Also, it is important to remember; meditation is one of the few activities which is for no other purpose other than itself. Just as one does not dance so as to get to a different point on the floor, or play a piece of music so as to get to the final note, meditation is not for any ulterior purpose.
Any supposed benefits of meditating are entirely secondary to the process of meditation itself. This may be hard to understand for some people, in our very utilitarian world.
@Comcouveflor What I wrote in response to 'neoconservative' was not a word for word quote of Alan Watts, it is the summary of what I understood from his many talks on meditation and concentration.
I see your point though, as no amount of words can ever explain the true meaning of meditation, and of course Zen. As Alan Watts said "you can't eat other peoples food for them."
@nonconservative No, actually he's right...let me explain what I think he meant.
If you've been practicing real meditation, then you were not doing so for some ulterior motive. Being "helped" may come as a result of meditation, but if it is your objective while meditating, then you're not really meditating. Reaching the meditative state is an act of total spontaneity, and can be forced no more than we can force ourselves to fall asleep.
@nonconservative Some people make the mistake of consciously trying to concentrate when meditating, which can be a dillema. As Alan Watts has rightly said; when you try to concentrate in this way, you are only thinking about concentrating, and this just divides ones attention. A true state of concentration can only be reached through spontaneity, just as the meditative state.
Lao Tzu said ' To organize is to destroy'.
The Way of the Tao is of itself so.
glensidecrew 2 months ago
Also, it is important to remember; meditation is one of the few activities which is for no other purpose other than itself. Just as one does not dance so as to get to a different point on the floor, or play a piece of music so as to get to the final note, meditation is not for any ulterior purpose.
Any supposed benefits of meditating are entirely secondary to the process of meditation itself. This may be hard to understand for some people, in our very utilitarian world.
wnxsilence 1 year ago
@wnxsilence Way to quote Watts... not THE way!
Comcouveflor 1 year ago
@Comcouveflor What I wrote in response to 'neoconservative' was not a word for word quote of Alan Watts, it is the summary of what I understood from his many talks on meditation and concentration.
I see your point though, as no amount of words can ever explain the true meaning of meditation, and of course Zen. As Alan Watts said "you can't eat other peoples food for them."
wnxsilence 1 year ago
thank you so much! this helped me so much... thank you
nonconservative 1 year ago 2
@nonconservative then you've missed the point entirely :P
kazakastan78 1 year ago
@kazakastan78 LMFAO Talking shit isn't gonna help.
nonconservative 1 year ago
@nonconservative No, actually he's right...let me explain what I think he meant.
If you've been practicing real meditation, then you were not doing so for some ulterior motive. Being "helped" may come as a result of meditation, but if it is your objective while meditating, then you're not really meditating. Reaching the meditative state is an act of total spontaneity, and can be forced no more than we can force ourselves to fall asleep.
wnxsilence 1 year ago
@nonconservative Some people make the mistake of consciously trying to concentrate when meditating, which can be a dillema. As Alan Watts has rightly said; when you try to concentrate in this way, you are only thinking about concentrating, and this just divides ones attention. A true state of concentration can only be reached through spontaneity, just as the meditative state.
wnxsilence 1 year ago 4
@wnxsilence yes but how is spontaneity possible... it just happens by sheer luck...?
TheUndertakerSaysRIP 9 months ago
@TheUndertakerSaysRIP spontaneity could just be an illusion of perspective.
theroob 7 months ago