Garden of Eden lays in the Persian Gulf? Not a religious thread.

[Dr.Grass]

sapphi_snake said:

Dr.Grass said:

sapphi_snake said:

Dr.Grass said:

At that point in my life I was living in a monastary and had been without any intoxication for over 3 years including coffee, garlic onions etc. Celibate (no flirting, touching...talking ), vegetarian and bla bla bla...

Since I reverted back to my current lifestyle I haven't had any of that...

Did those practices include abstinence from food (and sometimes water) for certain periods of time, and meditation?

err - are you insinuating that fasting and meditation affects a person's objectivity/judgement in a negative way?

I'm not sure if that's what you are getting at, but I've heard that before and I have the following to say about it: These comments come from people who have either never done these things (properly) or do not understand the principles behind them (at all). The converse is in fact true - meditation sobers the mind (slowly and gradually) and fasting makes one detached from the body (a concept the average person has no knowledge about).

But yes, I got up between 3:30 and 4am every morning, and followed a pretty rigorous program that included at least 2 hours of meditation before the sun comes up. I haven't done that in a very long time, but I have fond memories of the incredible sobriety one gains by having spent the quietest hours of the day in concentration while the rest of the world sleeps - a sunrise has never looked as beautiful.

Fasting; well yeah. (roughly) Twice a month fasting from grains for a day is mandatory (not a big deal at all), but any additional fasting (no food, no water etc.) is up to the individual. It is a tremendously powerful practice if done with the right mentality. I would say I did on average one complete fast per month. The best days for this are worked out according to the moon calender. Once I did 2 days dry fast, but that was too hectic. Actually, fasting from food is surprisingly easy if you can disassociate your mind from it, but lack of water really fries the brain out... The one night (after a dry fast day) I dreamt of jumping in a waterfal and drinking it all - when that happens you know that the practice should be given up since your mind is succumbing to the desires of your body...

In any case, not sure what you're getting at really; just thought I'd come out of the closet so to speak

EDIT: If you were just asking out of curiousity then I might add that a major part of my day was spent in study. Probably at least 3-4 hours every day. That included studying philosophy (Vedic in particular, but also aaalll the others including how different religiouns actually ended up with their philosophies and what they really mean),learning Sanskrit grammar, memorizing scripture and also just reading some lighter things etc. I was astounded to learn what the Mormon's actually believe - it is shocking when you actually get to the real core of their philosophy :-/ *waves peace sign at possible mormons here*

Fasting and meditation (for prolongued periods of time) are practices used to induce hallucinations. That's why I asked.

And you were at a Mormon monastery? Is there even such a thing???

"Fasting and meditation (for prolongued periods of time) are practices used to induce hallucinations."

That is not true at all.

The purpose of meditation is to control the mind. The nature of the mind (or manah) is chancala (flickering). This becomes most apparant when we remove our senses from their respective sense objects and enter a state of meditation. Only then are we confronted by the reality that our mind has a nature of its own and is not very obedient to its observer. Of course a philosophical framework where the nature of the mind is something seperate from the body is a necessary starting point. There are several results of (proper) meditation and hallucinations are most certainly not among them: sobriety, increased happiness, decrease of erratic behaviour and even improved health and mental functioning are among the material benefits. What to speak of higher things that are aimed for...

As I stated in the recent physics fiasco threads about the 'faster than light' neutrinos, a person should really not make such strong statements about things he knows little to nothing about.

"...The researchers found that the meditators showed a pronounced shift in activity to the left frontal lobe. In other words, they were calmer and happier than before. The study will be published in the next issue of Psychosomatic Medicine." http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200304/the-benefits-meditation

There are numerous studies that have shown the benefits of meditation (Phd studies included). Nowhere does the desire to experience hallucinations enter the picture whatsoever.

In fact  the practitioner would be of the opinion (see I can be diplomatic) that meditation is a means to see things as they are - i.e. NOT tinged with the illusiory perception of your limited sense.

As for fasting - it is a practical way of becoming less dependent on the pleasures the body gives its user. A regulated way to learn that you are seperate from the body. This is a type of discipline hardly understood by the common man.

I also feel compelled to add that these 'astral adventures' I referred to had nothing to do with my practice and these things are not recommended since they are also on the sensory platform. This never happened (in my case) during any of my practice - only when I took a quick nap from 6:45-7 am some days. I literally couldn't physically manage the practice every day, so some concessions were allowed - its hard, especially when its freezing winter and you've been awake since 3/3:30 with less than 5 hours sleep.

I never said I was a Mormon (?). I said I studied different philosophies and the basis of Mormonism shocked me when I learnt what is actually the purpose.

In any case, you don't really care - except to find some things to ridicule - so I'll leave it at that.

 

 

OT: @OP HOW can you say this is not a religious thread when you inherentlty assume the existence of the garden of Eden!? Makes no sense whatsoever.