"When I was like, a funny 7-8 y/o child I used to "practice yoga every morning" and ended the session with "death pose". That, I guess is how and when I started meditating almost every day." |
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I don't do any special practice nor do I have "knowledge" on meditation. When I was like, a funny 7-8 y/o child I used to "practice yoga every morning" and ended the session with "death pose". That, I guess is how and when I started meditating almost every day. During the death pose, I always "fell asleep". At least I thought I did, it was either "aware sleeping" (what is that is there such thing) or "meditating" since I had an "awareness" during this. I used to get out of this state on will, feeling refreshed afterwards. I felt blissful and had very clear thinking. |
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Last edited by figurefly; 09-04-2015 at 03:01 PM.
"When I was like, a funny 7-8 y/o child I used to "practice yoga every morning" and ended the session with "death pose". That, I guess is how and when I started meditating almost every day." |
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Last edited by Zoth; 09-04-2015 at 08:25 PM. Reason: Link Removed.
It could be a deep trance or a lucid nap or yoga nidra/clear light sleep. Like you said, drawing the line isn't so important or necessary. In the brain, deep states of meditation can be very much like REM sleep or deep sleep. In a nap, you tend to go directly into REM, skipping or greatly shortening the other states of a more typical long sleeping period. REM is the period of sleep that mostly refreshes the mind. REM is also the time we may dream and lucid dream. Clear light sleep is a state of conscious awareness during deep sleep (well, that's imprecisely mixing Eastern and Western terminology, but I think it's a fair working definition). Deep sleep is the period that mostly restores the body. Subjectively, clear light sleep is not quite like ordinary dreams because it tends to be more void and abstract, but still sharp and present. I have experienced it a few times. But you don't necessarily need to be asleep, just reach the mental/neurological state that is similar to sleep. |
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I am sure about illusion. I am not so sure about reality.
sisyphus, thanks for pointing out yoga nidra, I forgot to mention that. |
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Last edited by Ginsan; 09-04-2015 at 09:32 PM.
That's right. Naps are what keep me going. I can't say that I have a true polyphasic cycle (yet) but I usually get 4 hours of core sleep and a few naps/meditations during day. Naps help me keeping my mood up. Also, having a daytime nap is my guaranteed way of having a lucid dream in my core sleep, without trying. So naps are definitely pretty amazing. And thanks a bunch for the answer sisyphus! |
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Last edited by figurefly; 09-04-2015 at 09:39 PM.
"While reading, I actually hope to never see the last line and secretly wish I could type as many words without being boring." |
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Last edited by Ginsan; 09-04-2015 at 10:28 PM.
I typed some things, and when I clicked "post", an error occurred, and it was removed. But it ended with something like this: "I feel that if I go on like this, I might feel like throwing up too So from now on I'll only point out the glaring mistakes." Talking like this suggests that I am really good at grammar, but I very often don't know how to say/write something, especially right now that I've become more sensitive to grammar xD |
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Your skepticism is well appreciated. I don't have a very rigorous set of references at my finger tips at present, but I will try to summarize the science and offer a few studies. I will clarify, that I did not mean to suggest that meditation could entire replace sleep, nor that manipulating one's sleep schedule excessively is a healthful proposition. Rather, these are supporting practices. And, in my reading, I think there is a general consensus that there is common ground in Eastern and Western traditions about the benefits of adequate sleep and mindfulness practices. |
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Last edited by sisyphus; 09-04-2015 at 11:06 PM.
I am sure about illusion. I am not so sure about reality.
I won't read the studies, but I'm confident enough that your descriptions are accurate. I don't disagree with anything you say in that post, because now it doesn't sound like you're suggesting that meditation can replace sleep. I'm sorry that you had to link to those studies, it appears to have been overkill And thanks for the short descriptions. |
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Last edited by Ginsan; 09-04-2015 at 11:04 PM.
Also, to be clear, I want to clarify that I don't advocate polyphasic sleep. I mentioned it because it's one of those extreme examples that helps to illuminate some underlying principles. But as a practice, polyphasic sleep is in the realm of extreme hobbyists, or those with very unusual sleep patterns. |
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I am sure about illusion. I am not so sure about reality.
I'm sorry, I can't find anything better than this. |
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Last edited by Ginsan; 09-06-2015 at 04:08 PM.
Hi figurefly, |
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I appreciate the answer EnergyWorker! |
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