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No it's not. It's strength training for your ability to direct your attention. Sleep is the garbage collection.

javajosh 12y ago
I like the strength training metaphor - there is even the notion of paramita[1], which are containers for virtues that you fill up over time (I find it quite wonderful to define virtue as the accumulation of past action, rather than some intrinsic quality). In particular, relating to "strength" are the paramitas of determination and will. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81ramit%C4%81 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81ramit%C4%81
- WalterSear 12y ago
  I meant it mostly in the neurophyisiological sense, rather than as a mystical abstraction. It strengthens neurological pathways and thickens layers of the brain involved in directed thought.
segmondy 12y ago
To each their own, for me it's neither garbage collection nor sleep. It's having an organized todo list that's been prioritized.
- WalterSear 12y ago
  IMNSHO, it's 'whatever you want it to be'. It causes specific measurable changes to brain function and anatomy.
  - WalterSear 12y ago
    Not, rather
  - kybernetikos 12y ago
    > It causes specific measurable changes to brain function and anatomy. So does learning The Knowledge.
    - WalterSear 12y ago
      So what? Different parts of the brain, different functions.
- innguest 12y ago
  > It's having an organized todo list that's been prioritized. So... defragmentation? :)
Florin_Andrei 12y ago
> It's strength training for your ability to direct your attention. That's an initial, low level in meditation. Not meditation per se, more like getting your mind ready for it. It may take years to go beyond it, which is why a lot of people confuse it with meditation proper. There is a point where your state of consciousness in meditation combines attributes of the waking state, the dream state, and the dreamless sleep state. When that happens, meditation indeed becomes a GC for the mind. But then sleep becomes optional, among other unusual occurrences.
- WalterSear 12y ago
  >sleep becomes optional Do you have a non-anecdotal source for that claim? tx
  - mping 12y ago
    I can offer my own experience. I went to a meditation retreat, we were supposed to sleep only 2 to 3 hours a day. I probably slept around that on average. The rest of the time it's just meditation and breaks with occasional meals.

I like the strength training metaphor - there is even the notion of paramita[1], which are containers for virtues that you fill up over time (I find it quite wonderful to define virtue as the accumulation of past action, rather than some intrinsic quality). In particular, relating to "strength" are the paramitas of determination and will. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81ramit%C4%81 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81ramit%C4%81

WalterSear 12y ago
I meant it mostly in the neurophyisiological sense, rather than as a mystical abstraction. It strengthens neurological pathways and thickens layers of the brain involved in directed thought.

segmondy 12y ago

To each their own, for me it's neither garbage collection nor sleep. It's having an organized todo list that's been prioritized.

WalterSear 12y ago
IMNSHO, it's 'whatever you want it to be'. It causes specific measurable changes to brain function and anatomy.
- WalterSear 12y ago
  Not, rather
- kybernetikos 12y ago
  > It causes specific measurable changes to brain function and anatomy. So does learning The Knowledge.
  - WalterSear 12y ago
    So what? Different parts of the brain, different functions.
innguest 12y ago
> It's having an organized todo list that's been prioritized. So... defragmentation? :)

Florin_Andrei 12y ago

> It's strength training for your ability to direct your attention. That's an initial, low level in meditation. Not meditation per se, more like getting your mind ready for it. It may take years to go beyond it, which is why a lot of people confuse it with meditation proper. There is a point where your state of consciousness in meditation combines attributes of the waking state, the dream state, and the dreamless sleep state. When that happens, meditation indeed becomes a GC for the mind. But then sleep becomes optional, among other unusual occurrences.

WalterSear 12y ago
>sleep becomes optional Do you have a non-anecdotal source for that claim? tx
- mping 12y ago
  I can offer my own experience. I went to a meditation retreat, we were supposed to sleep only 2 to 3 hours a day. I probably slept around that on average. The rest of the time it's just meditation and breaks with occasional meals.