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Meditation

Meditation

Date: Dec 05 2008

Themes: Health, Religion

Grammar: You're vs. Your

Intro

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Every major religion, from Hinduism to Christianity, incorporates some form of meditation. Many Buddhists, for example, use meditation to gain spiritual insight. But plenty of non-religious types meditate, too. After a stressful day, sitting quietly with your eyes closed or even repeating a mantra to yourself might help you to calm down and relax.

Marni finds meditation very useful, but Mason is skeptical. Hear them debate.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Marni

Mason

Mason

Marni:  You know, I just spent the last half hour trying to meditate.

Mason:  Well you need to just chill out, right?

Marni:  But I couldn’t clear my mind. It was so frustrating.

Mason:  Like meditate how? Meditate like just hang out and, you know, be quiet? Or meditate like the half-lotus pose and incense and stuff?

Marni:  Well, I have a spot in my house where I just clear everything off. And I go, and I just sit in the lotus position. And I just try to repeat a mantra to myself.

Mason:  And is this your own kind of practice or do you subscribe to any particular method? ‘Cause I gotta say, when it starts getting too hippy-dippy, I get weirded out by it.

Marni:  OK, I guess I can understand your perspective. But for me personally, as someone who has so much to do and so much on my mind, I find that it is very effective in just helping me calm down and see things differently.

Mason:  Mmm-hmm. ‘Cause like, I can handle chakras as an idea. But when people start laying crystals on my forehead and whatnot, that’s straying into that weirding-me-out world of meditation that I don’t really want to get to…

Marni:  Maybe you’re just not comfortable with your inner self. I think that’s your problem.

Mason:  Right, obviously my, uh, “dark chi” is in dominance.

Marni:  Oh…Well, do you have anything where you just get in the zone, and you are able to just go to another place? Do you exercise or something?

Mason:  It’s called four beers deep.

Marni:  Oh, okay.

 

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Discussion

Marni is upset because she tried to meditate but couldn’t clear her mind. For her, meditation is a way of relaxing and feeling more peaceful. She meditates by sitting quietly in a special place and silently repeating a mantra to herself.

Mason is surprised to hear that Marni meditates. He thinks meditation sounds a little hippy-dippy. Mason assumes that anyone who meditates must be into other weird spiritual practices as well. His favorite way to relax is drinking a lot of beer.

Have you ever meditated? Do you know anyone who has a regular meditation practice?

 

Comments

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guobingyou

guobingyou

China

Sometimes I would like to meditate in quiet, to clear my mind, to think about what i ought to do and what my plan is. Meditation time is a peace and relax time for me.

06:46 AM Dec 05 2008 |

aliena

China

I had tried to meditate, but I always couldn't clear my mind. I'm always that kind of person who has so many things in mind. The only time I can get to in the zone is when I sleep. So when i feel frustrated i just go to sleep and when i wake up things have become better. Tongue out

06:44 AM Dec 05 2008 |

sinam

sinam

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

i don’t practice yoga and i get weirded out by it like mason.

05:23 AM Dec 05 2008 |

Pampie

Pampie

Malaysia

i practice yoga…

it's good Wink hehe

03:02 AM Dec 05 2008 |

Naomi1010

Naomi1010

Taiwan

Yeah, it’s important to calm down and clear your mind especially under a stressful condition nowadays.

02:42 AM Dec 05 2008 |

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