in two of my books i have been writing a lot about Meditation:

 "Qigong in der VR China: Entwicklung, Theorie und Praxis. " `Das transkulturelle Psychoforum´, Bd 8, VWB, Berlin, 1999. 272 SS. ISBN 978-3-86135-137-4

„Qigong und Maltherapie: Komplementärtherapien Psychosekranker“. `Das transkulturelle Psychoforum´, Bd 12, VWB, Berlin, 2009. 248 SS. • ISBN 978-3-86135-144-3

May be this can be helpful for you?

Thanks Thomas I´ll look at them. Maybe  you would also like to give a very condensed version of your view here?

In another Research Gate thread (below), I wrote this message:

I conceive conscious activity as being composed of two players, the feeling Self and the contents of experience (the "objective" information patterns that compose our conscious episodes). I conceive contemplative states (as in meditation) as an intentional inhibition of the objective side (by means of some techniques, as praying, reciting mantras, fixed attention or controlled breathing), allowing the sentient Self to feel him/herself. The resulting experiences are hard- if not impossible - to describe, since we do not have words for them. Historically, this kind of experience has been interpreted by "messengers", and their messages were used to build religious institutions. Religions give a symbolic explanation of these experiences, but if these explanations are taken literally they can obscure the "cosmic", non-dual feel of the experiences.

https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_do_we_critically_test_the_inseparability-hypothesis_of_the_extended_dual-aspect_monism_eDAM_framework

Well said!  I would also like to ask if you feel that there is more beyond the  "Sentient Self"? It is these aspects that i am working on for my PhD at the moment.

I agree that there are many forms of meditation. This is rarely seen. They differ in goals, in claiming to have goals, and in methodology. Whenever you read a source that discusses meditation as though the name 'meditation' were sufficient to define the practice, you are certain to be reading someone's personal choice of technique or method, which means the choice of an ego rather than an indication of evidence.

I am aware of only two forms of meditation that can result in self-realization, which is the impersonal and lasting state characterized by peace and happiness (sat-chit-ananda). There is evidence supporting these methods.

Transcending uses the thinking process in such a way as to reduce its activity, producing within a few seconds or minutes a state of very deep rest that can begin to dissolve and eliminate the stresses stored in the nervous system, which hide pure consciousness, self-awareness.

Nonduality uses direct pointing to loosen the feeling of identity from the body and mind (which is the cause of seeking and suffering), creating a new identity with pure consciousness, our actual self.

The teachings of these two methods agree that intellectual knowledge alone will never suffice to create a permanent improvement in daily life. To improve life, actual and fundamental change is needed, such as is produced by effective forms of meditation.

There are implications for society, too. Eliminating individual problems through education and practice, even though not reaching 100% of the world population, can be expected to reduce selfishness, greed, unhappiness, injustice, and war dramatically as motivations and behaviors on the level of the world. A world transformation may seem a dream, but it is logically possible.

Hello David - 

Yes I agree with you on many of your points. Certainly non duality is a pointer as you said. I do feel there are also other methods, but maybe it also depends where you want to land up. I have always translated Sat Chit and Ananda as-  pure being, pure knowing and pure bliss. 

As a therapist, I too feel trauma has to be removed from the CNS - this can be done in various ways, including different meditation techniques, as you have aptly pointed out. 

 I am also fully in agreement that  intellectual knowledge will never suffice to create a permanent improvement in daily life. 

I too believe that it is possible that the world can be changed through meditation - most methods will give at least some results. 

thanks so much for your reply.

Tina, It is a pleasure to agree with you in so many ways.

The future will bring many wonderful transformations for us all.

David

Dear Tina, my understanding is that spirituality is the art of feeling. Meditation is a technique - not the only one. Contemplative life in Catholic traditions is another one. A transcendent entity is not necessary for spirituality, but of course religious people need It. 

Hi Alfredo,

Yes I agree with you that scientists  must be aware there are different meditation methods. But each method leads to a certain state of consciousness, or at least purports to do so.  In Spirituality, the end goal is often considered to be “enlightenment”. Some methods are feeling based, some are mind based. However it often seems that scientists mix methods feeling that they all share similar experiences.  In my opinion the phenomenological experiences using  different methods  are more than likely to be different. Also the spiritual path, at least for me, involves a journey. Nevertheless that does not mean they do not  lead to the same end destination. On the other hand it does not mean that they do lead to the same end destination. This can be studied. 

