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Greg 23-04-2012 08:33 PM

Insight meditation
 
My favourite type of meditation is insight meditation, or mindfulness meditation, or vipassana. However this seems to be strictly Buddhist and I'm not a Buddhist and feel like a fraud if I go to a meditation sitting.

oliness 23-04-2012 10:17 PM

If you are being mindful in meditation, then you are being mindful and that is it. Say you are concentrating on your breath. That is not Buddhist or non-Buddhist. It is just your breath and your awareness. Buddhism does not hold any copyrights to your breath or to being aware of your breath :-)

It is important also that Buddhism isn't meant to be a cult that you have to submit to in order to access anything it offers. It is only meant to benefit us, help us and free us from suffering. If you don't believe in any particular teaching or doctrine that is ok. Just use the methods offered as much as you find them beneficial.

ribiq 23-04-2012 10:25 PM

Well first, you can certainly meditate on your own; you don't have to go to a group meditation to meditate effectively. Also, no spiritual tradition has exclusive rights to any practice, and most are very happy to facilitate learners as well as people who just want to go once in awhile for the experience. And you definitely don't have to be Buddhist to go to those meditation sessions. Buddhism is known for being one of the most open and accepting religions. I wouldn't worry about it if you're interested in going

Xan 24-04-2012 04:49 AM

Greg... Buddhists don't care if you call yourself a Buddhist or not... unlike some other religions.

You might think of yourself as "doing spiritual practices" rather than in or out of any religion. That works because it's the truth of the situation anyway.

It's good to see how your mind can get caught in silly ideas... and let them go. That's also a spiritual practice.


Xan


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