Comments on: Meditation Part 1: Overview and Benefits http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/175 A Daily Dose of Buddhist Wisdom Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:20:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Jesse http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/175/comment-page-1#comment-695 Jesse Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:58:40 +0000 http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/175#comment-695 Thanks, I read about Monks. And of course you are right: each person must begin somewhere and Monks are on a path, with thorns and itches on the way. A monk must improve unless improvement itself is a form of attachment. As to lay persons, in traditions other than buddhism, an awareness of inner states and inner dangers is attached to meditation. Hence the need for a guide. Meditation maybe defined many ways but it is, in the end, a skill. To be unskillful perhaps is to invite states of depression. Thanks,

I read about Monks. And of course you are right: each person must begin somewhere and Monks are on a path, with thorns and itches on the way.

A monk must improve unless improvement itself is a form of attachment.

As to lay persons, in traditions other than buddhism, an awareness of inner states and inner dangers is attached to meditation. Hence the need for a guide. Meditation maybe defined many ways but it is, in the end, a skill.

To be unskillful perhaps is to invite states of depression.

]]> By: Brian Schell http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/175/comment-page-1#comment-694 Brian Schell Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:00:55 +0000 http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/175#comment-694 I had not heard of that before, but it wouldn't surprise me. When talking about depression, do you mean monks or laypeople? I could certainly see some monks suffering from depression; they try so hard to reach Nirvana that it might be rough seeing themselves failing day in and day out. Of course, that's still a form of attachment or grasping, but if they recognize it as sucj, they could try to work through it. Also, a monk in a monastery faces an entirely different lifestyle than a layperson. They are bound to become depressed when they think of the things they have given up. It's better for them in the long run, but I'm sure from time to time they miss having a "normal life." If you mean laypeople become depressed after meditation, I'm not sure why that would be the case. Anyone? I had not heard of that before, but it wouldn’t surprise me. When talking about depression, do you mean monks or laypeople? I could certainly see some monks suffering from depression; they try so hard to reach Nirvana that it might be rough seeing themselves failing day in and day out. Of course, that’s still a form of attachment or grasping, but if they recognize it as sucj, they could try to work through it. Also, a monk in a monastery faces an entirely different lifestyle than a layperson. They are bound to become depressed when they think of the things they have given up. It’s better for them in the long run, but I’m sure from time to time they miss having a “normal life.”

If you mean laypeople become depressed after meditation, I’m not sure why that would be the case. Anyone?

]]> By: Jesse http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/175/comment-page-1#comment-693 Jesse Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:52:15 +0000 http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/175#comment-693 Hi, read that meditative states can produce depressive symptoms. Clearly, the contrary is well-known: it may lift one out of depression and combat stress and anxiety. I know from my own experience, long periods of meditation can be followed with a strained introspection, which remains until sleep or the next day. Other times, it may be peaceful and light, soothing and calming. In passing, is it true that some monks suffer from depresion and, if so, though not necessarily so, is that related to meditative states of long duration? I do not want to scare-monger. But we are dealing with the emotions and mind and this is an important issue to address. Hi, read that meditative states can produce depressive symptoms. Clearly, the contrary is well-known: it may lift one out of depression and combat stress and anxiety.

I know from my own experience, long periods of meditation can be followed with a strained introspection, which remains until sleep or the next day.

Other times, it may be peaceful and light, soothing and calming. In passing, is it true that some monks suffer from depresion and, if so, though not necessarily so, is that related to meditative states of long duration?

I do not want to scare-monger. But we are dealing with the emotions and mind and this is an important issue to address.

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