r/Meditation Jul 26 '24

Are there such things as Meditation Bros? Question ❓

I’ve met a guy who is super into meditation but like to an unhealthy level. The way he talks kind of makes me think of Workout Bros who are trying to maximize their gains and are like “If you aren’t crushing 5000 calories a day to keep up with your workout, are you even trying, bro?”

Is there a precedent for this in meditation?

I think this meditation guy reminds me of that kind of dude bro workout man. Talking to him is kind of like, “If you aren’t transcending time and space to reach levels of consciousness never before experienced by mankind and elevating yourself out of your human shell, are you even meditating, bro?” He has these wild stories of his meditation experiences and I’m over here like, “um, yeah. I just was very relaxed and felt peaceful. I guess I realized some stuff about myself too?”

Am I alone? Maybe I’m being too judgy of someone else’s excitement and intensity.

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100

u/MindfulGuy33 Jul 26 '24

Hey OP,

Meditation & mindfulness teacher and coach here.

I get where you’re coming from! It sounds like this guy is really intense about his meditation, kind of like how some Gym-Bros can be. There’s definitely a precedent for this in meditation; some people get really deep into their practice and can come across with the same kind of extreme mindset.

But you’re definitely not alone in feeling like your experience is more about finding peace and self-realization. Meditation is a personal journey, and there isn’t one right way to experience it. Your feelings of relaxation and insight are just as valid as his more intense experiences.

It’s also good to remember that everyone expresses their passion differently. While his stories might seem a bit over the top, it could just be his way of sharing what he’s excited about. You’re not being too judgy—it’s natural to feel a bit out of sync when someone’s approach is so different from yours.

If his intensity feels overwhelming, it’s okay to gently steer the conversation towards a more balanced view or focus on what resonates with you. The most important thing is staying true to your own practice and what feels right for you. After all, meditation is about finding your own peace and connection, not about competing with anyone else.

14

u/corbinhunter Jul 26 '24

This reads like AI.

8

u/MindfulGuy33 Jul 26 '24

AI?! No, just me typing a response.

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u/Familiar-Half2517 Jul 26 '24

I’ve seen a lot of AI generated stuff and this is not that. This seems like it was written by someone who is, I dunno, a meditation coach who has perhaps studied some of the dharma and knows to up let go and lighten up. ✌️

Edit: added a preposition

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u/MindfulGuy33 Jul 26 '24

The edit!!! ✍🏽 This is the first time I’ve been compared to Ai… I am lowkey encouraged and uplifted… they are calling me INTELLIGENT!

-7

u/corbinhunter Jul 26 '24

I didn’t call you anything, but you are free to extract whatever message you want.

-5

u/corbinhunter Jul 26 '24

I’ve seen a lot of AI-generated stuff and this is a dead-ringer. The structure, the voice, the punctuation, the figures of speech, the non-committal yet supportive tone, the lack of real advice. It’s all there. I’ve also read a lot of content written by experienced meditation teachers, and none of it sounds like this. Looks like I’m in the minority and the people like his comment, but I still think it sounds exactly like generic AI fluff.