Meditation overcomes Emptiness

[MarcT]

I recently have read that having a regular meditation practice could help to overcome "emptiness" meaning a reduced interest in daily activities. Does somebody here can confirm this assertion?
And if yes, why?

[playground]

HI MarcT,

I'm just seeking clarification....

What do you mean by 'reduced interest in daily activities' ?

Do you mean that you basically don't have any energy ?

Or is it that you imagine routine activities will be dull, meaningless,  pointless, etc
(like depression or generalised negative thinking)

or.. something else ?

... And how long have you been feeling this way ?

[MarcT]

HI MarcT,

I'm just seeking clarification....

What do you mean by 'reduced interest in daily activities' ?

Do you mean that you basically don't have any energy ?

Or is it that you imagine routine activities will be dull, meaningless,  pointless, etc
(like depression or generalised negative thinking)

or.. something else ?

... And how long have you been feeling this way ?

It's rather the second option. I've suffered for years from depression. Since 2 years it's going much better but I often have this negative thinking. Doubting about everything and do not seeing a big sens in my life.

[playground]

I suspect, meditation will make you feel better because meditation makes
me feel better, more optimistic, more enthusiastic, generally happier.. and more energy.

See this post for example:

http://www.vipassanaforum.net/forum/index.php?topic=1919.msg31906#msg31906

And it isn't just me. 

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness Based Cognitive
Therapy (MBCT) are both effective in reducing stress and reducing negative affect
(negative emotions) and increasing positive affect (positive emotions).
So, either of those courses would probably improve your depression... other things being equal.

I dont know how it (meditation) works... but it does some mysterious magic.
So yes, i can confirm your assertion.
I can't answer the 'why' question.   It just works.

There is an MBSR course, online, free with it's own online student group via facebook
just starting... actually today... If you wanted to join that, you can.
It's free, the requirement is that you have to  meditate for 6 days a week, for a minimum
of 30 minutes per  day.   Maybe that's going to help you escape this.

See this thread:  http://www.vipassanaforum.net/forum/index.php?topic=3094.0

good luck

[Cachina]

Hi MarcT,

I would say that it depends on the cause for this feeling of emptiness. If it comes from a kind of aversion, lack of interest or indifference to the current moment, meditation can help.
If this feeling of dullness results from a depression, I doubt that it can be overcome by meditation only. Some things need an approach which you cannot find in meditation.

However, meditation (esp. mindfulness in daily life) can be a useful support when you tend to have this negative way of thinking and it can help not giving more energy into it. Because you choose where your attention goes to, where it stays, you know what is going on in your mind, you get a perspective on your experience and you can relate differently to what you experience.

[MarcT]

Thanks to all your inputs.

I think I have almost overcome my depression period. Only this lack of interest remains more or less.

I agree with you Cachina that especially mindfulness in daily life can help to combat negative thinking. I am trying a lot to be more mindful but  there's still my monkey mind which avoids that I succeed.

[Dharmic Tui]

Part of my path has me harder to entertain by traditional means; movies, music, computer games, tv, etc aren't very good at holding my attention any more, because they seem trivial. On the flipside though, in my more equanimous moments, I find intense wonder and interest in the most simple, mundane things of the present moment. Life lacks the extreme highs and lows, and just is.

So I guess in regards to your original post, possibly you won't be overcoming your lack of interest in daily activities so much as shifting your values and finding new means of appreciation.