Comments on: Talking About Bad Feelings Helps Control Them? Really, now? http://www.infinitesmile.org/2009/02/talking-about-bad-feelings-helps-control-them-really-now/ Michael McAlister's secular, non-dogmatic and often amusing Buddhist teachings work to inspire awakening in this lifetime. Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:05:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bodhipaksa http://www.infinitesmile.org/2009/02/talking-about-bad-feelings-helps-control-them-really-now/comment-page-1/#comment-4995 Bodhipaksa Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:08:01 +0000 /?p=938#comment-4995 I don't read the Guardian newspaper much these days since I left Britian, but they could never mention the Dalai Lama without calling him a "God-King" and they once described Shakyamuni as the "Tibetan Buddha of compassion." Generally, though, if you find yourself appearing in the paper you will experience this disconnect between what was said or happened and what appears in print, so this isn't a problem just with Buddhism. I don’t read the Guardian newspaper much these days since I left Britian, but they could never mention the Dalai Lama without calling him a “God-King” and they once described Shakyamuni as the “Tibetan Buddha of compassion.” Generally, though, if you find yourself appearing in the paper you will experience this disconnect between what was said or happened and what appears in print, so this isn’t a problem just with Buddhism.

]]> By: Michael McAlister http://www.infinitesmile.org/2009/02/talking-about-bad-feelings-helps-control-them-really-now/comment-page-1/#comment-4994 Michael McAlister Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:26:51 +0000 /?p=938#comment-4994 Great comment. Like you, it sounds, I'm always amazed at the journalistic community's treatment of all things Buddhist. To be fair, some nail it, but as you point out, this is a case of DharmaOops. Furthermore, I can't wait to see where this type of research leads us. Cheers. Great comment. Like you, it sounds, I’m always amazed at the journalistic community’s treatment of all things Buddhist. To be fair, some nail it, but as you point out, this is a case of DharmaOops. Furthermore, I can’t wait to see where this type of research leads us. Cheers.

]]> By: Bodhipaksa http://www.infinitesmile.org/2009/02/talking-about-bad-feelings-helps-control-them-really-now/comment-page-1/#comment-4993 Bodhipaksa Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:13:55 +0000 /?p=938#comment-4993 You're absolutely right that the <em>journalist</em> (as is sometimes the case) completely misunderstands what he's writing about. Or it may have been some editor who decided to "spice up" the article. In fact I was so embarrassed by the cluelessness evidenced in the last sentence of the article I couldn't bring myself to copy it across to our blog. The basic research however sounds fine. As you say, it's obvious to a meditator that naming emotions makes it easier to deal with them However something "seeming obvious" is no guarantee that it's true, so it's heartening to see this kind of research going on. It's very helpful in establishing the credibility of meditation. You’re absolutely right that the journalist (as is sometimes the case) completely misunderstands what he’s writing about. Or it may have been some editor who decided to “spice up” the article. In fact I was so embarrassed by the cluelessness evidenced in the last sentence of the article I couldn’t bring myself to copy it across to our blog.

The basic research however sounds fine. As you say, it’s obvious to a meditator that naming emotions makes it easier to deal with them However something “seeming obvious” is no guarantee that it’s true, so it’s heartening to see this kind of research going on. It’s very helpful in establishing the credibility of meditation.

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