Hi :)

[Peter]

I personally think it is a lot alike. I've done a lot of sports and I've done it a lot. Sports/fitness one does for the physical health and mindfulness for mental health. Both take a lot of practice, both you need to maintain, both can be done with different intends.

Good or bad; Some people do sports to reach some goal (e.g. gaining muscles), others do it to maintain their health. The same goes for mindfulness (e.g. gaining resilience).

You might not be meditating to improve your meditating skills. But that's what happened; You're at another level than you were when you began, so it could have been your goal. Doesn't really matter as long as one realizes that one might never reach their goal, and one enjoys working at it.

Peter

[JonW]

"You're at another level than you were when you began."

Personally, I don't feel that I am. Each meditation is approached with beginner's mind. I don't buy into the idea of making progress. Every moment is new and one cannot step in the same river twice.
Cheers, Jon

[Gareth]

Ever the diplomat; I agree with you both.

Without question, every meditation is a new beginning. There are times when the mind is serene, and I am like those stock photos you see of beautiful girls with their eyes closed on mountain sides. Other times my mind won't stay still for a millisecond, and I am bombarded with challenging thoughts.

On the other hand, my skill as a meditator has unquestionably improved. I am able to accept the above and know that it will always be the case through my daily experience of meditating. Also, I think that generally my mind is a quieter place than it was before, if you were to average it out over a number of weeks. I feel that this is undoubtedly the result of meditation. Does this make me the trained athlete?

[Peter]

I personally feel a big difference from when I began. A lot of things that I have struggled with in the beginning have become a lot easier. I also think I understand more about it than I did when I began. I call that progression. Different people might have different definitions for progression though.

I think that keeping a 'beginners mind' doesn't mean that one doesn't make overall progress. I think it means that one shouldn't assume anything and one is open to view things is if they see them for the first time (not becoming blind to the familiar).

The brain evolves. If one trains it, it gets better at certain tasks. With MRI scans it has scientifically been proven that very experienced Buddhist monks were mentally a lot more resilient than people who were not so experienced at meditating. One might call that progress, depending on one's definition.

Maybe, we should agree to disagree

Peter

[EDIT] Written before I knew of Gareth's post

[JonW]

Holland 1 Wales 1
(Extra time being played. If the scores are even after 120 minutes, the game will be decided on penalty kicks)

[FeeHutch]

Hi Charlotte
I just commented on your other post but thought I'd come over and say hi officially!

[miracle_0617]

Hi FreeHutch Thanks for the very warm greeting!