Relaxation techniques during a pool match?

(((Satori))) said:
What do you mean "most people can't do what it takes?"

Are you referring to capabilities or persistence?

What does it take?
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Often, people have the misconception that to effectively meditate one's mind must be clear of any thoughts. Well, good luck! The mind thinks, that's what the mind does. We can't hardly tell ourselves to stop thinking. But, with practice we can become more effective at neither fighting nor following the thoughts. Being anchored in the body and following the breath is the vehicle. There are myriad ways we can practice throughout the day.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, who largely developed Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, asked the audience at a lecture I attended: "When was the last time you took a shower, that you were actually in the shower?" What he was referring to, is that so often we are disengaged from our activity. So, instead of already being at work or having an argument with someone who's not even there, we actually are present with the experience - feeling our feet on the shower floor, sensorially experiencing the water cascading off your skin and counting your breath.

So, give it a go - it will definitely help your game.
 
(((Satori))) said:
Buddhist... Christianity... I am torn.

I have seen believable evidence which support both but which path should I take?
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You don't have to live your life according to either. If you choose to follow a religion that is certainly a personal choice and one no one should ever force you into. Make a choice as to what feels best for you.

Practicing meditation on its own will not make you a Buddhist, and I am not aware of anything in the Bible that says you cannot meditate. This is an exercise in calming your mind, for pool and general well-being.

PBS recently aired, "The Buddha", a two-part series on his life and experiences. It would be worth watching. I'm sure their website would have information about it.
 
Ghosst said:
You don't have to live your life according to either. If you choose to follow a religion that is certainly a personal choice and one no one should ever force you into. Make a choice as to what feels best for you.

Practicing meditation on its own will not make you a Buddhist, and I am not aware of anything in the Bible that says you cannot meditate. This is an exercise in calming your mind, for pool and general well-being.

PBS recently aired, "The Buddha", a two-part series on his life and experiences. It would be worth watching. I'm sure their website would have information about it.
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I have been asking myself questions and trying to determine the path that I want to choose.

As far as the way Christians meditate as opposed to Buddhist, I tend to agree with the article I posted earlier.
"Some might insist that it is only the mechanics of meditation that is adopted and not the theology or worldview of Buddhism. To say that is to miss the entire point of Buddhist meditation. According to theologian Martin Goldsmith"

I don't think one can deny that Buddhist meditation aims to achieve release from suffering and the endless cycle of death and rebirth; according to Buddha, meditation is only ‘a raft with which one can reach the opposite shore: emptiness’. If one insists mindfulness meditation or any of the other buddhist-derived forms of meditatation are just a tools to strengthen one's mind, I don't think they have a full understanding.

Christian meditation focuses on God and its aim is to achieve fullness and oneness with Christ, not emptiness without Christ.


I am not putting down Buddhism or saying it is wrong. I have studied and believed its teachings. I am just not sure right now which is right for me.

One thing I do believe though is that there is no such thing as both being the truth.
 
I just remind myself that I'm going to win and that even if I lose, I still win.

I dunno though. It is hard sometimes.

The only time I get genuinely frustrated is when I miss a very thin cut by a small margin or if I'm playing on a bad table and get some horrible rolls.
 
For those who might be interested in a device that will help you learn to relax on demand here is the machine I used with patients when I was in practice

http://www.dmesupplygroup.com/15-4266.html?gclid=CMm4ypz-nbkCFY5r7AodLSgAhw

There are certainly many other machines. This one (@ $80.00 or so) is all that you need. It contains instructions and can be used with any of several commercially available programs.

Progressive muscle relaxation and meditation do not need to be tied to any philosophical outlook to use the principles that have been derived. See for instance work accomplished at the Mayo Clinic and the work of Elmer Green.

For those seeking some sort of path I recommend reading the life after death literature.
See Elisabeth Kubler-Ross MD, On Life After Death and Ed and Emily Kelly's (2007) Irreducible Mind to learn what today's scientists and philosophers have to say.

In my opinion all of the paths to creating a good life contain elements of the truth. some are more confused than others but all contain elements of the truth. Interestingly much of the contents of the Tibetan Book of the Dead agree with many of todays advanced studies on the Near Death Experience and issues related to what happens when one dies.
 
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JoeW said:
Progressive muscle relaxation and meditation do not need to be tied to any philosophical outlook to use the principles that have been derived. See for instance work accomplished at the Mayo Clinic and the work of Elmer Green.
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Sorry, yes, that's why I let the thread die off, no need to go down that path.
 
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