Meditation. (addict, dopamine, sleep)

[Ann Alison]

I was just over in the relationships forum snooping on the 18-year olds. Apparently, they send and receive texts every hour THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. So, not only is that how they (some of them) conduct relationships, but they also don't get any real sleep! I wonder if they're the same people who have issues with depression and anxiety ... and meeting people.

[farm108]

Terribly sad. It breaks my heart to notice all these anomalies.

[farm108]

I found this lovely poem, one can meditate on it. It's beautiful.

HOW I BECAME A WARRIOR

Once, I ran from fear
so fear controlled me.
Until I learned to hold fear like a newborn.
Listen to it, but not give in.
Honour it, but not worship it.
Fear could not stop me anymore.
I walked with courage into the storm.
I still have fear,
but it does not have me.

Once, I was ashamed of who I was.
I invited shame into my heart.
I let it burn.
It told me, "I am only trying
to protect your vulnerability".
I thanked shame dearly,
and stepped into life anyway,
unashamed, with shame as a lover.

Once, I had great sadness
buried deep inside.
I invited it to come out and play.
I wept oceans. My tear ducts ran dry.
And I found joy right there.
Right at the core of my sorrow.
It was heartbreak that taught me how to love.

Once, I had anxiety.
A mind that wouldn't stop.
Thoughts that wouldn't be silent.
So I stopped trying to silence them.
And I dropped out of the mind,
and into the Earth.
Into the mud.
Where I was held strong
like a tree, unshakeable, safe.

Once, anger burned in the depths.
I called anger into the light of myself.
I felt its shocking power.
I let my heart pound and my blood boil.
Listened to it, finally.
And it screamed, "Respect yourself fiercely now!".
"Speak your truth with passion!".
"Say no when you mean no!".
"Walk your path with courage!".
"Let no one speak for you!"
Anger became an honest friend.
A truthful guide.
A beautiful wild child.

Once, loneliness cut deep.
I tried to distract and numb myself.
Ran to people and places and things.
Even pretended I was "happy".
But soon I could not run anymore.
And I tumbled into the heart of loneliness.
And I died and was reborn
into an exquisite solitude and stillness.
That connected me to all things.
So I was not lonely, but alone with All Life.
My heart One with all other hearts.

Once, I ran from difficult feelings.
Now, they are my advisors, confidants, friends,
and they all have a home in me,
and they all belong and have dignity.
I am sensitive, soft, fragile,
my arms wrapped around all my inner children.
And in my sensitivity, power.
In my fragility, an unshakeable Presence.
In the depths of my wounds,
in what I had named “darkness”,
I found a blazing Light
that guides me now in battle.
I became a warrior
when I turned towards myself.
And started listening.
- Jeff Foster

[fireflyer]

I do meditation and yoga daily. It's very powerful for relieving stress and tension

[farm108]

Good for you!

[farm108]

This is a dear poem, that I learned by heart in original (in my absolute favorite language). I think sharing it here might be useful. Good for meditating on it. Especially in these crazy times. This is a translation in English.

The Peace Prayer
by St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.


O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

[farm108]

Another poem that I love so much.

Humility

Humility is perpetual quietness of heart.
It is to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted,
or vexed, or irritated, or sore, or disappointed.

It is to expect nothing,
to wonder at nothing that is done to me,
to feel nothing done against me.
It is to be at rest when nobody praises me,
and when I am blamed and despised.

It is to have a blessed home in myself,
where I can go in and shut the door,
and kneel to my Father in secret,
and be at peace as in a deep sea of calmness,
when all around and above is troubled.

— Canon T.T. Carter

[farm108]

Zen things:

- Do one thing at a time.
- Do it slowly and deliberately.
- Do it completely.
- Do less.
- Put space between things.
- Develop rituals.
- Designate time for certain things.
- Devote time to sitting.
- Smile and serve others.
- Make cleaning and cooking become meditation.
- Think about what is necessary.
- Live simply.

[guidoLaMoto]

Originally Posted by froscow

Scientists have done brain MRIs on Buddhists who meditate up to a couple of hours a day and have seen positive changes (thickening of the prefontal cortex)

I guess it's just like exercising any other muscle in your body?

"Meditation" doesn't have to be a formal practice determined by special rules on how to do it--just a period of time of any length where you become conscious of peace, quiet, relaxation and aware of your surroundings-- anything from just stopping and taking a deep breathe once to an hour of sitting in a pretzel posture, humming OOOOhhhhmmm.

It's like I say about the Lamaze Method of Natural Childbirth-- If it's Natural, why do you have to take lessons?

[farm108]

There are many forms of meditation. You do what you feel like doing in the beginning. What you can do.

There are advanced techniques that one can practice and you need someone to explain how to do it. You start where you are. And do what you can.