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Comment by Lambdanaut | Hacker News Reader

If you're interested in understanding zen but don't know where to start, "The Book" by Alan Watts is a fantastic SHORT read that will give you a powerful framework from which to build your meditative practice, and hopefully structure a happier, more fulfilling lifestyle.

To appeal to the western mind, here are some tangible benefits I have achieved(And you can too) through meditation and zen:

* More appreciation for small things

* Less stressed over everything

* Lower blood pressure

* Far better ability to focus (A cure for my ADD)

* Better ability to express myself rather than just playing social games that we don't even realize we're playing

* Being more of a completionist and caring for the things I work on

To name a few.

Meditating daily also increases the grey matter in your brain[1]. That alone was good enough reason for me to start my practice.

[1] http://www.neurobiologyofaging.org/article/S0197-4580(07)002...

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I would add the free, short, book "Mindfulness in Plain English". It changed my life.

Here is the PDF:

http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf2/Mindfulness%20in%20Plain%20E...

What exactly is mindfulness in simple terms? How is different from concentration?

Mindfulness is being fully in the moment, while concentration is eschewing the moment.

Unless you practice mindful concentration.

Might be a bit off, but:Instead of concetrating on a thing you concentrate on yourself experiencing the thing, and accepting all you observe without judgement or attachment.

Mindfulness is simply keeping something in mind. In concentration practice, mindfulness is remembering to maintain attention on the object of concentration. Concentration is maintaining a particular state of mind.

"Mindfulness Defined" http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/mindfu...

"The Agendas of Mindfulness" http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/agenda...

"Right Mindfulness" http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/rightm...

Mindfulness is awareness.

When eating you're aware that you are eating. When seeing something you are aware that you are seeing something. When enjoying the sunset you're aware you're enjoying the sunset. When thinking you're aware that you are thinking. When selfish you are aware of that. When sad you are aware that you are sad... And so on.

On some level it's like "seeing the matrix". Everything is clear, no longer overlaid by thoughts of gain or loss. No more "what's in it for me?"

Everything is wondrous. Everything is just there. There are no questions.

Wow... This just blurted out. Anyway, that's what it means to me.

That was beautiful and spot on. I see it exactly the same way.

I certainly can't claim to always be like that, but I can attain the feeling quite often.

You describe it perfectly.

It's been a long while since I've experienced that, but you describe it perfectly.

For me at least, it's also about being in touch the true underlying reasons I exhibit certain behaviors. The easiest examples is in conversation. Much of social relations is about signaling, not to mention playing games.

A few years ago I started to notice the underlying emotions when I said something that was designed to either a) impress or b) hurt the other person. Neither case felt pleasant. In the latter case self-righteousness can have a drug-like high, but there is often a hangover too (regret, guilt, shame etc).

So I started becoming more mindful of what I say. I strive only to say things that I believe at my core.

Occasionally I still catch myself saying or doing something that's about trying to impress or hurt the other person, but it's much less common now, and I feel like I move through my day lightly even under significant work stress.

Humor is a special case. I can "lie" by saying something absurd or snarky, but the underlying feeling is one of laughter. However, I try to avoid snide putdowns or Gawker-style schadenfreude. Most people, even those at "the top" (however defined) are struggling with something. Consider for example Elon Musk's apparent difficulty with relationships. I feel for the guy and don't see much humor in pouring salt in the wounds.

Well said. I would also add that mindfulness to me includes being intentional in your actions.

For example it's fine to watch TV if your intention is to relax and enjoy a show. But if you turn on the TV without intention and mindlessly channel surf with no set timeframe, that is not a very mindful practice.

Great description. I have been trying to meditate lately (it's not easy) and already experience occasional moments during which I "zoom out" of life, e.g. catch myself becoming aware of what I'm doing. This leads to (short) moments of bliss and sheer wonder.

Everything is simple during those moments.

I encourage anyone to try meditation. While I was always interested in the subject, it was not until I read Mindfulness in Plain English (referenced above) that I started taking it seriously.

Self awareness. At first, you just sit and let thoughts go through your mind, acknowledging each one. "I am breathing. I feel a little more tired than usual today. My dog is barking again." You just acknowledge and move on. Let your thoughts come and leave. Most of the time you don't have a big revelation, it's just kind of relaxing. You learn to be more balanced, less dramatic in how you react to things. But sometimes you do make an important observation. You think of a coworker, and you feel anxiety, and because you have developed your self awareness, you recognize that this coworker causes you anxiety, and now you can address that issue and improve your life. Most people go through life unaware, and do not address a lot of issues that happen to them everyday. But those stresses in life that go unaddressed have a consequence. People go home and argue with their spouse, unaware that they are actually stressed from work, and end with a major life disaster like divorce or health problems or worse. Sometimes all of that could have been avoided if they had spent 10 minutes a day reflecting on what their mind and body was experiencing.

To torture a metaphor: it's root access to your own mind.

I can't give you an exact definition, but I'd love to share my experiences regarding mindfulness vs concentration.

Concentration is much more one of a one-pointed thing. It's about focusing like a laser on one thing. When I'm concentrated it feels like everything except what I'm focusing on drops away. It's like playing a video game, or reading an interesting book. It's a very calm experience, except that sometimes it feels like there is effort involved

Mindfulness is much more about paying broad attention to what's going on, about being aware and accepting of whatever experience is arising in the present moment. There is a strong intentional component -- I want to pay attention to the present moment, and there is an open curiosity and willingness to just be with whatever arises. There is a certain amount of memory involved, too, in the sense that you need to remember to pay attention and not get caught up in your own thoughts.

This is a much better book than anything Watts wrote.

Ironically, at least among Western Mahayana teachers it's very hard to find such a coherent and pragmatic framework as the one described in "Mindfulness in Plain English."

Beg to differ, but I couldn't get through "Mindfulness ...". To me, it was going on and on without getting anywhere.

There is a new, 20th-anniversary edition available now in print and ebook versions:

http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/mindfulness-plain-english

"Mindfulness in Plain English" is real and original Zen Buddhism, highly recommended.

The book is not about this variety of Buddhism; Zen is a school of Mahayana; the book discusses Theravada. This is mentioned in the book at some ponit.

Yes, you are right. Sorry for the misdescription, I don't know these English terms well, I'm a Chinese.

Just for anyone interested -- he has a series of books, and they are good. I'd especially recommend his book on the four foundations of mindfulness.

Many of the people who visit this site and are interested in meditation would probably like the "pragmatic Buddhism" [1] movement, or the book "Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha" [2].

[1] there are other sites, but this is a good start: http://www.dharmaoverground.org/dharma-wiki/-/wiki/Main/MCTB... [2] http://integrateddaniel.info/book/

Before anyone gets too far in - that's just a preview, there are a about 60 pages cut out of the middle.

Having read many of Alan Watts' books, I will have to disagree with this recommendation - while 'The Book' is a short read, I don't think it's a good introduction to his work.

I suggest delving into Watts with his 'Out of your Mind' audiobooks recorded from his class lectures.

Another book I found very helpful was "being nobody, going nowhere" by Ayya Khema

I bought a handful of copies of this book so I could give them away. Of course often it is very important WHEN you read the book.

My personal favorite zen book is Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki.

I found it not to beat around the bush the way other books do.

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