Managing Stress or “Dis-Stress” Through Meditation
June 2nd, 2006 by Elliott Maynard
“To those who may consider meditating a waste of time, I emphasize several points: First, managing stress or dis-stress is a subtle benefit to be gained from sitting for twenty plus minutes in silence. Random thoughts which arise in Meditation often mask feelings or dis-stress, which are not always immediately apparent. At times, fresh creative thoughts arise simply by dircting attention to the “null zone.” Knowing how to manage all the inner activity, without concentrating and by surrendering to the flow is, as I’m sure you are aware, is essential for having “successful” Meditations.” “The Astronaut who encounters an impossible situation, or who desperately needs to find a solution to a problem would be well advised to open his or her consciousnes to the Wellspring of Creativity to be found in Inner Space. Hence, the riddle: ‘The way out of the problem may well be the way in.’
Second, although Meditation is not the only way to change brain waves and synchronize hemispheres, Medititation makes the process easy, while providing a restful experience. resting in the stillness, or what I call The Grand Silence (magnum silencium) facilitates coping with physical and mental fatigue, and seems to enhance and accelerate healing.
A third observation is that many people of faith find in Meditation mystical experiences, and claim to receive an infusion of ’spiritual gifts’ as a result of exploring Inner Space.
Bottom line is that Inner Space Cadets do more than merely ‘contemplate their navel.’ The knowledge about stress management alone is extremely important, particularly for anyone contemplating a long space voyage.”
…Commentary courtesy of Edward Winchester, CM, President of the PeaceMakers Institute, Inc., and Founder of the Pentagon Meditation Club. The foregoing thoughts were based around the theme of the new ATWG Book, Beyond Earth: The Future of Humans in Space, and are thus especially relevant to the problems of future space voyagers having to rely on their inner Resources to solve problems which might arise during long journeys, or in Space Colonies which are isolated from their Earth-based resources.