Does Mediation Make Them Self Centered?

1. 72

   jainismusposted 11 years ago

   
   I have observed that most of the people who practice meditation, have nothing to do with social problems. The question is,  does practicing meditation make them self centered?

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      Civil War Bobposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Many meditation techniques are designed specifically to make the individual the center of the universe, so it makes sense they would not worry about others or, depending on the technique, anything else for that matter.
      The typo in your title works, too...mediators are usually in the center of things between warring parties, so they're somewhat self-centered while supposedly helping solve others' problems!

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         Recently Awakenedposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         

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      pennyofheavenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I thought that was the point?

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      Cagsilposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Really? And, how did you reach this conclusion, aside from the "observation". The fact that you used the word "observation" seems as though you were trying to not use the word "perception", which is more like what your post resembles.
      No. It cannot make someone self centered. It helps self awareness within grow. That is not being self centered.

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      nonto21posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      No. It is a way of taking stock. Once one is at peace and there is no stock to take, social institutions cease to be important. Not that they don't want friends or to socialize, there's just more to life than imaginary tales and confining social groups.

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      psycheskinnerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I have observed the reverse.  So I would not accept your starting assumption.

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      Jo_Goldsmith11posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think when I meditate it does anything against social issues. When I meditate it is about opening my mind and clearing out all the noise. I don't consider myself and nor does my family consider me *self centered*. Meditation is opening ones mind to fix whatever it is that needs fixed.
      
      It is a quiet and thoughtful and introspective time to place ones goals and priorities in the right place and perspective.   Good question! take care

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   rebekahELLEposted 11 years ago

   Meditation is used for different purposes, but I don't think it makes people anymore self centered than the person who is always complaining about their life, the world, their co-workers, etc. Meditation is a form of calming the mind and body.  I don't see that as self-centered. I see it as free health insurance in a very sick, stressed world.

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   prettydarkhorseposted 11 years ago

   What...
   
   if a person has peace within then it will add to world peace hehe

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   Kennedi Brownposted 11 years ago

   When I used to meditate (on my own, though, no instructions from a book or something) before I started moving away from faith, I would basically lie in the floor and clear my head of absolutely everything; I'd just look at the swirly patterns my closed eyes made. It always made me feel relaxed and refreshed, but I don't really think I was doing it right. Especially with all the talk about techniques and chants.
   
   Now that I look back on it, what I was doing might have just been called "napping."

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      Jewelsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I used to do that as a teenager - watch those swirly patterns behind my closed eyes.  Decades later I'm teaching third eye meditation.  Makes me wonder - I think I was onto something and I didn't know it.

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   pennyofheavenposted 11 years ago

   But it does center ones self

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      Cagsilposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Centering one's self isn't being self centered.

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         pennyofheavenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         lol I realize that. Thanks for pointing it out.

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6. 81

   Jewelsposted 11 years ago

   How words and sentences are loaded with word gravity!!
   
   In most religious teachings to be self centered goes against being spiritual.  But in the real context of being spiritual, one needs to come from the center of themselves.
   
   If this forum post is intended to confuse or incite the misunderstanding of being centered then it will depend on the reader's maturity as to what the point of meditation is.
   
   The ultimate goal of meditation is to find the Self (capital S) not to indulge the little ego.  And to find the Self requires the ability to be centered.  Confused?  Self (capital S) is the ability to hold oneself, void of ANY external influences including thoughts.
   
   Being self centered (little ego interpretation) is not part of meditation practices.  If a transformation occurs through the difficult process of quietening the mind, 'whole-centeredness' is the result.

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      pennyofheavenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Nicely articulated!

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7. 0

   scottcgruberposted 11 years ago

   In an infinite universe, everyone is at the center.

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