by logansrun 27 Replies latest jw friends
You know, avoiding all books by Daniel Goleman wouldn't be bad, either...OK, OK, just be aware that not all writers are as full of themselves.
He "narrated" a book about Destructive Emotions: How can we overcome them? A scientific dialogue with the Dalai Lama and other notables. A great introduction to the analytical side of the benefits of mindfulness, meditation, and practice - but the why does not good at all if you don't do.
One of the churches i attended was messianic jewish. It had two pastors, a man and a woman. The woman pastor, in our conversation vis a vis my background, told me that many cults are headed by jews. She was silent in response to my question as to why that was so. This bears on this thread, because both authors sited, Daniel Goleman, and Martin Seligman, are jewish.
http://www.jinfo.org/Psychologists.html
Is this meditation movement being hyjacked into a cult?
SS
Edited to add that i'm not 100% sure that goleman is jewish, but there are strong hints.
Two techniques I use that work well are to not only clear your mind, but become intensely conscious of your present surroundings, and of yourself. For instance, try focusing awareness throughout your whole body, don't visualise anything, just feel. When working, or even just relaxing, try to focus more concretely on what you're doing at the time. This can be done even when oh, say, you're waiting in line at the grocery store.
One extremely good book on meditation I've found is The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I was amazed when I first read it, I wondered for a moment if Tolle hadn't written the book specifically for JWs and exJWS. I kid you not, there's so much information in there that applies to us that it's not even funny!
For pure health, try researching books on chi kung or tai chi chuan. Although I've slacked off on it lately, I used to do regular chi kung and chakra work, and was much healthier then.
Here is the meditation article from TIME magazine:
http://www.geocities.com/mindfulnesscolumbus/Time.html
SS
Friend of mine gaveme the Power of Now and I haven't read it because Tolle looked to me like a crackpot - on your recommendation, I'll read it this week!
Phantom, Eckhart Tolle is not a "crackpot". I have met him and read his book more times than any other. It is my most recommended book to those who are serious about discovering deeper Truth within themselves. j
Phantom,
Come on....we're all full of ourselves -- you, me, Daniel Goleman (who I do like, btw) everyone.....It's just balancing our egos with an awareness of others, that's all.
B.
As an optimist, Bradley, I prefer to think of myself as half-full, thank you very much.
And I am allergic to Truth, JT - I've switched over to the Good. Call me a sophist...:)
Personally, I can't see meditation in any way being similar to our experiences as JWs. But, that's just my observation.
yer i agree...even in the org i dont think i was in a trancelike state
Phantom,
You are not a sophist....well, not all the time!
I listened to an interview w/Eckhart Tolle. Seemed like he had some good ideas. Very relaxing to listen to. I wouldn't hire him to manage my baseball team, but he's still pretty good.
Bradley
