36
submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by fluffy_cloud@piefed.world to c/askmeanything@lemmy.ca

Meditation is a thing that you do with your attention. When you pay attention or concentrate or get distracted, that's you doing a thing with your attention. And that's obviously important stuff in your life and the world. Meditation takes it further.

We basically have 2 kinds of meditation.

  1. Concentration meditation, which is plain ol concentration taken to a higher level.

  2. Zen meditation (aka shikantaza), which is another thing to do with your attention, kindof a left turn from concentration and is a bit esoteric.

So there you go.

top 27 comments
sorted by: hot top new old
[-] HubertManne@piefed.social 7 points 4 days ago

So can you meditate at will? I usually don't say I meditate as try to meditate because that is what I am doing. Sometimes I feel I get to a state which is illusive and maybe what I am looking to get to when I try to meditate but im not sure if that is meditation either.

[-] fluffy_cloud@piefed.world 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Yeah, I can meditate at will. I slide in. Starts shallow, gets deeper. The longer I go the deeper it gets. Then when I'm done I slide out again over hours and days. Ideally I'd do it 24-7 but there you go.

It's like my hand is chronically in a tight fist. When I meditate it relaxes and opens up and gets relaxed and floppy.

That's shikantaza anyway. The other kind of meditation, the concentration, it sorta makes me tighter. But I don't do that meditation these days.

[-] blarth@thelemmy.club 6 points 4 days ago

How would you say this has affected your life?

[-] fluffy_cloud@piefed.world 6 points 4 days ago
[-] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 days ago

Have you ever done group/collective transcendental meditation? From my limited lack of knowledge, I understand it is used to push positive social waves into the surrounding community. Big David Lynch fan.

[-] fluffy_cloud@piefed.world 4 points 3 days ago

Also, have you seen that collection of David Lynch's short works? It's got its moments. Featuring Harry Dean Stanton being musically deep. I have only seen it on torrent.

https://thepiratebay.zone/search/david%20lynch/1/99/0

[-] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago

Yes! My current favourite is a clip of him making quinoa. Opens the tap..."Now add some fresh, fresh water".

[-] fluffy_cloud@piefed.world 3 points 3 days ago

I am also a big David Lynch fan :)

I have not done TM in any serious way. I basically fumbled around and experimented until it made sense to me. Forging my own path and such.

I did go to a TM thing once a long time ago. They were nice people.

As for pushing positive social waves into the surrounding community, yes, I have some small experience with that. It's a thing I study and experiment with some.

[-] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago

Thanks, all the best to you.

[-] Sergio@piefed.social 5 points 4 days ago

So, do you have a more-experienced meditator that you meet with regularly, or do you meditate on your own?

[-] fluffy_cloud@piefed.world 3 points 4 days ago
[-] Sergio@piefed.social 4 points 4 days ago

Is there a principled reason why you do not consult with other meditators, or did it just work out that way?

[-] fluffy_cloud@piefed.world 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

No principal involved. The way I see it, I have this thing before me and addressing it seems to be a personal one-man job. So ya, I never felt drawn to consulting like that. But when I find somebody else who meditates I do like to talk to them. Sometimes intensely.

[-] Sergio@piefed.social 5 points 4 days ago

That makes sense. There's been an enormous amount of meditation work done over the centuries, in the Euro-American world we tend to be unaware of it. I kinda feel like I should encourage you to seek out meditation centers and temples. But if what you're doing works for you, then awesome.

[-] ICastFist@programming.dev 4 points 4 days ago

Have you ever had any dissociation events? Like, feeling that you are a passenger in your own body, after meditation?

[-] fluffy_cloud@piefed.world 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Ya, I've felt like that. Not in a way that was associated with or caused by meditation, as far as I can tell, tho.

[-] mHtt@lemmy.ca 4 points 4 days ago

no question, just one single clap

[-] lobut@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago

I feel like I've had undiagnosed ADHD my whole life. I've done some meditation in the past and I felt it helped a bit but it's been years.

Any advice that you'd give me? Anything you'd like to mention about the benefits?

[-] fluffy_cloud@piefed.world 3 points 3 days ago

Ok I wrote a thing. It's short and polished. It's basically what I did. Check it out then ask me any questions.

http://fleen.org/fluffy_cloud

As for benefits.

You will start with the concentration meditation because it's dead easy and just takes a little time and effort. It will make you sharp. Maybe a little too sharp. You'll like it. You'll feel powerful. You'll also become a little bit of a crazy asshole. I guess a monastery provides the environment for taking care of people in this state, but lacking that, try to lead a life with lots of free alone time and little stress.

