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I often wonder whether or not one could get similar effects through meditation. When I was doing regular Buddhist meditation exercises, I felt that I had an inc

I often wonder whether or not one could get similar effects through meditation. When I was doing regular Buddhist meditation exercises, I felt that I had an increased level of concentration. The disadvantages are that meditation is much harder than taking a pill and the effects might not be as strong. The advantages are that meditation has no harmful long-term side effects and has much longer lasting positive effects than any drug that temporarily alters brain chemistry. Meditation causes long-term changes in brain structure and function.

KirinDave 18y ago
I'm pretty sure if narcolepsy could be controlled by meditation people would do it. Clearly Modafinil has a measurable clinical effect that no amount of wu can reproduce. I was surprised how well tested it is, given this off-label use. It's a reasonably tested drug: http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Modafinil?query=Provigil http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Modafinil?query=Prov...
- jraines 18y ago
  Right -- I'll give you one guess what happens when narcoleptics try to meditate.
  - jonnytran 18y ago
    I know you're joking, but meditation doesn't have to be done sitting or lying down. It can be done standing, walking, or during practically any activity. It's just that some people get caught up in what they're doing rather than the meditation, so they sit and do nothing.
    - jraines 18y ago
      Actually I'm not joking, but I was referring to sitting or lying down meditation -- so point taken. Narcoleptics usually aren't like the puppies in internet videos or the girl in Deuce Bigalow, falling asleep suddenly and at random. They fall asleep in non-stimulating situations like a classroom or church and enter the deep part of the sleep cycle much faster than normal sleepers.
richcollins 18y ago
How do you know that long-term changes in brain structure and function do not include harmful side effects?

KirinDave 18y ago

I'm pretty sure if narcolepsy could be controlled by meditation people would do it. Clearly Modafinil has a measurable clinical effect that no amount of wu can reproduce. I was surprised how well tested it is, given this off-label use. It's a reasonably tested drug: http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Modafinil?query=Provigil http://www.powerset.com/explore/semhtml/Modafinil?query=Prov...

jraines 18y ago
Right -- I'll give you one guess what happens when narcoleptics try to meditate.
- jonnytran 18y ago
  I know you're joking, but meditation doesn't have to be done sitting or lying down. It can be done standing, walking, or during practically any activity. It's just that some people get caught up in what they're doing rather than the meditation, so they sit and do nothing.
  - jraines 18y ago
    Actually I'm not joking, but I was referring to sitting or lying down meditation -- so point taken. Narcoleptics usually aren't like the puppies in internet videos or the girl in Deuce Bigalow, falling asleep suddenly and at random. They fall asleep in non-stimulating situations like a classroom or church and enter the deep part of the sleep cycle much faster than normal sleepers.

richcollins 18y ago

How do you know that long-term changes in brain structure and function do not include harmful side effects?