I feel that when we break it down and we look at each method of meditation separately, science might understand more about them and the actual term “meditation” and what it involves according to each approach. From there it would be possible to find the commonalities, or lack of them,  between methods and also their goals. 

This might involve the existence or non existence of a transcendent entity, and also clarify what this really means.. 

Dear Tina, what is the common end destination? This is possibly the main question. I am not an expert on meditation techniques. My approach is philosophical, and applies to other "enlightenment" practices as well, including philosophy in the Socratic tradition. I propose that an immanent God is real as an intentional entity - one that is created by conscious minds. God is an object of our desire. Therefore, reaching God would be the apparent goal of meditation. The real end destination would be the improvement of the meditator him/herself. Another question is if the improvement is on the cognitive or affective (feeling) side. Today, meditation can help to balance cognition and affect, because our civilization (for instance, the educational system) has developed mostly the cognitive side. 

Tina, I agree with what you said.

But enlightenment (awakening, self-realization) is only one outcome, and only one goal. While a common goal, it is not the only one that can be studied.

Methods involving transcending thinking, such as Transcendental Meditation (www.tm.org) or Natural Stress Relief (www.nsrusa.org) may not have any higher state of consciousness as a proximate goal, but offer improvement of every aspect of life (through the elimination of stored stresses and strains) as their goal.

For these techniques, increased peace and happiness each day is considered success. In a sense, their goal is the improvement of the whole world. These techniques are also of interest to researchers because they are taught in a standard way.

Also to be considered is Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)(many websites), which is a mindfulness-based program that is taught in a standard way. Mindfulness (in general) is perhaps the most popular class of meditation methods being practiced and studied today, with dedicated research centers and many independent programs offered. Again, MBSR does not have enlightenment as a proximate goal. It offers goals such as reducing anxiety and improving sleep.

Many other forms of meditation, including the various meditation techniques taught in Buddhism and Zen, have been studied, in spite of their possible lack of specific goals or standardized instruction.

Objective meditation markers such as biochemical changes in the blood, changes in brainwaves, and long-term changes measured in brain anatomy or by psychological questionnaires are always of interest to researchers, even though they may not always be a reliable indicator of value to society.

Research into the elimination or reduction of specific human problems, such as PTSD, ADHD, criminal behavior, violence and distraction in schools, augmentation of the positive effects of psychiatric medicines, and so on through specific forms of meditation is also of great interest, since such studies show evidence-based ways to solve important problems in ways that may reduce the cost of healthcare, eliminate adverse side effects, or produce faster and/or more lasting management or cures.

Dear Alfredo,

Again you touch on interesting points. Yes the emphasis of our Western educational system on developing  the thinking mind is tremendous. This has put feeling and intuition very much at the tail end of the priority ladder. The type of meditation I practice and am investigating for my PhD is feeling based. 

Each person is different and many take up meditation for different reasons. In the days before teachers, books or the internet, people looked up at the night sky and wondered who they where and how this all functioned. This according to the yogi and philosopher I work with, was the beginning of “meditation” - for these people sat down on their backsides and turned their attention inwards to seek their answers to the questions from deep within. Slowly Mother Nature answered their call as flashes of inspiration arrived. These people were referred to as philosphers, yogis and seers. In a way they were similar to the modern day scientist who wants to also know the “nature of nature” but instead seek to answer his or her questions inside, they seek them in the world outside.  I go into this in a little more detail on my web page.  Quantum physics with its emphasis on consciousness, is now changing the emphasis of science. 

There is also another difference - one thing is to know the truth, the other thing is to experience. The Yogi or Yogini want to experience it. Meditation should also give rise to experiences, which as you too point out, brings about a vast transformation in  the practitioner.

Dear Alfredo,

Again you touch on interesting points. Yes the emphasis of our Western educational system on developing  the thinking mind is tremendous. This has put feeling and intuition very much at the tail end of the priority ladder. The type of meditation I practice and am investigating for my PhD is feeling based. 

