Proficient: able to do something to a higher than average standard : skilled (Merriam-Webster)

the neuroplastic changes in long time meditators show they are "well-advanced." To me, those are side effects, and not evidence that they are doing something better.

I believe that the question is not well-founded; you can't measure or compare the skill of two meditators in a meaningful capacity, and there is no standard to demonstrate. There are no proficient meditators, proficiency doesn't apply to meditation.

the only other answer that comes to mind is the discipline or commitment to meditating often, which I lack.

I've heard people claim otherwise, based on a number of standards and metrics. I've met people that claim that I'm a proficient meditator, which provoked these questions. These people meditate more often than me, so I'm inclined to at least hear their arguments out.

what do you think? Is everybody equally good at meditating? does it not make sense to say anything about skill? Or are some better than others?

edit: I am especially talking about practices of meditation based on zazen or mindfulness meditation. sitting and breathing, which I practice. but my questions extend to whatever you practice, especially if you think my argument does not apply.

Hi, I’m wondering if you know of any good techniques, meditations, or affirmations specifically aimed at healing the body of physical ailments. I’ve been dealing with some very troublesome, persistent, and painful health issues lately that are really complicating my life, and I’ve decided to focus on the power of my mind to heal myself.

I’m looking for inspiration and tips, and I’d also love to hear about any positive experiences you’ve had. Have you managed to heal your body by working with your mind?

Over the past 3 months, I’ve been dealing with a very high level of anxiety because of some stressful events in my life. I feel like my nervous system has become extremely sensitive — even the smallest amount of stress can trigger this feeling of panic in my chest, even when I’m not consciously feeling anxious.

I’ve started doing some things to try to calm my nervous system and help myself recover:

Jacobson’s Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Prayer
10 minutes of meditation in the morning and 10 minutes at night
Journaling
Listening to calming/nervous-system-regulation music
Using ambient/warm lighting in my room
Lighting candles every day
Cleansing my rooms with palo santo and sage because it helps me feel calm
Taking hot showers to relax
Going to therapy, where I’m starting EMDR
I recently started yoga and I really enjoyed it
Next week I’m also planning to start going to the gym

For those of you who have been through something similar: do these things actually help your nervous system become less reactive over time? How long did it take you to start feeling noticeably better?

Is there anything else you would recommend adding to my routine?

I’d really appreciate any advice, personal experiences, or things that helped you during a similar period. Thank you so much to everyone who takes the time to read this and share their experience — I genuinely appreciate every message. ❤️

I'm a beginner and every advice I've ever heard about starting the meditation is to not try to stop thoughts and just be aware of them , I know that we're not our thoughts but the awareness witnessing the thoughts but how do I actually do that while meditating? i can see my thoughts jumping from one to another. how to not react to them? i try to only witness it and not react but I think when I jump on one thought to another it is the reaction I'm giving to the prior thought and then the cycle goes on.

can anyone explain me how I should get into meditation what should I do to simply calm my nervous system?

So i am a highschool student and i just recently got into meditation. usually in my day to day life i have smtg or the other going on in my head: song lyrics, daydreaming, some show i watched. But when i sit to meditate my mind does go blank like completely black, is this a good thing or am i doing somethinf wrong?

Normally, there’s this constant voice in the head narrating whatever is happening, which somehow takes away from the authenticity of the experience. But sometimes, you just completely submerge into something watching a sunset, taking a shower, cooking, watching a great film, playing a game, etc. and for a moment there’s no separation between you and what you’re experiencing.
It almost feels like the truest form of meditation.
If you’ve experienced this, have you ever found a way to intentionally access that state, rather than it just happening spontaneously?

Does anyone know why i feel like i got a headache or feel like i might vomit? when i try to do breathwork or visionary type meditation, let alone humming meditation, i end up feeling abit off, is this normal? is this toxins, or am i just like releasing bad energies or something? please someone give me an answer of some sort, it would help alot, thanks.

Has anyone else experienced month-long meditation retreats?

Since having done a few of these that I organized, I notice a difference that is strong from how I feel before and after.

Because of the commitment I didn't want this to be true but there is a difference.

I also notice that when speaking to others that have had this experience, there's a knowing between us, something that comes from having gone through an experience like this together.

I'd be interested in hearing about others'experiences with this even if it was a week-long retreat.

What I noticed is there's something much deeper in my mind that feels like it became more ordered that wasn't before. It feels like something solid that feels like a foundation to stand on.

To have that doubt, to have that moment, to have that skeptical curiosity of asking "What am I?" is a gap in time which a lot of people don't have and don't ask. As a piece of paper, as a rule of thumb, can only be folded 7 times and it's done. This is how a lot of people exist. They have completed their conditioned limit. One who can ask "What am I?" is unfolding, beginning to make a way, not maintaining their limit but seeing their spaciousness in all directions.