3 ms·
> So, please, cut that 8-week-course crap out. What they "measured" is elevated self-esteem, or better self-confidence, or just felling special or even enlighte
by mjb 13y ago
> So, please, cut that 8-week-course crap out. What they "measured" is elevated self-esteem, or better self-confidence, or just felling special or even enlightened - any kind of these naive pre-mature "experiences" each and any novice had had.
If a novice can improve themselves in only 8 weeks, that doesn't seem to imply that only practicing for 8 weeks is "crap". Rather, it seems to imply that an 8 week course may be truly valuable.
It takes a great deal of daily practice to master chess, but even a few hours of instruction and the occasional game provides many people with pleasure, a chance for social interaction, and practice in careful thought. You don't need to truly master something for its practice to have value.
> any more or less authoritative teacher will tell you that it requires years of deliberate practice to attain very basic level of being continuously aware and in control of ones inner states
Perhaps that is true, but the article says that there are other benefits. On the other hand, it's important to beware of any teacher that tells you that you need years of (paid) instruction to get any benefit from something.
- dschiptsov 13y agoSigh, there is a classic (and popular) text called "Cutting through spiritual materialism" which explains what "improvements" they think they have attained. Even without any books, just look around, any dude who spent vacation in India or Tibet is cocksure that he is already enlightened, transformed, special - all those bearded, barefooted hipsters wandering in a popular tourist destinations, or some yogi-dressed Slavic youths, spending parent's money on weed and booze. It looks like a person who picked up few phrases from "learn Hindi in 21 days" and now claims that he know the language, while just ability to watch TV or read a newspaper understanding everything requires years and years of practice.
- hosh 13y agoThat is true, and in other circles, there's a derisive term for such people called "fluff bunnies". While there are grains of truth to this, derisiveness, though, isn't compassionate awareness. I remember a teacher writing about this, how Tibet used to have the same spiritual relationship to India as America now does to Tibet and India. This is a natural part of growing up, and of the nascent Western Buddhism flowering here. There's a long way to go, and it's fine. I do find it interesting you got downvoted though. I don't think that should have happened, but it's a fascinating observation of karma (no pun intended). What would downvoting your "attitude" accomplish? This is between you and yourself on the cushion.