Friday 30 November 2012

Medicate or Meditate?

Having a cold beer or a glass of wine after a hard day is considered normal in most social circles.  It's a common belief that alcohol can help us achieve relaxation.  It's all well and good to have the odd drink, but is  it really a good idea to use alcohol for relaxation or stress relief?

Bondi to Bronte walk, Sydney, Australia
In it’s early stages alcohol appears to quieten the mind and help us achieve a peaceful state.  This effect is caused by  the releasing of chemicals into the pleasure centres of the brain creating a diversion from our stressful feelings or thoughts and giving the illusion of stress relief.  Instead of concentrating on our thoughts we concentrate on the pleasurable feelings we are experiencing thus quietening our mind and achieving a momentary state of bliss.  A kind of meditative state.  But studies have shown that just one glass of wine in the evening can disturb our quality of sleep.

A healthy alternative is obviously meditation and although there's a lot more awareness of the benefits, many still consider meditation as foreign or unattainable.  What most people don't know is that we don't have to completely empty our minds to be successful at it.  Any time spent in silence with our eyes closed and the intention of peace is much more beneficial than most people realise.  It's the mind's nature to wander, what's important is that we don't get frustrated when it does and we gently bring the mind back to whatever the meditation technique teaches us to focus on, which can be as simple as the breath.

If our goal is to quiet the mind so that we can connect with our inner peace and achieve a meditative state of bliss and alcohol and mediation appear to have similar effects, alcohol is usually the preferred choice simply for it's immediate effects and social popularity.  But we need to look at the bigger picture.  With alcohol the momentary state of bliss seems to get shorter the more we drink and can be accompanied by many health problems with the hangover being the least of our worries.  Whereas the more we practise meditation the longer the states of bliss last for and the better we get at achieving them.  When we meditate instead of medicate we improve both our short term and long term health, relaxation and general well being.   Meditation is a practise, not a religion, so anyone can do it.  It's benefits are recognised by many scientists giving evidence to the idea that faith and science are not contradictory, they are complimentary.

I've tried several meditation techniques and these are the two I'd recommend in Melbourne:

Softcore meditation (recommended for beginners)
This drop in class only costs $12 including refreshments.  You don't have to sit on the floor with your legs crossed (although you're welcome to do so at the back of the room if you'd prefer), the room is filled with comfortable chairs and the meditation portion of the class is very easy and relaxed.   Gen Kelsang Dornying is particuarly hilarious (comparable to a stand up comedian).  These classes are held all over Australia.  Check out the below link for your nearest class:
http://meditateinmelbourne.org/albert-park

Hardcore meditation
To learn this technique you must complete a 10 day Vippassana course (which is paid for by donation or serving).  I'd recommend reading "The Art of Living" by Mr. S.N. Goenka before attending the course.  My advice is to stick to the rules while taking a course, but only apply the principles to your life that fit for you.
www.aloka.dhamma.org


If you would like to support this cause you can recommend this page below or donate at this link: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

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