Comments on: Criss-Cross Applesauce

By: Noell

Noell — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 02:14:12 +0000

Ron, that was fascinating. You inpired me to simplify (which I’ve been trying to do anyway), and work on doing more single-focused tasks, rather than multi-tasking all the time.

I think a lot of us will relate to what you are saying about society-imposed overstimulation and anxiety, and your explanation for the relaxing affects of the actions you listed. It really clicked for me.

By: Noell

Noell — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 02:05:31 +0000

Ed: I used your link and read his post. It’s unbelievable. I think Ron made a comment once about Christians against yoga. Anyway, I read all the comments, too. Your comments were brilliant. You did such a good job refuting every point they made, and all they could come up with was the bit about it being a judge. Ultimately, he and his readers were never able to counter your rebuttal. It rocked.

By: Ron

Ron — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 14:00:13 +0000

For folks who have a hard time with the ‘sit and breathe’ modes of meditation – know that doing any form of repetative single-focus activity has comperable effects on your physiology and mind.
Knitting, gardening, painting (paint-by-numbers are actually perscribed to people with anxiety disorders by some doctors), cross-stitching, yoga, jogging, hiking, quilting, etc.
As I understand it – the main goal is to focus on something that does not send your mind in a hundred different directions.
It should be mentioned that prayer has the identical effect – and that singing with the breathing patterns in most hymns has this same effect as well. Blue-grassy spirituals do an amazing job of directly imitating the breathing patterns used in meditation. Shorter inhalation – longer exhalation. Sleep breathing.

People come to understand that these things help them – and they are want to attribute their own personal interpretation as to why that is. Prayer does heal – just like paint-by-numbers! Singing hymns does get a loving response from god – as much so if you envision ‘god’ as the collection of laws and relationships that make up physical reality (including our own bodies).

When a mind is racing a hundred miles an hour – and you focus on a single thing in a state of calm, it stands to reason that you are closer to your more natural (less man-made hyper-engaged sensory-overloaded) state. Being closer to a natural state brings health.
To me, this is more beautiful than any magical thinking a superstition may provide.
People who rail against meditation and yoga (the devil’s playground!!!) would prefer that you seek your naural relief using church perscribed methods of prayer and worship. Different means to the same end – and one doesn’t require that you believe in magic.

By: Ed Darrell

Ed Darrell — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 06:11:03 +0000

Benefits to meditation?

Not to pick blog fights or anything, but have you seen Doug Groothuis’ rant over at Culture Watch, against yoga as teaching religion? And the wrong religion?

http://theconstructivecurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2005/12/american-irony-yoga-yes-design-no.html

Your post was a breath of fresh air.

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 28 Jan 2006 22:32:58 +0000

Meditating is much harder than it sounds. I’m not very good at it but it’s on my list of things to get better at.

I’ve had moments like the one with your daughter and the old man with the shopping cart. I’m particularly cautious with my kids around elderly people who have (and rightly so) a big fear of falling. I’ve never tried meditation with my kids, but hey, it can’t hurt!

Also, thanks for letting me know that Indian-style is now Criss-Cross Applesauce. I’m woefully politically incorrect when it comes to this stuff.