Each person is different and many take up meditation for different reasons. In the days before teachers, books or the internet, people looked up at the night sky and wondered who they where and how this all functioned. This according to the yogi and philosopher I work with, was the beginning of “meditation” - for these people sat down on their backsides and turned their attention inwards to seek their answers to the questions from deep within. Slowly Mother Nature answered their call as flashes of inspiration arrived. These people were referred to as philosphers, yogis and seers. In a way they were similar to the modern day scientist who wants to also know the “nature of nature” but instead seek to answer his or her questions inside, they seek them in the world outside.  I go into this in a little more detail on my web page.  Quantum physics with its emphasis on consciousness, is now changing the emphasis of science. 

There is also another difference - one thing is to know the truth, the other thing is to experience. The Yogi or Yogini want to experience it. Meditation should also give rise to experiences, which as you too point out, brings about a vast transformation in  the practitioner.

Hi David,

I agree with what you say - everyone gets attracted to meditation for different reasons. Maybe science itself has something to do with that for often “by products” of meditation are what have been most studied and most talked about. I do not have a problem with this but it would also be nice for practitioners to realize that there is much more to meditation than  what is addressed and talked about by science. 

Yes as you said mindfulness has been the most studied and is the most talked about. Often even the people teaching it has no idea of the lofty heights of which meditation aspires or aspired in the “old days”. This does not mean that I do not feel that these methods should not be taught - on the contrary they have opened the inner world to a lot more people who in the end might also seek to understand what meditation was traditionally all about. 

And as far as meditation helping with reduction of human problems - yes I definitely agree with you there and the investigation into the positive effects is of interest to all. It is so interesting how meditation now is becoming so available and acceptable to a vast number of the population. 

Dear Tina,

 I send you some of my notes on the meaning and role of meditation in the philosophical and religious thought. While trying to follow a thread, you will notice the heterogeneous nature of the notes themselves. Following, there are some excerpts of this miscellany.

Conscience, separated from the inwardness of the world, tends to be transformed into something that is beyond any experience and from any bonds, something general and not individual, element that will be highlighted in the developments of Kant's transcendentalism of the ‘I’. To all this, detect the dialogics, corresponds the elevation of solitary meditation (private language) in preferred language, real "energy source" that can restore vitality to our souls.

In addition, you can have meditation both as purpose of prayer meditation, and - as illustrated by St. Catherine of Siena - the 'diversification' in different degrees of meditation, described as the kidnapping of prayer until reaching ecstasy. Through meditation, then, you have a 'tool' to acquire a particular talent.

Moreover, the Mantra, of Hindu origin, is a meditative technique, designed essentially to concentrate and clear the mind. Brahmanical speculation, in its latest evolution contained in the Upanishads, added to this primitive animistic concept that of reincarnation (samsara), considered as a penalty for failing to meet through liberating meditation the substantial understanding of the substantial identity of ‘I’ with the world, in which it consists in the liberation.

Typically, the terms meditation, cogitation, reflections are accompanied by a qualifier. For example, reach through the ' liberating meditation ' the understanding of the substantial identity of the ‘I’ with the world.

In a more speculative detail, the Cartesian Meditations contain a performative statement, that ties the existence of the ego to the conditions of its execution: "This that I utter: I am, I exist," writes in fact Descartes, is true 'for so long as it is uttered by me or conceived in the mind. "

The distance between the two formulations is also the distance between the discovery of the ego cogito and its metaphysical determination as substance, that in the Discourse acts immediately. In the II Meditation, instead, to the question “what then am I?. The answer is: a ‘thinking thing’. And what is a ‘thinking thing?’ It's a thing that doubts, that conceives, that affirms, denies, wants, does not want, that also imagines and feels. " It is only later, in the Third Meditation, that the res cogitans is interpreted as a substance, and really distinct from the res extensa, that is, from material bodies, including the human body.

A 'secondary role 'of meditation should be added. In fact, by the method of discussion between texts,  the central points of theology and medieval philosophy are confronted in a project of reason in which the role of reflection and argumentation is decisive compared to meditation and contemplation of truth handed down. From Abelard on, the philosopher will use his intelligence to consult the tradition, in a fruitful dialogue with the solutions already given in the past to the current problems, with a dialectic in time, in which all the authoritative sources are used as interlocutors.

