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Achieving the desired mental states of meditation is hard for most people. We're so used to constantly moving about with our minds flitting from one thing to an
by geomark 12y ago
Achieving the desired mental states of meditation is hard for most people. We're so used to constantly moving about with our minds flitting from one thing to another Meditation is precisely the opposite of that.
But if you do there are many great benefits, including reducing the suffering of physical pain. Like you said, you can reach a mental state where you just observe the physical pain - you know it is there but you don't suffer from it.
Disclaimer: I was a Buddhist monk for a while. I meditated a lot.
- kranner 12y agoWhile the state lasted, it was extremely interesting. It's one thing to read about it, and another to experience it. It's the simplicity that was so surprising. At the time I almost laughed when I remembered how I would normally react to what was just a painful joint. That's when I lost my grip, so to speak, and went back to feeling ow, ow, ow.
- geomark 12y agoYeah, holding on to that state is a challenge. Need to experience it many times so the mind gets in the habit of just slipping into it. Problem is, when you try too hard to get there you can't. You're grasping, clinging, which defeats you. Gotta let go, as they say. It's subtle, but profound.