[Advaita-l] Corrected Link: Can you measure meditation? Don't be silly - it's not golf, there is no par score.

[Sundar Rajan]

> Here is the corrected YouTube link:
> https://youtu.be/XcGf7lQJzUA
>

 This question has come up in the past: "When you say you had a good
meditation session, how do you know that? What do you mean 'good'?"

> This got me thinking, so I brainstormed. I used the Vedantic method of *Neti,
> Neti* ("not this, not this") to strip away what meditation *isn't*:
>
>    - -- Not just sitting for 30 minutes
>    - -- Not perfect posture
>    - -- Not suppressing all thoughts
>    - -- Not seeing lights or colors
>    - -- Not physical stillness
>
>  Three measures finally emerged after reflecting upon my own experience  :
>
>    - *Absorption* — Was I truly focused and engaged?
>    - *Peace* — Did (some) genuine tranquility arise?
>    - *Bliss* — Did some pleasantness emerge naturally?
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *Ancient Wisdom Meets AI Validation*
>
> With these measures in hand, I asked ChatGPT a challenging question:
>
> *"If absorption, peace, and bliss were on the y-axis, and meditation
> methods or stages were on the x-axis, how would the chart look—using
> Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita as a framework?"*
>
> I knew that modern methods like app-based meditation, mindfulness, or TM
> don't appear in the Gita—but I asked ChatGPT to include them anyway,
> alongside the classical yogic stages.
>
> ChatGPT autonomously created this progression, integrating modern methods
> with classical yogic stages:
>
>    1. *App-based meditation* → mild relaxation
>    2. *Mindfulness* → steady peace
>    3. *Breath practices (Art of Living)* → higher absorption
>    4. *Transcendental Meditation* → deeper bliss
>    5. *Classical stages (Dharana → Dhyana → Samadhi)* → complete
>    fulfillment
>
> The AI mapped the entire inner journey—bridging 3,000-year-old wisdom with
> modern approaches—completely on its own.
> ------------------------------
>
> *The Three Measures: Supported by Scripture and Science*
>
> The framework held beautifully across both ancient scriptures and
> contemporary research:
>
>    - *Absorption:*
>       - *Classical:* Bhagavad Gita 6.19 describes the steady mind like "a
>       lamp in a windless place." The Yoga Sutras call it a continuous, unbroken
>       stream of awareness. That is the ultimate benchmark. While it seems
>       unreachable, even a stretch of steadiness, with less flickering and
>       distraction, is a good sign.
>       - *Modern:* TM shows measurable brain coherence; psychology
>       recognizes *"*flow states*."*
>    - *Peace:*
>       - *Classical:* Gita 6.15 states the yogi attains supreme peace (*śā*
>       *nti*). That is the ultimate yardstick. Even small glimpses of soft
>       calm point to a good session.
>       - *Modern:* Harvard Health studies on mindfulness; research on Art
>       of Living's stress reduction.
>    - *Bliss:*
>       - *Classical:* Gita 6.20-22 speaks of "supreme joy beyond the
>       senses.". That is the ultimate pinnacle to aim for. Even if the goal isn't
>       reached, a subtle, unprompted sense of joy or calm that emerges naturally
>       indicates progress.
>       - *Modern:* TM's *"*bliss consciousness*"* neuroscience on gamma
>       waves; *Psychology Today*'s "blissful awareness."
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *Insight*
>
> The AI recognized these authentic patterns, creating a map of the inner
> journey that bridges three millennia of wisdom.
>
> Blog post :
>
> https://quantumviewpoint.blogspot.com/2025/09/what-makes-good-meditation-session.html
>
> or a playlist:
> https://studio.youtube.com/playlist/PLPA2J3pvHbj6sjlz7O3gOK-jAhCqWkJjY/videos
>
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