After you get a handle on that you'll do the second meditation. The "shikantaza". But that comes later. It's much kinder but you need to get a handle on the first one first.

BUT that's just me. Maybe there's a better way. There was a teacher named Joko Beck who skipped the concentration meditation and taught only the shik. I dunno. Above all you need to become your own expert. Experiment and explore. There is no substitute.

[-] myyass@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

How do you not fall asleep?

[-] fluffy_cloud@piefed.world 3 points 4 days ago

I don't know. It never became an issue.

[-] myyass@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

I guess some people are lucky, I kind of start dreaming and then fall asleep but I guess I haven't practiced enough. Chanting does help.

[-] TheIvoryTower@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

What’s the longest you’ve ever gone in a completely thoughtless state?

[-] fluffy_cloud@piefed.world 5 points 4 days ago

I guess 15 minutes. Maybe 60. Time kinda gets away from me sometimes.

There's always idea-stuff flowing by. Like, I dunno, snow falling. It's whether I react to it that makes it into thinking, basically. When I don't interact with it by reacting to it by moving my attention and such it isn't really thinking anymore. It's like snow.

[-] TheIvoryTower@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

There is no good definition of a thought.

But as a person who struggles to crack 60 seconds, respect.

[-] fluffy_cloud@piefed.world 3 points 3 days ago

Thanks. Keep in mind that that's the rare best-case scenario. My daily best is more like 5 minutes.

Getting my life to where that best-case scenario happens more often is a big deal for me. I work on that.

this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2026
36 points (97.4% liked)

Ask Me Anything

3157 readers
1 users here now

Ask Me Anything (AMA) Community Rules and Guidelines

This is the lemmy.ca AmA.

Welcome to the Ask Me Anything (AMA) community! This is a space where individuals from various backgrounds come together to engage in open and informative discussions. To ensure a respectful, enjoyable, and inclusive experience for everyone involved, we have established the following rules and guidelines:

  1. Be Civil and Respectful:

    • Treat all participants with respect, regardless of their background, expertise, or opinions. Personal attacks, insults, or derogatory language will not be tolerated.
    • Engage in constructive conversations, even if you disagree with the person answering the questions. Focus on addressing their responses or providing alternative viewpoints without resorting to hostility.
    • Remember that the participants are sharing their knowledge and experiences voluntarily. Appreciate their time and effort.
  2. Practice Politeness and Courtesy:

    • Use polite and considerate language when asking questions or engaging in discussions.
    • Be patient and understanding if the person answering takes time to respond. They may receive a high volume of questions.
    • Avoid spamming or repeating the same question multiple times. Give others a chance to ask their questions as well.

-Use NSFW and trigger warning TW in brackets if you talk about sensitive subject.

  1. Respect Boundaries and Privacy:

    • Do not ask personal or invasive questions unless the participant explicitly invites such queries.
    • If a participant declines to answer a question or requests to move on from a topic, respect their boundaries without pressuring them for a response.
    • Avoid sharing personal information or disclosing sensitive details about yourself or others.
  2. Be Inclusive and Stand Against Discrimination:

    • Respect diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Discrimination, including racism, homophobia, and transphobia, will not be tolerated.
    • Foster an environment that welcomes individuals of all races, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and identities.
    • Be mindful of your language and the potential impact it may have on others. Avoid offensive slurs or derogatory terms.
  3. Avoid Spam and Irrelevant Questions:

    • Ensure your questions are relevant to the participant's expertise or field of knowledge.
    • Avoid posting low-quality or repetitive questions that add little value to the discussion.
    • Respect the purpose of the AMA and avoid using it solely for self-promotion or advertising.
  4. Engage in Meaningful Discussions:

    • Prioritize thought-provoking and insightful questions that foster engaging conversations.
    • Be open to different perspectives and use the AMA as an opportunity to learn and broaden your understanding.
    • Jokes are allowed as long as they are respectful, appropriate, and do not target or marginalize specific individuals or groups. -If you are sarcastic, we recommend to use /s to be sure there is no confusion about your intention. Fake sarcasm will be found.

Remember, these rules and guidelines are in place to ensure a positive and informative environment for all participants. Failure to comply may result in 3 strikes warnings, temporary restrictions, or permanent bans at the discretion of the moderators.

in the future, a mod check and balance system might be implemented . Subject to change : [You might appeal your ban by contacting a special appointed moderator to judge if the ban was abusive.

Special appointed mod can create jury like conversation with randomly chosen users with jury votes to decide if bans are legit or not.]

Thank you for being a part of the Ask Me Anything (AMA) community. Let's engage in enlightening discussions, share knowledge, and create an inclusive space that values respect and diversity!

Friendly communities :

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS