Stage 3 and 4 and Neural dynamics

Question 1

How is stage 3 conceptualised?

Answer 1

There is no preference for object or subject, but rather an open awareness.

Buddhist: Subtle Samatha without object/subject

Secular:Open monitoring

MSBR/MBCT: Choiceless awareness

Question 2

What did Pagnoni et al find regarding Zen mediators?

Answer 2

When matching Zen practitioners against naive controls viewing words, Zen meditators reacted quicker and returned to baseline quicker in ares related to word processing.

Question 3

What did Grant et al find about Zen practitioners?

Answer 3

Zen practitioners should differing reactions neurally in several areas.

Less activation of the DMN-less self referencing

More activation in the Thalamus- Their threshold for pain was lower

Less reactivity to pain and more acceptance

Question 4

What happens in Stage 4?

Answer 4

Non-dual mindfulness: unperturbed yet fully aware

Question 5

How do we measure expertise in mindfulness or meditation?

Answer 5

Normally in years or hours in meditation.

Question 6

What is the problem with the current approach to meditation experience?

Answer 6

Quantity vs quality

Experts can have a bad day

Beginner’s can have luck

Dispositional Mindfulness

The measure is subjective

Question 7

What is the current definition of “expert” based on?

Answer 7

10000 hours notion

However, more recently in chess and music hours practiced only accounted for 1/3 of differences