rEv is absolutely crackers!! Or, a thread on meditation...

[JimC]

You simply need to re-integrate the energy levels of your chakras.

Sitting naked inside a crystal pyramid under the light of the full moon while eating peyote is my recommendation...

[pErvinalia]

I'm surprised some of my loopy hippy friends haven't recommended this on my facebook page yet.

Actually, looking at the most scientifically successful treatments for BPD, they all incorporate some Buddhist concepts of mindfulness into their procedure. Maybe Eff can explain what exactly that is.

[pErvinalia]

Yo.

[FBM]

I'm surprised some of my loopy hippy friends haven't recommended this on my facebook page yet.

Actually, looking at the most scientifically successful treatments for BPD, they all incorporate some Buddhist concepts of mindfulness into their procedure. Maybe Eff can explain what exactly that is.

Ehh...I don't think mindfulness meditation was ever prescribed (by teh Buddeh) as a cure or treatment for any sort of medical condition. As far as I can tell, it was prescribed for those who want to achieve a particular experience of heightened awareness of who/what one really is. Not saying that it would or wouldn't help you, just that that doesn't seem to have been its original purpose. I wouldn't recommend pursuing that at the expense of conventional, modern medicine.

[pErvinalia]

If you look up DBT (Dialectic Behavioural Therapy) and a couple of related treatments, they include aspects of mindfulness. Not sure exactly how they are applied, but these treatments are the most rigorous and successful at treating my new self-diagnosed disorder.

[pErvinalia]

Mentalization-based therapy and transference-focused psychotherapy are based on psychodynamic principles, while dialectical behavior therapy is based on cognitive-behavioral principles and mindfulness.[106] General psychiatric management combines the core principles from each of these treatments, and it is considered easier to learn and less intensive.[107] Randomized controlled trials have shown that DBT and MBT are the most effective, and the two share many similarities.[108][109] Researchers are interested in developing shorter versions of these therapies to increase accessibility, to relieve the financial burden on patients, and to relieve the resource burden on treatment providers.[106][109]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline ... Management

[FBM]

Hmm.

Cultivating mindfulness is the key to overcoming suffering and recognizing natural wisdom: both our own and others'. How do we go about it?
In the Buddhist tradition and in Contemplative Psychotherapy training, we nurture mindfulness through the practice of sitting meditation. There are many different kinds of meditation. For example, some are designed to help us relax; others are meant to produce altered states of consciousness.

Mindfulness meditation is unique in that it is not directed toward getting us to be different from how we already are. Instead, it helps us become aware of what is already true moment by moment. We could say that it teaches us how to be unconditionally present; that is, it helps us be present with whatever is happening, no matter what it is.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the ... meditation

My only issue with that is that it seems to emphasize sitting meditation too much. Mindfulness can be cultivated in all sorts of more active moments. Indeed, the idea is to be maximally mindfull (and accepting) at all times, no matter what you're doing. It's a progressive thing, so I can see how it might need to start with sitting, but walking comes next, then as you become better at it you do it more and more even when you're not in a conventionally meditative setting. Instead of evaluating, interpreting or judging moment-to-moment experiences, you just watch them arise and pass away. An example from my experience: When I stumble or drop something while I'm not being mindful, I say something like, "Goddammit! Wtf? Pay attention, idjit!" in my head. But when I'm being mindful, the response is either nothing at all or something more like, "Well, that would happen in this situation" or "Well, that happened" and let it go. More moment-to-moment experiences are happening, so there's no time to cling on to that one. Similarly, what may or may not happen in the future seems to be of no concern at the moment simply because it hasn't happened yet. Not saying I've mastered mindfulness or anything, but that's my experience in a nutshell so far.

[pErvinalia]

I think I have inadvertently begun to practice that from time to time. Having not much at all to do these days, I often find myself just staring out the window with an almost empty mind. Despite appearing like a sad case, it is quite a pleasant experience. But I can only hold it for a few moments (like 10 seconds at a times or so). The other thing I like doing which might be similar is closing my eyes (or more often at night when it is dark) and listening for sounds that you ordinarily wouldn't hear. Like a faint repetitive distant bird call. Then I'll switch to some other repetitive sound. Of course, it's probably a LOT harder to practice that in the city with all sorts of dominating noises occurring. Out here it's just a collection of soft surrounding noises.

[pErvinalia]

Hey Eff, do you want to split this out into it's own topic? Others might not notice it here and might want to contribute.

[FBM]

I think I have inadvertently begun to practice that from time to time. Having not much at all to do these days, I often find myself just staring out the window with an almost empty mind. Despite appearing like a sad case, it is quite a pleasant experience. But I can only hold it for a few moments (like 10 seconds at a times or so). The other thing I like doing which might be similar is closing my eyes (or more often at night when it is dark) and listening for sounds that you ordinarily wouldn't hear. Like a faint repetitive distant bird call. Then I'll switch to some other repetitive sound. Of course, it's probably a LOT harder to practice that in the city with all sorts of dominating noises occurring. Out here it's just a collection of soft surrounding noises.

Shit, man, I treasure such moments. The idea in the Buddhist version is to acknowledge whatever experience surfaces in the mind as the most important or noticeable at the moment. It could be the bird noises or the pain in your lower back or legs or the smell of something, the breeze on a certain part of your body. Not identifying any of them as anything other than pleasant, unpleasant or neutral. Then monitoring them as they arise and fade. Eventually you develop the habit of considering that whatever experience you have, whether pleasant, unpleasant or neutral, is bound to fade. As a result, the futility of clinging to any past or present experience becomes apparent. Just common sense, really.

Hey Eff, do you want to split this out into it's own topic? Others might not notice it here and might want to contribute.

Yeah, sure. I could do the split. Got a suggestion for a thread title? If you want to start one, I'll split these posts off to it.

[pErvinalia]

Where Eff and I discuss the Buddhist "mindfulness" thingo. Others then join in and tell of their experiences and give suggestions and advice. rEv then becomes less crackers!

[FBM]

Shit. Now I gotta figure out how to split this while 58.4% durnk.

[pErvinalia]

I wish I was 58.4% drunk.

[FBM]

OK, I was exaggerating a bit. I'm really just 74.5% tired. Long hours these days. Too many students' cleavage, tits and panty shots wearing me out. Especially since I'm about the same age as their parents. Then again, I shall endeavor to persevere.

[pErvinalia]

Live in the (panty) moment.