...start newbies off with practices of repeating mantras, counting breaths, watching the breath, or various forms of ATA, but they rarely explain anything about why such practices are suggested. Most people assume that the goal is to quiet the mind, and a few mid-level teachers occasionally state this, but I suspect that a lot of tradition is involved. After all, there are countless statues of the Buddha in a meditation posture all over Asia, and meditation was the Buddha's number one recommendation.
I suspect that many hard-core Zen sects think that explaining anything to newbies is a big waste of time that would not be understood anyway, so the teachers simply say, in effect, "Sit down, shut up, and do this practice." What goes unsaid is that most people have such noisy distracted minds, that a bit of silence is necessary before anyone can see what direction the finger is pointing in. Even then, many traditions do not explain why meditation may be useful.
Meditation is known to trigger what doctors call "the relaxation response," and many people find that meditating helps them chill out and calm down. As E. noted, intense mind activity can be exhausting, so some people get immediate feedback and benefits from acquiring a greater sense of mental spaciousness.
Meditation can also trigger woo woo experiences of oneness that can shatter previously-held ideas about reality, and instantly make enlightenment the highest priority in life. Meditation is the number two precipitating factor of mystical experiences (second only to abject despair).
In one Zen tradition, new students are asked about their aspirations. If they are interested primarily in stress reduction, peace of mind, or health benefits, they are given a particular form of meditation, but if they're interested in enlightenment, they're given a different kind of meditative practice.
What sets this forum apart from many of the classic non-dual traditions is the clear understanding that no one can practice his or her way to enlightenment. Here, we explicitly state that the illusion of the practicer must be seen through, and we spell out the danger of getting attached to the thought that progress toward a distant goal is necessary. In fact, we explicitly state that no progress is possible because there is no separate entity capable of making progress. The only thing necessary is seeing that the goal of attaining oneness, is, itself, an illusion. Oneness is already here and now. Looking for oneness anywhere other than here and now is a wild goose chase.
I suspect that many hard-core Zen sects think that explaining anything to newbies is a big waste of time that would not be understood anyway, so the teachers simply say, in effect, "Sit down, shut up, and do this practice." What goes unsaid is that most people have such noisy distracted minds, that a bit of silence is necessary before anyone can see what direction the finger is pointing in. Even then, many traditions do not explain why meditation may be useful.
Meditation is known to trigger what doctors call "the relaxation response," and many people find that meditating helps them chill out and calm down. As E. noted, intense mind activity can be exhausting, so some people get immediate feedback and benefits from acquiring a greater sense of mental spaciousness.
Meditation can also trigger woo woo experiences of oneness that can shatter previously-held ideas about reality, and instantly make enlightenment the highest priority in life. Meditation is the number two precipitating factor of mystical experiences (second only to abject despair).
In one Zen tradition, new students are asked about their aspirations. If they are interested primarily in stress reduction, peace of mind, or health benefits, they are given a particular form of meditation, but if they're interested in enlightenment, they're given a different kind of meditative practice.
What sets this forum apart from many of the classic non-dual traditions is the clear understanding that no one can practice his or her way to enlightenment. Here, we explicitly state that the illusion of the practicer must be seen through, and we spell out the danger of getting attached to the thought that progress toward a distant goal is necessary. In fact, we explicitly state that no progress is possible because there is no separate entity capable of making progress. The only thing necessary is seeing that the goal of attaining oneness, is, itself, an illusion. Oneness is already here and now. Looking for oneness anywhere other than here and now is a wild goose chase.
