Training in Order vs. Random

[TNFajing]

I am curious about whether Project-Med or anyone has compiled data on using L-Flow or similar meditation enhancement tools in a specific order vs. randomly using the different tracks over time. I read recently that those exercising their muscles in a more random manner (aka muscle confusion) received greater benefits such as a continuing arc of development. Of course, brain tissue is not muscle tissue. Still, it would be interesting to know.

Regards

[Edwin]

I am not quite sure that I understand you correctly.
Could you elaborate your question ?

[Imed]

I think he is comparing Lifeflow to a method of working out and asking if the two relate. Basically, he is saying that muscles respond better when you keep them guessing and doing something 'random' rather than working out in the same way every day. He wants to know if the brain will react in the same way to this random type of 'training'. He thinks that maybe listening to random lifeflow tracks will have the same affect on the brain as using random exercises for your muscles.

My answer would be no. I am not an expert on the brain, but I have spent a fair amount of time researching about the body as I am majoring in health care. Brain tissue is completely different than brain tissue so to assume that it will react in the same way as muscle tissue will when giving the brain tissue an entirely different stimulus doesn't make any sense.

Michael has set up lifeflow the way it is for a reason. To ease your way into meditation so that you are prepared for the next level. Going to fast might cause too many supressed emotions to surface and you won't be able to handle it. You will probably end up resisting rather than observing with unattached emotions and when that happens, you aren't getting your full benefit from Lifeflow in the first place.

Anyways, hope this helps.

Love,
Eric

[bashmaki]

My guess, is if you tried the random thing your life would be plenty chaotic for awhile and all your associates would find someone else to hang out with.

gus

[filly33]

Interesting idea. I tried P90X and its muscle confusion style and it was not only better, it was much more fun. Good question.

[pollyanna]

Here's a very good analogy made by Ta-tsu-wa:-

Think of growing in meditation as if you were setting a goal to earn a degree in mathematics.

You first have to learn the numbers and then learn how to count them in the correct order. Then you learn simple addition and subtraction. Then you learn multiplication and division including the old borrowing and carrying if you learned the way I did. Then you can delve into decimals, fractions and so forth.

You don't pause at each new step and say, "Ah, now I'm going to learn REAL mathematics!" It's all mathematics. None of these steps is "more mathematical" than any of the others.

But just as you cannot eat an elephant all in one bite, neither can you learn all of mathematics at one time. Some concepts cannot be grasped if you do not already possess the knowledge of certain other concepts. For example, borrowing and carrying involves the use of addition and subtraction. So you could not effectively learn how to borrow and carry unless you had first mastered the skills of addition and subtraction.

Meditation is no different. Some states of consciousness are natural, yet are not common. States like the alpha levels we go in and out of regularly throughout our day and so entering them in meditation feels somewhat more "familiar" than entering a waking state of theta might feel. Because we already have a good deal of experience with alpha it is relatively easy to begin working our meditations towards the alpha levels.

We all know what it feels like to suddenly find ourselves aware that we were lost in a daydream. That was an alpha state. So in the beginning of learning meditation if I tell you that you're going to experience an alpha meditative state you have at least an idea what that experience might be like. But if I said to you, "Alright, Newbie, we're going to start you off right from the beginning learning to meditate at a delta level," you would have no idea at all how that might feel or what to expect. Your chances of successfully entering delta while still awake and then staying there would be greatly reduced.

Instead we start off from something that is a little bit familiar and we build on that foundation. We take the next small step and work at it until it begins to feel familiar as well, then we take another step, then another and another and so on. As each new step becomes familiar and comfortable it becomes a secure foundation upon which to take that next step.

All I can say is following Michael's instructions with LifeFlow has made so many amazing changes in my life I wish you much happiness, peace and joy

[bashmaki]

Welcome back Pollyanna