Thank you for reading, Gianrocco

Hello Gianrocco

Thank you for your “heterogeneous reply” - I enjoyed it: I can see you have delved deeply and also reflected on the subject. If I may be personal, where do you stand?

Thank you - tina

Meditation is a way of our life .It is a function & activities of our mind which all the time remain in a thinking process & In this line mind becomes all the time remaining with the conscious mind .

As a human beings we have to carry out our action of our life journey & for which it is absolutely necessary to have an concentration & contemplation so that for our working line we may tune our mind under calmness ,quietness & under peaceful process.

This is not a easy way for human beings & as such it is necessary that they should take recourse to meditation . Meditation is not religion line & also not a parking for prayer .

For concentration of mind if few minutes practice of controlling & watching our breathing may help the control of our mind & it should be in regular practice.This process of meditation is to bring awareness within us . It is our thought process which we should control for deviation which may help to state of consciousness .

Meditation being a way of life is a regular line of thinking of our life & we should be describe only at length however for our regular guideline with the practice of meditation we can practice our action of our life in a systematic manner . If the practitioner of meditation is interested more on concentration he may ,certainly have the inner voice of intuition that may co -relates with the religion & power of prayer .

This is my personal opinion 

Dear Rohit,

thank you for your message which inspired the following consideration:

To break the repetitive operation of the everyday life and defeat the laziness of a rest as in simple folding and detachment from the stress of living, culture has bundled along the centuries treasured words, substantial, full of poetry and wisdom, capable to create or extend spaces for a private reflection. Only meditation, real "energy source", can restore vitality to our souls. In a society like today, without judgment except for productivity and frenetic activism, contemplation is the ‘riverbank’ that ensures a water level that would take away the thirst and purify the lake built as a reservoir from which our conscience can draw.

Best regards

Gianrocco

My theoretical physics research and hypotheses have led to a quantified system based on the perception that all charge is distributed and that there are two distinct types of charges. This led to an understanding that our four-dimensional space-time view of physical matter exists in a greater manifold of a five-dimensional space resonance.

The relevant result of this investigation in this thread is that the five-dimensional space-resonance level of existence is the reference system for our mind and all forms of consciousness. Further, the experiences of feeling (measured through the unit of conductance) serves as the interface between the physical world and the mind. Feelings are both experienced by the mind and measured within the four-dimensional physical realm of half-spin subatomic particles (which make up the entire physical Universe).

Meditation allows the five-dimensional mind to synchronize with the four-dimensional body. When the mind loses awareness of its five-dimensional capacity, and relies only on linear thinking, it loses itself in a drama of physical cause and effect and forgets its true nature.

The true nature of the mind is that it is always right here, right now. The mind does not move, but rather observes the apparent movement of physical matter as experienced through the physical body. As mentioned, the mind interfaces with the body through feeling. Our hormones, our thoughts, and our senses generate a variety of feelings, which the mind constantly juggles. 

The practice of any kind of meditation allows the mind to regain a certain amount of control over the way it processes feelings and interacts with the physical world. 

As a result of my insights into this new perspective of quantum physics, I have developed a meditation based on becoming aware of feelings, which opens up the mind and specifically integrates the mind with the body. More important, is the exploration of the space the mind resides in. It has profound implications for understanding what occurs outside of the physical realm, but most important, it provides a promising system of physics that can chart this greater space-resonance domain. 

To give a clue as to how vast this five-dimensional realm is, think of a world of area-time, such as exists on a video monitor. When we watch movies on a flat screen TV, there is a world playing out where there are two length dimensions and one time dimension. Our physical world has only one more length dimension, and yet the physical world is infinitely more vast than the area-time world of imagination. Now add another time (actually it is a frequency) dimension to the physical world to get the five-dimensional world of the mind. 

The realm of the mind exceeds the scope of the physical realm in ways that only religion and fantasy have touched, yet it is very real and now it may even be quantifiable with the new tools I have discovered for understanding it. Not only could it be quantifiable, but also engineered to benefit life in our physical realm.

David Wise Thomson, There is a danger to inventing theories ourselves, based on an active ego and a knowledge of physics. That danger is that we may make assumptions (axioms) that govern the direction of our theories, preventing them from being correct, complete, or practical.

