Meditation and ambition

[pineapple]

I've read up on the benefits meditation can theoretically offer, and I've meditated maybe 50 hours total over the course of my life. I've definitely began to see the benefits.

However, I'm a little skeptical because I can't think of any famous meditators who are famous for things other than meditating. If meditation really does cause one's mental abilities to improve really significantly, wouldn't we expect to see the most successful people in any given field (whether it's starting tech companies, playing chess, or writing physics papers) be accomplished meditators? Can anyone name any successful people who meditate?

I'm worried that the more time I spend meditating, the more likely I will be to decide that nothing else in life is more interesting. I have a friend who has meditated far more than me, and he seems content to be an unemployed grad school dropout. Is it possible meditation made him this way? Can anyone report on the effective meditation on their drive/ambition?

[GilesC]

Originally Posted by pineapple

I've read up on the benefits meditation can theoretically offer, and I've meditated maybe 50 hours total over the course of my life. I've definitely began to see the benefits.

Not so much a theory then if you have noticed benefits yourself.

However, I'm a little skeptical because I can't think of any famous meditators who are famous for things other than meditating. If meditation really does cause one's mental abilities to improve really significantly, wouldn't we expect to see the most successful people in any given field (whether it's starting tech companies, playing chess, or writing physics papers) be accomplished meditators? Can anyone name any successful people who meditate?

There's the obvious ones, like the Dalai Lama who works to improve things politically around the world. There is also thich nhat hanh who exiled from tibet to America and works to bring peace to everyone. Moving away from the buddhists we have people like
Shri Shantananda Saraswati who was the teacher of meditation who taught Leon MacLaren who fouded the School of Economic Science in the UK and who was looking for ways to improve the economic situation after the crisis in the early 1900's, and that school is still going now, with branches all over, and it's own school for children and art college etc. teaching people the benefits of meditation and living in the present moment and applying it to everyday life. Perhaps someone more famously who you may know is David Lynch, the creator of the TV series Twin Peaks, and famous director of films such as Eraserhead, The Elephant Man, Dune and many others (David Lynch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) and he has even set up a foundation to help get meditation taught in schools and other places (Transcendental Meditation : Education : David Lynch Foundation). If you read his book "Catching the big fish" he talks about how he uses meditation in his work.

I'm worried that the more time I spend meditating, the more likely I will be to decide that nothing else in life is more interesting.

On the contrary, meditation increases your awareness. You become more connected with what is really going on in life rather than what the mind is creating.

I have a friend who has meditated far more than me, and he seems content to be an unemployed grad school dropout. Is it possible meditation made him this way? Can anyone report on the effective meditation on their drive/ambition?

No, meditation hasn't done that to him, but is that your perception of him or does he have an attitude of not caring about other things etc. If he is segregating himself from life then he is not reaching a true state of awareness and needs to meditate more.

Since meditating, my own ambition and drive for the truth and life has improved dramatically.

Hugs

Giles

[brozen]

I am in the exact same spot as your friend. I am unemployed and have dropped out of uni TWO times. I did all this before I started meditation. My ideas of my future were pretty uneasy. I saw jobs like accounting as horrible wastes of life.

Since meditation, I am currently in the same life situation although my perspective has changed. I am happy with my life, while being happy to embrace any change. I would be happy to get a job in almost any field. If I became an accountant I know I wouldn't be wasting my life since my new perspective is that life is about being happy. External circumstances (Career) do not change your level of happiness.

Also I am actually more likely to follow my ambitions now. In the past I feared getting a job of low pay thinking I wouldn't be happy in a job earning low wage. Now, I can see myself being happy mowing lawns (something I find enjoyment from) for the rest of my life.

Not everyone has 'big' ambitions to become CEO, start a business, come up with new inventions, nor are these measures of success. Your friend is content because of meditation, but that did not cause him to be a dropout, more likely he is looking for a way of life that is more suited to him.


Also, as for famous meditators. I would say almost every famous/talented person performs some sort of meditation. Athletes talk about being 'in the zone'. Musicians have music 'flow out of them' and can be absorbed in creating music for hours without noticing any time pass. These experiences are a form of meditation and without them, there is little room for creativity. Creativity is the basis of all talent. The 'meditative state' is where creativity comes from.

Meditate a little more and you may understand completely where your friend is coming from. There will be nothing to worry about(in a good way).

[Karmoh]

Originally Posted by pineapple

However, I'm a little skeptical because I can't think of any famous meditators who are famous for things other than meditating.?

Hi,

I think you may find that many famous people meditate, lots of industrialists and CEO’s too. Now whether they meditated to become famous is another matter, but many saw that meditation would help them in their chosen field.
Try a Google search for celebrity meditators. I think you may be surprised. They do tend to lean towards the publicity machine of the TM movement, but some also practice mindfulness meditation.


