On Aug 22, 2009, at 4:28 PM, raunchydog wrote:
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj <vajradh...@...> wrote:
>
>
> On Aug 21, 2009, at 10:39 PM, raunchydog wrote:
>
> > Then how come, "Frontal alpha coherence is not reported in other
> > meditation practices?
>
>
Travis isn't talking about "just" alpha which anyone can demonstrate
doing biofeedback, listening to music, daydreaming etc. He's talking
specifically about alpha coherence in the frontal lobes of the
brain, which no one has found in other forms of meditation or in
people just relaxing. He's comparing three types of meditation
techniques and TM is the only one that produces "frontal alpha
coherence." Since relaxation and other forms of meditation can't
reproduce it, it must be unique to TM. The fact that we don't know
what it "means" doesn't negate its uniqueness, maybe it just means
"something good is happening."
Sorry, not buying it. It's no wonder Travis is viewed at with
suspicion as this is total BS.
"Meditation in the Tibetan Buddhism tradition has been generally
described as: "Reasoned deconstruction of the reality of objects
experienced in meditation, as well as concentrative practices to
create moods such as pure compassion, loving kindness; or no self.
This involves focused attention, and control of the mind. It
involves concentration.
Wow, what a horrible description of the literally hundreds---probably
thousands--of meditation techniques in Tibetan Buddhism alone. If this
is his description, it certainly, clearly shows the guy doesn't have a
clue what he's talking about.
Mindfulness Meditation is described by Paul Grossman as: Systematic
procedure to develop enhanced awareness of moment-to-moment
experiences. Mindfulness includes two meditation practices:
- with eyes closed: attention on breath.
- with eyes open: dispassionate observation of body, senses and
environment. This meditation involves intention or directing of
attention to physiological rhythms, inner thoughts, sensations or
outer objects.
Transcendental Meditation technique is a process of effortless
transcending...
As a working hypothesis, let's accept that TM is effortless, and
then generate testable hypotheses. One of these testable hypotheses,
is: If TM is effortless, then people should quickly master the
practice of transcending.
If we know about the metaphysics of meditation, we know that
meditation with objects can never be truly effortless--a fine
distinction, but a crucial one. So we should avoid saying things we
know to be false, as if repeating the lie over and over, someone will
believe it. Perhaps this is why MMY went to such lengths to point that
TM involved a small amount of effort at Estes Park...
Research supports this hypothesis. In the next slide, we see EEG
during TM in students of the same age, but with very different
levels of time practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique.
The one on the left just learned the TM technique, as a new student
at Maharishi University of Management. The one on the right has been
meditating since he was 10 years old."
http://www.fredtravis.com/talk.html
I'm familiar with the spiel. It's kinda disappointing now that that
MMY is gone, they don't at least TRY to be more honest.