Some of those assumptions evident in your posting and their implications include:

1. There are two kinds of charge (presumably NOT electrons and positrons, as described in accepted physics). Right away, we are presented with a partial statement, or perhaps even one that is incorrect. We naturally wonder, what are these mysterious two forms of charge, and how are they relevant to meditation?

2. The mind is a form of consciousness, and consciousness is undefined. These are two particularly dangerous assumptions, given the various self-aggrandizing statements that you have made about your theory. In my experience, mind is simply a stream of thoughts and other experiences, constantly changing, while consciousness is simple awareness, filled with nothing but itself, having the characteristics of peace, love, happiness, and being self-fulfilled. As I see it, thoughts and consciousness are completely different, other than the basic fact that thoughts are structured in and by consciousness.

3. Feelings (emotions) can be measured by electrical conductance somehow (in some way not described in accepted physics). This assumption is particularly difficult to see clearly, as it would appear to be untrue as it stands.

4. There exists a physical world and a real relationship between mind and world (instead of the illusory relationship of everyday experience).

5. "Any kind of meditation" is the same, or has the same effects. This one seems to be clearly wrong.

6. There exists something called "linear thinking". It is not defined, and does not exist in accepted physics.

7. "I have developed a meditation": there is an assumption that a new form of meditation is needed. There is a further assumption that meditation can be described by physics. This is not adequately explained, either in accepted physics or in the physics invented by David Wise Thomson.

8. It is possible or desirable to integrate mind and body.

9. Consciousness is just another perception, like thinking, space, or time. This one seems to be wrong, since consciousness, unlike all else, is unchanging and is an observing subject.

10. There is a realm of the mind, as opposed to a simple stream of thoughts and other experiences. It is unclear what a "realm" is.

11. There are new tools. Actually, no new tools have been presented.

Just because a theory can be stated in scientific-sounding words does not mean that it is complete, correct, or useful. It is much more likely a pseudo-scientific delusion, a ego-based game that got out of hand and is being taken more seriously than a theoretical game should.

If you are interested in responding, I suggest that we take this offline, since it has gotten off the topic of this forum, if it was ever on topic. You may reach me in private using the Contact Us form at www.nsrusa.org . I will be happy to continue his discussion by email.

David Spector, any perceived "danger" in presenting ideas represents a personal fear, and not a real imminent threat of some sort.

When I see a new idea I do not understand, I ask questions of the person presenting it, which may add to the clarity of the discussion, rather than try to cut the discussion off because it does not suit my personal paradigms.

David Wise Thomson, You appear to have misunderstood me. I am not trying to cut off this discussion. I have no fear and feel no threat. I was interested in what you wrote and I was also interested in pursuing your ideas. I merely pointed out that this is better done offline, by email, since it is off-topic for this forum. Please contact me so we can discuss further. Otherwise, you don't know what my personal paradigms are, only some of my criticisms. Let us move beyond criticism to a more fruitful exchange.

 Dear Rohit and Gianrocco,

I can feel the resonance of your replies. Yes I too feel meditation is a way of life and I too feel that when we connect with the source we can restore vitality to our selves/souls. This can then be expressed in countless ways - bringing new insights to whatever area one is working in. And of course it too brings insights couched in poetry because these states are beyond words .....

Thank you so much for your inspiring replies - tina

Dear David Wise Thomson,

In my question I did ask 

I therefore decided to ask this question so we could contemplate and hear various opinions about what we, as scientists,  mean when we refer to meditation.

I feel you have answered openly and honestly what it means for you and I thank your for that. 

The only problem I see is that modern day man has removed the original role meditation set out to solve - namely who am I and what is the true nature of nature? These questions were taken deep into the hearts of the yogis of old who then sat down on their backsides and waited for mother nature to whisper her answer gently from within. 

I do feel that today and new type of scientist is developing - the mystical scientist who both wants to understand the nature of nature from the outside in and from the inside out. I personally feel that it is only this way that we can all really progress. 

Thank you  for your contribution - tina

Dear David Spector,

This is an open discussion where we are all entitled to our opinions - you as well.  I am pleased that there was a misunderstanding which has now been cleared up and that you welcome a discussion with somebody who presents a view very different from your own. My teacher always said to me - it is not what you do, it is how you do it! 

