Perception/Attention

Ability to pay attention to what’s important
- Especially today, technology and social media, are continuously trying to hijack our attention, spreading misinformation. Meditation can help us develop a memetic immune system
Meditation is not just about attention and calm
- it also involves openness, curiosity, kindness and care
Stress and anxiety narrow our attention even more, making us more vulnerable to cognitive dissonance
The information we take in is affected by Cognitive Bias but we are often unaware of it

Understanding

Improving our sense-making by helping us integrate our rational and intuitive intelligence
See things from a broader perspective and through different ones
- We become less identified with our thoughts/beliefs etc…

Many of our actions are often reactive and conditioned by culture, not really stemming from conscious intentions
Meditation helps us interrupt living on automatic pilot and living with more purpose
- Building better habits
The way meditation is currently taught is likely to be net-positive, but it could be a lot more powerful, if more integrated with things like ethics and compassionate action