On 24/01/2011 23:29, Doug Freyburger wrote:
> Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote:
>>
>> http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-mindfulness-meditation-brain-weeks.html
>>
>> Participating in an 8-week mindfulness meditation program appears to
>> make measurable changes in brain regions associated with memory, sense
>> of self, empathy and stress. In a study that will appear in the January
>> 30 issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, a team led by
>> Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers report the results of
>> their study, the first to document meditation-produced changes over time
>> in the brain's grey matter.
>
> Has anyone done both meditation and shamanic trance work? Trance work
> has been done as far back as hunter gatherer times. Meditation as a
> method that is taught is far more recent but several thousand years back.

I have done both, and they are different.
Trance work is far easier IMHO. You can use all kinds of methods for
inducing trance. Zen meditation OTOH is almost the opposite. It involves
keeping the mind clear, alert and unthinking.

> Mindfulless sounds like the awareness method in Zen.

"Right mindfullness". Being aware of what you are doing, thinking etc

> Popular in secular culture in the US in the 1960s and 1970s was Silva
> Mind Control which induced alpha state for visualization. It used the
> word "relax" and with enough practice saying it once can relax the body
> and put the brain into alpha state.

Hypnotic anchoring or conditioning.
I read the da Silva book years ago.
Quite useful advice.

> Transendental Meditation was popular in the 1960s and was studied for
> blood pressure and other coarse health benfits. TM used an assortment
> of ancient words to be chanted (orally or mentally) for the duration of
> the meditation.

Never liked that, never did it much and so have no reports on its effect.

> I learned khakra induction in a college philosophy class.

What's that?

> www.releasetechnique.com is a modernmethod that produces most of the
> health benefits but can be done while driving.

Seems overhyped.
Is it the same as this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Release_technique

--
FFF
Dirk

http://www.neopax.com/technomage/ - My new book - Magick and Technology

Dirk Bruere at NeoPax wrote:
> Doug Freyburger wrote:
>
>> I learned khakra induction in a college philosophy class.
>
> What's that?

Khakras are the Hindu idea of energy centers in/near the body. Focus on
each one starting at the reproduction one and move up one by one until
you get to the crown. As it moves up along the body it works very well
for physical relaxation. As it taps into an immense and ancient lore it
works well for connecting to whatever it is the mind connects with while
mediating. With a bit of practice folks can go from sitting down to
deeply mediating in a minute.

>> www.releasetechnique.com is a modernmethod that produces most of the
>> health benefits but can be done while driving.
>
> Seems overhyped.

My bias - I am a happy customer. I originally took their class for
anger management and have since used it on and off for general well
being.

> Is it the same as this:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Release_technique

No. That's about muscular stuff not about draining out emotional rust.