diff --git a/blog/when-then-zen-2018-03-30.markdown b/blog/when-then-zen-2018-03-30.markdown index 3af68cd..a14e193 100644 --- a/blog/when-then-zen-2018-03-30.markdown +++ b/blog/when-then-zen-2018-03-30.markdown @@ -11,16 +11,53 @@ not explain on his own get attributed to gods. As such, religious texts that describe meditation can be very difficult to understand without context in the religion in question. -I would like to change this and make meditation more accessible. +I would like to change this and make meditation more accessible. As such, I +have created the [`When Then Zen`](https://github.com/Xe/when-then-zen) +project. This project aims to divorce meditation methods from the context of +their spirituality and distill them down into what the steps to the process +are. ## A better way to teach meditation At a high level, meditation is the act of practicing the separation of action -and reaction. There's a bunch of ways to do it, and in the course of this -project I plan to cover a wide array of them. +and reaction. A lot of the meditation methods that people have been publishing +over the years are the equivalent of what works for them on their PC (tm), and +as such things are generally described using whatever comparators the author of +the meditation guide is comfortable with. This can lead to confusion. The way I am teaching meditation is simple: teach the method and have people do it and see what happens. I've decided to teach methods using [Gherkin](https://github.com/cucumber/cucumber/wiki/Gherkin). +Gherkin can be kind of strange to read if you are not used to it, so consider +the game of baseball, specifically the act of the batter hitting a home run. + +``` +Feature: home run + Scenario: home run + As a batter + In order to hit a home run + Given the pitcher has thrown the ball + When I swing + Then I hit the ball out of the park +``` + +As shown above, a Gherkin scenario clearly identifies who the feature is +affecting, what actions they take and what things should happen to them as a +result of them taking those actions. This translates very well when trying to +explain some of the finer points of meditation, EG: + +``` + # from when then zen's metta feature + Scenario: Nature Walking + # this is optional + # but it helps when you're starting + # physical fitness + As a meditator + In order to help me connect with the environment + Given a short route to walk on + When I walk down the route + Then I should relax and enjoy the scenery + And feel the sensations of the world around me +``` @@ -28,13 +65,9 @@ it and see what happens. I've decided to teach methods using [Gherkin](https://g - goals - explanation of method of teaching - contextual/terminology dump -- In-depth explanation of the anapana feature - - break down the parts - - header - - background - - mindfulness of breathing - - attention drifts away from mindfulness of breathing - - mindfulness of unconscious breathing - - meditation session - - imagery during breathing - Sneak peek of in-progress features +- Potential other topics I'd like to dig into + - kundalini + - yoga + - tulpamancy + - musical synchronization