Peace

[Mr Monkey]

Hi,

Only a couple of comments on above, but:

Originally Posted by GilesC

If he is segregating himself from life then he is not reaching a true state of awareness and needs to meditate more.

I was just reflecting on this comment and something didn’t sit right. I know that certain non-duality guru’s/masters/teachers (am thinking of Mooji and Jeff Foster) have each had a period where they have themselves segregated/retreated from life to some extent, which has seemed to be part of a transformative process either helping towards or enabling enlightenment.

I think sometimes a retreat from life can enable reflection, insight and clarity. In this case I’m not suggesting this person may become enlightened from doing this but it might not be a bad thing for this person, perhaps they’re just having some time ‘to sort their head out' so to speak. Having said that, equally I accept the fact that this person could just be a lazy bugger playing their Xbox/PS3 all day in their under-crackers, eating pot noodles and not helping themselves (or anyone else) in any way

Originally Posted by pineapple

Can anyone name any successful people who meditate?

The other members have given enough examples of meditation not hindering people, but possibly this might also be related to a disconnect between what your mind thinks you should do to “have success” and what you might naturally be inclined to do if the mind relinquishes a bit of control, and you start to connect with your natural being.

Paul

[olmate]

Hi,

Another 2 cents ...

Care should be taken about making meditation mean something. Meditation is probably more about process than an outcome.

The reasons I meditate are many but boiled down to its essence is lands in the territory of "conectedness". Being connected adds a richness and texture to living that is difficult to describe. But it does transcend emotional drivers like ambition, desire, want, fame, etc.

So the focus of the meditation discussion is probably back in the other direction. It's not "out there" - more like "back in here".

Hope that helps...

Olmate

[Panthau]

Yet another 2 cents...

Meditation isnt only about the sitting process. Its something you carry throughout your day, after a while. And thats what successful people do... they have the ability to focus on something 100% and are therefore successful. Athletes, for example... i wish i had the focus of Tiger Woods

[pollyanna]

Hi Pineapple and welcome to the community Suddenly remembered the perspective I had about meditation quite a number of years ago before I became interested in it.

As being ambitious and wanting to succeed was the reason I tried to meditate for years, I thought it may be of interest to you.

Anyway, back to the first perspective I can remember having about it. A friend of mine and her employers were going to stay in a nice hotel for a few days and learn T.M. (which I had never heard of at that point in my life) and she wondered whether myself and my husband would like to join them. After listening to some of the things they were going to be doing, which sounded rather weird, I said "we're very busy right now but maybe we will look into it another time" while thinking "Never in a month of Sundays" I had no idea what they were doing but it sounded like a cult to me

Some time later when I was looking to create more financial security for my family, I was introduced to some books, "Think and grow rich" being one of them. What I discovered in these books was that I could achieve anything I wanted and was very excited but there seemed to be one thing missing - I needed to be able to meditate. I still didn't understand it but I now had a reason to learn.

People meditate for all kinds of reasons and there are so many benefits I enjoy - far more than what I got involved for. I don't think it makes you less or more ambitious. I am still ambitious, although I was to begin with.

I find solutions much more easily now, however, I think the greatest gains for me is that my perspective has changed hugely and continues to do so. I really enjoy the peace and balance in my life. It's just such a relief to not have such a racing and troubled mind and enjoy each moment.

I hope this makes some sense to you and wish you much peace and joy

[dvonlehm]

Originally Posted by pineapple

However, I'm a little skeptical because I can't think of any famous meditators who are famous for things other than meditating. If meditation really does cause one's mental abilities to improve really significantly, wouldn't we expect to see the most successful people in any given field (whether it's starting tech companies, playing chess, or writing physics papers) be accomplished meditators? Can anyone name any successful people who meditate

The King of Media, Howard Stern... He talks about his practice of meditation (a form of TM) on his show quite often. He is certainly rich and famous, albeit controversial....

[Nelson11]

I will say how it is with me:

My "ambition" is to be the best person I could hope to be.
My ambition is to consciously and mindfully absorb the Four Noble Truths and accept them as absolute sacrosanct fact, to adhere devotedly to the Eightfold Path, and to keep and observe the Five precepts.
I know I am in the cycle of Samsara.
I strive to reach a time when I can leave it. I am coming to terms and to grips with the concept of Self-and Not-Self.... I am aware that I am simply a collection of impermanent aggregates, and I am daily more and more convinced of re-birth as a logical and understandable process.....
(Don't ask me to expound all this in a scholarly manner. I cannot, but I know within myself what I know, and I am learning and expanding as I go...

(Yes, plenty of "I" there.... )

If, during this progress, I diligently strive to achieve Right Intention, Right Mindfulness and Right Livelihood, it must naturally follow, and be logical, that what I do externally will reflect my inner striving.

So it doesn't matter if I am a successful film-maker, or a successful road-sweeper.
My focus of effort lies within me, not externally.
But it's reflected.