Background
According to market research, Meditation is a $1 billion industry, and it could increased to $2 billion by 2022. Meditation apps have generated more than $100 million in revenue last year.
Meditation and Mindfulness are two of the most problematic, overused, and distotred terms in the recent years; and They have becoming the mantra for many marketing purpose. With the popularity of App, the distortion is getting worse. So, do one want to know what do they really are before one pay for the meditation or mindfulness products or monthly App services ?
What is all these meditation stuffs is?
Meditation can be categorized into two major types. These are the calmness meditation and the insight meditation. The calmness meditation is for developing body- mind relaxing, stability, settle, balance, resilience, and peaceful. The mindfulness and healing meditation is a type of the calmness meditation. The Insight meditation is to gain insight of a particular subject or to liberate from mindset trap or attachment.
A proper Meditation could support the human body-mind-energy to function effective and efficiently, but no magic. Meditation is not magic where one can turn oxigen into water or H2o by mindfulness or mantra meditation. Infact, none in the history of man kind has yet have the capability to turn oxygen into water by meditation.
A proper Meditation is not just a manipulative activity of mind or head or brain. A proper meditation is also not a quick fix to problem or to get high. There are six areas of concern in a proper meditation practice. These six areas are the proper handling of diet, rest, medication, physical body, mind, and breathing. It is well known that for the ancient Chinese, a holistic meditation needs to be supported by proper diet, proper rest, and proper medication if needed. In addition, the basic handling of the four layer models as shown in the following figure is a must for a proper meditation practice.
Thus, the general claim of meditation to solve stress, anxiety, depression, become happier, more productive, and creative….. cancer …etc , without examine the six areas of concern and have a good handling on the four layers model are extremely doubtful on the repeatability and quality; Not to mention those empty claim on healing cancer or other serious illness. In addition, calmness or mindfulness practice alone might not solve the problem. For example, unwilling to accept one’s mistake in the past, and decides to hold on to it or repeat it.
What is all these Mindfulness stuffs is?
The general definition of Mindfulness is as the following. Mindfulness is paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non judgmentally. However, this definition is incomplete. The reason is that the level of calmness of body-mind or the calmness parameter which is crucial was not included or not taking into consideration.
The reality of human mind -body handling is as in this Calmness-Awareness Map. In order for the body -mind or the four layers to function in a certain state, one needs the sufficient level of calmness of the body-mind to support the state. For example, as in the above figure, to have a state of Effective body-mind handling needs a deeper or higher level of calmness compare with the Rest state of body-mind handling.
Thus, the mindfulness or the “ paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non judgmentally” at the Relax state and the effective body-mind handling state required or is depend on a different level of calmness.
Thus, in a vacation or leasure, one could easily experienced the “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non judgmentally” or mindfulness . For example, one could experience mindfulness while watching the beautiful Sun set scenery of Lake Toba, sitting in a Bali resort yoga meditation Hall, or listen to some Buddhist monk’s, guru’s or masters’ lecture; however, what level of calmness development is needed in order to be mindfulness in the fast track design center of the Silicon Valley, within the car of the hot congested rush hour traffic in Jakarta, or the Intensive Care Unit in the hospital in New York?
Will the mindfulness you have (while enjoying this Lake Toba sun set in your vacation ) help you while you are sitting within the car in the hot congested rush hour traffic in Jakarta worrying if you could arrive at the airport on time?
Do you think keep bring you back to have vacation to the Lake Toba in real person or with video and audio or 3D virtual reality will develop mindfulness for you to handle the daily stress? Or it is just taking a break or an escape ?
What is realistic?
Is it realistic to not adress the needs of development of the calmness level of the four layers and the six areas of concern? And assume paying attention to the breath, feeling of contact to the chair, or bring the mind back to the breath will accomplished the “as one likes it “ magic?
And could one ignore the following realities ?
“During the deep breathing session, If you start to feel dizzy, faint, weak, or any other discomfort, stop the session immediately. If the feeling persists, lie down until you feel better, and consider seeking medical attention if symptoms continue to persist. Use caution or consult your doctor before use if you have any pre-existing cardiac or respiratory condition.”
Or
The following continuous glucose measurement shows a rising blood glucose level between 8.20am to 8.40am in a Qigong session which is contradicted to the believe of this qigong is beneficial and can lower the blood glucose for the diabetic.
The goal of technology is to create products that solve problems and improve human life, while mimic or following the hearsay practice one does not have a clear understanding is not scientific but a superstitious which will not survive in this Artificial Intelligence era.
Note: figures are from the Meditation Matrix book, copyrighted
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