Sending respect for differences - namaste - Tina

 Dear Gianrocco,

Thank you for your inspiring words & kind message which may help the reader to carry out their introspection for their feeling .This is what i believe 

With regards 

Rohit 

Tina, "I do feel that today and new type of scientist is developing - the mystical scientist who both wants to understand the nature of nature from the outside in and from the inside out."

In ancient times we had philosophers who did practice meditation and contemplated multiple disciplines. It was from these philosophers that modern science was born.

In Tibetan Buddhism, the practitioners see themselves as scientists. Nothing is forced upon the novitiate, but rather they are taught to use the tools of the masters and test the truth of the teachings for themselves. Each generation proves the experiences of the previous generations for themselves.

I have sat a dathun with Chogyam Trungpa and lived at the Nyingma community and Odiyan monastery in California, where I practiced meditation and yoga several times each day. I have learned that knowledge extends further than rational intellect and into the realm of feelings. We have the ability to interact with the world in predictable ways, even scientific ways, which allow us to work with others, our environments, and our own body/mind. 

Modern science may be leaning toward mysticism, but the true mystics have never abandoned the science they created. The work that I have produced over the past twelve years is a re-examination of the "progress" made by modern science, and which I cleaned up to make it into real science. There are so many mistakes in the fundamentals of modern science that it seems engineers have made their advancements in spite of modern theories.

It is because of the methods of teaching in Western studies, where the teacher tells the student, "It is either my way or the highway," that these numerous errors exist and are perpetuated. If Western science had followed the path of the mystics, where each student had to rediscover the theories based on the evidence for themselves, then quantum physics would have evolved to be as easy to understand as Classical physics. However, as we can see from the ignorance perpetuated by David Spector and others who were taught to toe the line, such progress in Western thinking is shut down before it could bring any benefit.

One writer here says, "However, as we can see from the ignorance perpetuated by David Spector and others who were taught to toe the line, such progress in Western thinking is shut down before it could bring any benefit."

I must have expressed myself poorly if I seemed so ignorant in my understanding of meditation that I seem to "toe the line" or to prevent progress in thinking before it can bring benefits.

I believe I am entitled to defend myself and my beliefs, which I do with great respect.

I respect all approaches to understanding oneself, to understanding the true nature of reality, or simply to improve one's life or the life of one's society.

However, it is true that there are many differences in the different forms of meditation, in their techniques, philosophies, goals, and much more.

Therefore, it is possible to say that some forms of meditation have demonstrated specific results that other forms have not demonstrated. In fact, it is research (which brings us all here) that provides frameworks for doing such comparisons.

When we say that certain types of meditation are more effective than others, it is not to "shut down" discussion or choice. In fact, the individual always holds the ultimate choice of what form of meditation, if any, they will practice (or research, for that matter).

But intelligent people want to make choices of how they spend their time and money. It is the heart of the idea of quality to be able to measure what works and what does not work in a specific context or for a specific person.

There are many forms of meditation that produce little apparent result and have no explicit goals. Yet their discipline or other characteristics attract many people. Some forms of Buddhist, Zen, and Vipassana meditation come to mind.

I have many friends who practice such techniques. Sometimes they feel at home with them, in spite of having no quantifiable results or goals. I don't contend with them, argue with them, or criticize their choices. On the contrary, I am happy they are doing something spiritual, something that provides an alternative to the selfishness and ignorance that prevail in our world.

But I am concerned for that world, and wish to help those who have not yet found some inward-facing philosophy or technique that would improve their life, or those of their family and friends. I am president of Natural Stress Relief/USA, a nonprofit and volunteer-run organization that sells an effective and scientifically studied mental technique that transcends thinking, helps to discover pure awareness (our true nature), removes psychological problems such as anxiety, fear, jealousy, depression, selfishness, and anger, and develops the natural qualities of compassion, peace, happiness, freedom, and love. It accomplishes these results by quickly bringing about a state of deep rest called "restful alertness" or "transcending". Regular exposure to this deep rest stimulates the nervous system to dissolve and eliminate even deep-rooted stress and strain stored in it.

