Do any non theists meditate?

[sleepyhead]

Hello,

I've noticed that non theists appear to also not believe in life after death and that got me wondering, what there take is on meditation.

Since unlike prayer the claimed purpose of meditation woud not hinge on whether there was a God or not. In other words your not giving God a laundry list of things you want him to do. Here's the wikipedia definition:

Meditation is a practice in which an individual trains the mind and/or induces a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit,[1] although it can be argued meditation is a goal in and of itself.[2]

So I have the following questions;
1. Did you practice meditation at least once during the last 12 months?
2. Assuming you were at one time a theist, did you meditate then.
3. Is there something about non theism which debunks meditation. If so what is it.

[Furrowed Brow]

1. Did you practice meditation at least once during the last 12 months?

No.

2. Assuming you were at one time a theist, did you meditate then.

Never been a theist or at least not since age about 10, and I have never attempted meditation.

3. Is there something about non theism which debunks meditation. If so what is it.

I don't think non theism debunks meditation. I guess it could have its benefits like lowering blood pressure and the such, but it is not something I've ever considered.

But is meditation just a technique for relaxation. At least that is how I have regarded it.

[ThatGirlAgain]

1. Did you practice meditation at least once during the last 12 months?

Yes, I generally meditate late on Friday night after a week of work and classes. I am young and limber enough to easily do a full lotus with a pillow under my bottom. I meditate on nothing at all, simply emptying my mind of all the unnecessary baggage of the week in preparation for different activities on the weekend.

2. Assuming you were at one time a theist, did you meditate then.

No, but then my slide away from theism started when I was 11 and finished by 13. Not many people meditate at that age.

3. Is there something about non theism which debunks meditation. If so what is it.

Not at all. The neurological mechanisms of meditation have been studied pretty deeply in recent years. It is a capability and function of the normal human brain. Nothing 'supernatural' about meditation itself, although meditation on religious themes is a common practice in some quarters.

[LiamOS]

My response is largely in line with that above mine, but I don't so much 'meditate' as have a lie down and relax, usually somewhere nice like the edge of a cliff or a remote beach at night. If all else fails, somewhere >500m above sea level at night will do.

[playhavock]

I did and do meditate as a Christan and now non - christan. I do not do it that offen or for very long. I simply close my eyes and focus on breathing in though the nose and out of the mouth, sometimes I will stand on one foot to focus on balance or sometimes I will just sit crossleged and close my eyes - it seems that touching the fingertips together helps sometimes and other times is a distraction, folding hands seems more of a distraction now that I am not into praying. I medatate in this way to calm down from time to time, but I know that it does nothing supernatural or specal other then calm my own internal brain.

[Richard81]

I like to sit down in the middle of the woods on a clear day and just enjoy the view and the nice clean, cold air. Im not sure if that counts as meditating, but it is very peaceful and relaxing.

[Bust Nak]

1. Did you practice meditation at least once during the last 12 months?

Yes, I know a breathing technique that helps my body and mind relax.

2. Assuming you were at one time a theist, did you meditate then.

n/a

3. Is there something about non theism which debunks meditation. If so what is it.

No, meditation is as mundane as listening to gentle music to help relax ones body and mind.

[Wootah]

Do any non-theists regard meditation as spiritual or as I can see from the current response they regard it as good for changing our physiological states?

That is consistent with my view of yoga and meditation.

[ThatGirlAgain]

Do any non-theists regard meditation as spiritual or as I can see from the current response they regard it as good for changing our physiological states?

That is consistent with my view of yoga and meditation.

Depends on what you mean by 'spiritual'. To me meditation is mental not physiological. Clearing out the baggage not needed at the moment to allow taking on new baggage is what it is all about for me.

[PhilosoRaptor]

1. Did you practice meditation at least once during the last 12 months?

Yep. Not that frequently, maybe a few times per month, but I enjoy it when I do remember to do it.

2. Assuming you were at one time a theist, did you meditate then.

Yes, in a manner of speaking. There were some "retreats" and summer camps I went to where something akin to meditation was used to focus on a particular verse or phrase, for example. It was "group" meditation, which was quite pleasant. Not exactly the same as what I do now, which is more focused on emptying my mind, relaxing, breathing very deeply through my stomach, etc.

3. Is there something about non theism which debunks meditation. If so what is it.

No. Meditation has nothing necessarily to do with God that I'm aware of, therefore non-theism can't really debunk it.