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- What is meditation, really?
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- The Tibet Connection
"Meditation" is a word that brings all sorts of lofty (or airy-fairy) ideas to mind, but in fact it's a skill just like any other: To get good at it, you have to practice, practice, practice.
James Neal, an American, was a Buddhist monk for 15 years and now teaches meditation in India, Europe and elsewhere. He spoke with producer Peter Aronson in Dharamsala, India, where he now lives.
This is not an instruction session, but a nuts-and-bolts nuts-and-bolts of meditation in a Q&A on meditation and some common myths.
- What is meditation?
- Do you think there's always a "spiritual" aspect to meditation, or is it merely psychological?
- What are "meditational experiences?" Are they frightening?
- What do people find in the depths of their mind?
- How can people who lead busy lives reap benefits from meditation?
"We see that our mind is totally out of control."
"Actually what meditation is not about is about being all happy and 'spiritual.' It's about being aware of what's going on in our minds, and that can be a little frightening and not seemingly 'spiritual' at certain times. But that's the work that has to be done."
"Happiness comes from the mind, and it doesn't come from outside."
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
"Meditation" is a word that brings all sorts of lofty (or airy-fairy) ideas to mind, but in fact it's a skill just like any other: To get good at it, you have to practice, practice, practice.
James Neal, an American, was a Buddhist monk for 15 years and now teaches meditation in India, Europe and elsewhere. He spoke with producer Peter Aronson in Dharamsala, India, where he now lives.
This is not an instruction session, but a nuts-and-bolts nuts-and-bolts of meditation in a Q&A on meditation and some common myths.
- What is meditation?
- Do you think there's always a "spiritual" aspect to meditation, or is it merely psychological?
- What are "meditational experiences?" Are they frightening?
- What do people find in the depths of their mind?
- How can people who lead busy lives reap benefits from meditation?
"We see that our mind is totally out of control."
"Actually what meditation is not about is about being all happy and 'spiritual.' It's about being aware of what's going on in our minds, and that can be a little frightening and not seemingly 'spiritual' at certain times. But that's the work that has to be done."
"Happiness comes from the mind, and it doesn't come from outside."
Broadcast History
Only heard on TheTibetConnection.org and its podcast.
Intro and Outro
INTRO:This month in our Open Mind series, producer Peter Aronson talks with James Neal, who was a Buddhist monk for 15 years and now teaches meditation in India, Europe and elsewhere. "Meditation" … is a word that brings all sorts of lofty ideas to mind, but in fact, Neal says, it's like any other skill — to get good at it, you have to practice, practice, practice.
OUTRO:Related Website