I currently have over 2000 clients, many referred by their family, friends, and doctors (we have no publicity as yet, being only ten years old). They don't all enjoy the same results, but those who practice regularly and get support when they need it do enjoy more "good days", more harmony with others, and the other benefits listed above.

I have a right, a privilege, and a joy to let the world know that such results are possible, that there are approaches that work to bring them to anyone who gives them a try.

The techniques I advocate, including transcending (just described) and nonduality, are presented as experiments that anyone can try to determine for themselves whether they fulfill their promises and claims.

There are as many aims as there are techniques, so we´re kind of joining countless shapes together under the same umbrella here when we say "meditation". However, I consider meditation to be any and all forms of attention training, and so the umbrella fits countless forms ;) 

I know you´re into the personal why´s so here I am (in short): thanks to my daily practice I can both "better see myself in action" and have glimpses of what life is about for me (in my own terms) that are - to a tangible degree at least - untainted by cultural indoctrination and show me "what can be" beyond the trance of my personality. 

Having access to these kind of insights (that by no means always come in the shape of blissful happiness as oftentimes remaining open to experience means experiencing pain) make me feel capable of becoming more human (more loving and more accepting of me and others) than when I did not have a practice. They also help me feel more (as the volume of my feeling capacity was somehow turned down before my practice) and remind me that healing and togetherness are always possible.

Hello Javi - you have answered "well". Yes these days many techniques are all lumped together - in my thesis I explain that basically there are methods that go above the mind or below the mind. Then again they divide into feeling based and thinking based. 

If you are experiencing an increase in "feeling capacity" it sounds as though you are using a "feeling based" method  below the mind. I am pleased you are becoming more human - a good method in my opinion, should produce profound changes in the practitioner. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Yes I hear you when you say  I "better see myself in action" and what life is about for you. 

When I launched this question I was interested in finding out how most people viewed meditation without sharing how i saw it. From this, I  realised that among scientists there are many different interpretations of what meditation is about. This makes comparing results very difficult, in my research I decided not to compare my results with others as I feel "each method should be investigated according to its intention on which it is based and according to its intrinsic purity. Different methods and different intentions make it difficult to compare results directly" (Lindhard, 2016, in press)

Warm regards - tina

Yes it makes sense to not compare results. Very good point.

I believe I can "feel more" because of my tendency to be in my head now becoming increasingly balanced. Such tendencies are typical of people who like me, were raised to be a rational and capable male, together with the structure of my personality type (ennearype 5) but you might be right too :)

There's countless good methods in my opinion, the trick is to find what works for each of us !

We are so used to thinking and feeling that we believe these are the only subjective reality of life.

However, we are also aware. For example, we are aware of eating breakfast, we are aware of snow falling to the ground, and we are aware of our own thoughts and feelings.

It seems, then, that there is something more essential or intimate to life than thoughts and feelings, namely the awareness by which we are aware of them.

So far, this awareness that I've drawn to your attention is in duality: that is, it is an observer of objects, events, the universe, and all other types of objects.

Any form of meditation that deals only with thoughts or objects cannot transform us, because it does not locate the awareness which is always and ever all that ever exists in our experience.

We identify with the outside world and body and the inside thoughts and feelings. But all these are created and observed; they live in duality.

Only our awareness lives in unity: there is only one awareness, and it has no borders, no limits. Awareness exists by itself, without need for objects to observe.

Awareness is free from limitations and problems. It is the source of the peace and happiness that we seek through objects. We seek with every desire and feeling, yet that which we seek is already that which is, and that which we are: awareness.

Since we know objects, but do not waste our time knowing awareness, we do not know these truths, and peace and happiness escape us all our lives. We should spend a little time inquiring about our own awareness, on a subjective level. That means spending some time getting acquainted with awareness, and learning what it really is. This is the highest investigation we can perform, and has the highest rewards. It is possible to shift our identity from a separate body and mind to our source in pure awareness. That shift revolutionizes life, eliminating selfishness, ego, greed, suffering, and all forms of disharmony.

Beautifully said David, although I must disagree with your statement "Any form of meditation that deals only with thoughts or objects cannot transform us...". I have experienced profound transformation by simply attending to my breath, and posture, and thoughts, and feelings and have seen many others doing so.