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still and silent
Jan. 19th, 2005 09:35 pmJames Jordan is one of my professors. He's written a lot of books, and 2 of them were assigned reading (given last week) for this Friday, including reflections on them. In addition to many other fascinating philosophies, observations, reflections, and beliefs, he advocates the necessity of stillness and meditation.
Not really in those words, but there are a number of quotes about the necessity of being still, calming your thoughts, going inside, and finding your center and balance.
Now, I'm fine with sitting still. Pretty much. But stopping thinking is just NOT an appealing concept. Apart from being nigh prohibitively difficult the few times I've tried it, and apart from getting bored when in a group medidation setting, why would I want to stop thinking? I like thinking! Think, think, think. I cannot give enough benefit of the doubt to this concept (that perhaps there is a great deal to be gained by NOT thinking) to pass up the activity long enough to find out whether or not this is true. I mean, why would I aim for nothingness? Life is short, and doing is where it's at.
Since so many people seem to hold a contrary view, however, and since many of those people would probably suspect that I am simply avoiding facing deep-rooted problems buried in my psyche by avoiding this practice of being still and silent, I would like to hear viewpoints to the contrary.
Have you ever meditated? Or have you engaged in another activity that you think relates to this concept of being still and silent? What value did you derive from it? Knowing me, is it a process you think I would find valuable? What do you think I would discover in such a practice?
Not really in those words, but there are a number of quotes about the necessity of being still, calming your thoughts, going inside, and finding your center and balance.
Now, I'm fine with sitting still. Pretty much. But stopping thinking is just NOT an appealing concept. Apart from being nigh prohibitively difficult the few times I've tried it, and apart from getting bored when in a group medidation setting, why would I want to stop thinking? I like thinking! Think, think, think. I cannot give enough benefit of the doubt to this concept (that perhaps there is a great deal to be gained by NOT thinking) to pass up the activity long enough to find out whether or not this is true. I mean, why would I aim for nothingness? Life is short, and doing is where it's at.
Since so many people seem to hold a contrary view, however, and since many of those people would probably suspect that I am simply avoiding facing deep-rooted problems buried in my psyche by avoiding this practice of being still and silent, I would like to hear viewpoints to the contrary.
Have you ever meditated? Or have you engaged in another activity that you think relates to this concept of being still and silent? What value did you derive from it? Knowing me, is it a process you think I would find valuable? What do you think I would discover in such a practice?
