people can work out fine by themselves. Personal trainers help others. The existence of personal trainers doesn't stop anyone from working out themselves, and they do provide a benefit to some people. Why does a, say, app have to be telling you're doing it sub-optimally?? Why can't it be something that provides things like convenience or assistance?
- sevensor 9y ago
  > Why can't it be something that provides things like convenience or assistance Because the experience and practice of meditation is so entirely subjective as to make these claims absurd. What does convenience mean to meditation, when all that meditation requires is for you to be present?
  - mistermann 9y ago
    Do you consider this book to be snake oil? https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Illuminated-Complete-Meditation-Integrating/dp/0990847705 https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Illuminated-Complete-Meditation-...
  - jamesrcole 9y ago
    A convenient way to learn how to be present, or to bring you back to being present when you're drifting.
  - visarga 9y ago
    > What does convenience mean to meditation, when all that meditation requires is for you to be present? Reminding you to remain present. A guided meditation app can do that. That's convenience, but it won't meditate in your place.