Meditation and its effects

[BlakSheep]

I have read that although humans use only 10% of their brains, under extreme stress or emotions( Rage, Fear, Ecstasy) that amount increases temporarily, giving clarity of thought that is hard to achieve. That being said, I also read that meditation does the same thing. What do you think? I personally believe because I myself meditate, and feel its effects. Meditating is hard, and for most people needs lots of practice before self-awareness is achieved. Is this really true, or are people just going with whats told to them. Like giving someone an aspirin, and telling them its a T-Bar, and the rest of the day they "think" they're high. Thoughts? Opinions? I personally feel it is good foryour body and mind. :D

[RedAnarchist]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18, 2007 03:48 pm
I have read that although humans use only 10% of their brains,
Thats sort of an urban myth - http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/10percent.asp

[BlakSheep]

Thanks for clearing that up for me mate. But what about a clarity in mind that mostly only happens when under extreme stress or emotions( Rage, Fear, Ecstasy)?

[Saint Street Revolution]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18, 2007 02:48 pm
I have read that although humans use only 10% of their brains, under extreme stress or emotions( Rage, Fear, Ecstasy) that amount increases temporarily, giving clarity of thought that is hard to achieve. That being said, I also read that meditation does the same thing. What do you think? I personally believe because I myself meditate, and feel its effects. Meditating is hard, and for most people needs lots of practice before self-awareness is achieved. Is this really true, or are people just going with whats told to them. Like giving someone an aspirin, and telling them its a T-Bar, and the rest of the day they "think" they're high. Thoughts? Opinions? I personally feel it is good foryour body and mind. :D
Theories on meditation change as one explores different religions. Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Taoism, Islam, Jainism, and a few other religions use meditation as a way to be at peace with everything around you, as well as heighten your senses and awareness of these surroundings. Some religions, such as Buddhism, believe this will give you a path to enlightment during life and Nirvana during afterlife.

Pretty much, it is healthy for the mind, body, and soul.

I'm not exactly educated on meditation nor psychology, but there's my take.

[Janus]

Meditating is hard, and for most people needs lots of practice before self-awareness is achieved. Is this really true, or are people just going with whats told to them. Like giving someone an aspirin, and telling them its a T-Bar, and the rest of the day they "think they're high. Thoughts? Opinions?
No, meditation has been proven to be more than simply some sort of placebo treatment. It has been shown to produce relaxation by altering various biological/physiological effects including respiration, heart rate, metabolism,etc.


Some religions, such as Buddhism, believe this will give you a path to enlightment during life and Nirvana during afterlife.
They're more or less the same as Nirvana is simply "full" enlightenment which when achieved results in spiritual "ascension" and ends the cycle of reincarnation.

[Saint Street Revolution]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19, 2007 01:24 am

Some religions, such as Buddhism, believe this will give you a path to enlightment during life and Nirvana during afterlife.
They're more or less the same as Nirvana is simply "full" enlightenment which when achieved results in spiritual "ascension" and ends the cycle of reincarnation.
Stop the cycle of reincarnation? So reincarnation is believed to, for a loss of words, another shot?

[Yardstick]

Mediation changes the brain waves, much the same way as marijuana does. Inducing relaxation, euphoria, and creativity.

I can't recall specifically what brainwaves are increased, i want to say alpha but I could easily be wrong.

[Frew]

I think that the brain activity spikes seen in times of stress is the process of our brain groping for a solution to an urgent problem. Our brains, being kinda like computers have a whole heap of information stored that is useless in most situations, when confronted with a problem the brain sorts through this looking for a useful solution. if our brains fired at 100% we would constantly be remembering everything we know, most of which we don't generally need. Like, if a guy with a gun approaches us, being able to recall who won the last World Cup isn't going to be that relevant at that time, so our brain just doesn't access that part.

When we are thinking clearly, we aren't using more of our brains as a percentage, but ordering our thoughts in a coherrent way. How meditation relates to using more of your brain, I have no idea though.

[Janus]

So reincarnation is believed to, for a loss of words, another shot?
Within Buddhist scripture, it's possible for one to be reborn into a state which is not capable of nirvana.