Muse biofeedback headband is INSANE for Meditation.

[Endangered-EGO]

Hello, I just wanted to share my experience with the muse meditation headband. I'm amazed by it. I don't know if it's just my beginning excitement or if it's improving my meditation tenfold on it's own.
I was told this device was best for beginners, but I believe it's best for medium level meditators (like myself).

I reach concentration levels that normally need luck and a good day to achieve. Also during these high concentration levels thanks to the birdsounds that occur, I become aware of the collapse of the inside-world, and when I am in access-concentration with one pointedness of the mind.

I believe that those states of concentration are like 2 hours of relaxed meditation condensed into 2 minutes (metaphorically trying to quantify it). The thing is: in between the breaths, the focus is resting on that empty spacious awareness with FULL concentration. It's like the space/awareness Adyashanti and Rupert spira are talking about becomes 10x more intense and noticeable.

It has downsides (in the beginning at least). The biofeedback (birdnoises) make me realise that I am successfully meditating, and then I start thinking about me meditating good. And the intense concentration is very hard to keep up for more than 5-10 minutes.

But the important part is: You actually know when you are successfully meditating, what happens when you fall into deep concentration so you can reproduce that later on.

I had the device for 3 days now, so that's just my initial commentary on it, I'll do another post in a month.

Does have biofeedback devices they find useful? What are tips to make the most out of those devices. Any other pros and cons about it?

I hope I'll be able to maintain access concentration for longer periods of time.

[Avidya]

How is it working for you so far?

[BipolarGrowth]

Nice. I think this was the one I considered getting before. You should check out the Lumenate app. Doing vipassana + Lumenate is the easiest way for me to reach ridiculous amounts of concentration pretty effortlessly. The app has a free version. It’s not a biofeedback thing though. It flashes your phone’s flashlight rapidly to produce quickly shifting visual sensations on your closed eyelids. 

[Girzo]

Waiting for updates.

[Endangered-EGO]

@BipolarGrowth

2 hours ago, Girzo said:

Waiting for updates.

@Girzo Just useful for concentration (1st jhana). Once you get there, there's no more need to have biofeedback.

It doesn't help with broad awareness and moment by moment sensory clarity, but I'd have to test it again.

If you struggle with one-pointedness of mind ( one pointed concentration), I definitely recommend it.

[Endangered-EGO]

@Avidya

@BipolarGrowth

@Girzo

 

You guys can give me methods to try, just to see if it would help you. So I can give you more specific details about it.

I rarely meditate on one-pointedness anymore, so I don't even use the device...

 

I probably have some promo-code for a few percent off with the subscription, so just ask me of you want to buy it, I'll look for it.

[The0Self]

Diligent relaxed bright un-distractedness on the feeling of air in nose and the breath cycle, with full body in background awareness, is pretty damn good by itself. Can get into lower jhanas in a few minutes with some skill (at least months, probably years) with just that.

For me specifically, the sign that an object is working well is that the sensations feel sharp yet smooth — and almost like a solid block of heavy, thick glass whose flat surface contour is the appropriation of the object’s spatial dimensions (which themselves can later dissolve completely). And solidity everywhere dissolves to at least some degree — e.g. hands can feel like they’re 20 feet from your head.

That dissolving of solidity can go so far that the self clinging to the object is released completely — generally quite scary unless a lot of joy in the background from stillness and relaxation.

Edited November 9, 2021 by The0Self

[Girzo]

@Endangered-EGO Do you need the device everytime to get to that concentration or does it increase your ability to concentrate better even without to the device? To what degree?

[Endangered-EGO]

@Girzo

8 hours ago, Girzo said:

@Endangered-EGO Do you need the device everytime to get to that concentration or does it increase your ability to concentrate better even without to the device? To what degree?

2 Things:

1. There's a feedback, so once your mind wanders or your concentration drops, you notice it quicker and in the beginning right away. This stays, even without the device afterwards. You're conditioned to notice the drops quicker.

2. If you want to broaden awareness after reaching a deep concentration state, this device isn't gonna do anything.

 

If you can't reach Access concentration yet, I definitely recommend it. If you can get into it quickly, then I don't. 

I haven't tried rapid noticing on the device yet, I'd have to try it.

[Endangered-EGO]

Heres the code for 30$ off:

Hey friend! I love my Muse and I think you'd like it too - here's a free $30 Muse credit to spend on choosemuse.com. Claim your gift by going to: http://muse.choosemuse.com/3BSjJb

(I hope that's okay for sharing this affiliate link)

There are other devices too, if you want to ask for them go in the fb group: Heartmind alchemy lab. I only have muse so I can't compare.

 

[Girzo]

@Endangered-EGO Have you tried doing your Vipassana on Muse with a Mind Monitor app? It shows the raw eeg data coming out of the Muse, so should be able to train other jhnanas amd not only concentration.

I am curious.

[softlyblossoming]

@Girzo Is the app free? Where did you learn how to use neurofeedback to train specific absorptions? How does and do you use it to improve vipassana also? I would be very curious to talk to you about this, as I have a Muse 2, but haven't been able to see many results using it.

[aurum]

The muse is interesting to me.

I like the idea of getting instant feedback as it seems that would train your mind better. A lot of times you can just get lost in monkey mind for almost an entire meditation session. But at least with the feedback you would be aware of that, versus thinking you did a successful sit.

At the same time, it seems like there’s value to being able to recognize when you’re in monkey mind or not. And that’s a skill you need to develop 24/7, not just the hour you’re sitting. So perhaps there’s a disservice there of you not tuning into your own signals as much and relying on external feedback.

@Endangered-EGO what would you say your experience has been related to this?

[Girzo]

4 hours ago, softlyblossoming said:

Is the app free?

Paid, $15

[softlyblossoming]

6 hours ago, Girzo said:

Paid, $15

@Girzo What great value! I'll buy the app. Would it be ok if I discuss my results with you via PM? 

[Girzo]

@softlyblossoming I don't have Muse  So I doubt I would be able to help you.

I've just watched this video 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGzhDIHckzQ

Edited February 8, 2022 by Girzo

[Loving Radiance]

@Endangered-EGO In the feedback comments of the app I read that people have connection issues 1 to 5 times per 25 min session. Is that true in your experience?

Edited February 8, 2022 by Loving Radiance

[softlyblossoming]

5 hours ago, Loving Radiance said:

@Endangered-EGO In the feedback comments of the app I read that people have connection issues 1 to 5 times per 25 min session. Is that true in your experience?

@Loving Radiance I have a Muse 2. For me, maybe 1 connectivity issue per 5 25 minute sessions.

[Loving Radiance]

@softlyblossoming Thanks!

[Ulax]

Fair play. Credit to you for having the open-mindedness to experiment with things like this.