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I've done a variety of meditation techniques and certainly appreciate the benefits they may offer. One thing I'd say is that it's not always the techniques tha

I've done a variety of meditation techniques and certainly appreciate the benefits they may offer. One thing I'd say is that it's not always the techniques that feel the hardest that actually offer the most benefits. I believe Buddha's term "middle way" referred to a way that was in the middle between extreme privation/altered consciousness and the ordinary world. I think those interested in meditation techniques should consider this. And in terms of long term silent retreats, I had an old friend who's schizophrenic symptoms were intensified by retreats of that sort and meditation in general isn't a thing that's riskless - I recall the possibility of serious reactions to meditation and intensive meditation in particular has been documented in a number of articles. Which relates to claims about "All problems"

jacksonlango 6y ago
This is the opinion of an amateur, but I think this is where "skillful effort" comes into play. A retreat like that will be less strenuous if you already have a daily meditation practice. I wouldn't describe a weeklong meditation retreat as the "extreme" side of the Buddha's middle way. That would be more like starving yourself in asceticism. With the right practice/preparation (IE a few months of daily hour-long sits), I think a weeklong retreat would be beneficial and reasonable for most people. Of course, getting to the point of a daily practice is pretty challenging itself, but not too much more than the average workout routine in my opinion.
- joe_the_user 6y ago
  Yeah, the point isn't that any given thing is hard but that throwing yourself into the practice that's really extreme for you might not be the best to start mindfulness. In Qi Dao, our approach is based not on going beyond a person's comfort zone but extending their comfort zone.
  - jacksonlango 6y ago
    Got it, yeah, I would definitely agree.
- Aeolun 6y ago
  > IE a few months of daily hour-long sits Maybe it’s a difference of perspective, but what you describe as practice already sounds pretty extreme to me.
  - brigandish 6y ago
    Most people sit all day looking at a screen, then they spend a large part of their free time also sitting to watch TV series (generally ~40 minutes long) and films (~90 to 120 minutes long) so spending 1 hr sitting without a distraction hardly seems extreme in comparison, though I wouldn't call it particularly useful. Like physical exercise, you'll probably get more benefit from many, smaller but intense reps than large one off attempts.
deleted 6y ago
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nprateem 6y ago
I read that the 'middle way' was as opposed to practices mortifying the body, eg starvation, self flagellation etc, which were popular at the time the Buddha was around.

jacksonlango 6y ago

This is the opinion of an amateur, but I think this is where "skillful effort" comes into play. A retreat like that will be less strenuous if you already have a daily meditation practice. I wouldn't describe a weeklong meditation retreat as the "extreme" side of the Buddha's middle way. That would be more like starving yourself in asceticism. With the right practice/preparation (IE a few months of daily hour-long sits), I think a weeklong retreat would be beneficial and reasonable for most people. Of course, getting to the point of a daily practice is pretty challenging itself, but not too much more than the average workout routine in my opinion.

joe_the_user 6y ago
Yeah, the point isn't that any given thing is hard but that throwing yourself into the practice that's really extreme for you might not be the best to start mindfulness. In Qi Dao, our approach is based not on going beyond a person's comfort zone but extending their comfort zone.
- jacksonlango 6y ago
  Got it, yeah, I would definitely agree.
Aeolun 6y ago
> IE a few months of daily hour-long sits Maybe it’s a difference of perspective, but what you describe as practice already sounds pretty extreme to me.
- brigandish 6y ago
  Most people sit all day looking at a screen, then they spend a large part of their free time also sitting to watch TV series (generally ~40 minutes long) and films (~90 to 120 minutes long) so spending 1 hr sitting without a distraction hardly seems extreme in comparison, though I wouldn't call it particularly useful. Like physical exercise, you'll probably get more benefit from many, smaller but intense reps than large one off attempts.

deleted 6y ago

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nprateem 6y ago

I read that the 'middle way' was as opposed to practices mortifying the body, eg starvation, self flagellation etc, which were popular at the time the Buddha was around.