Meditation as Wakeful Relaxation: Unclenching Smooth Muscle

Historical and alternative practices

• Early 20th‑century occult/meditation instructions are cited (e.g., holding painful, rigid postures for long periods) as a contrast to modern “relaxation” framing of meditation.
• Some note that what today is treated as novel (relax/scan the body) has long histories in yoga, Buddhist, and related traditions.

Body-wide computation, chronic pain, and referred tension

• Several comments align with the article’s idea that “the whole body is a computer,” referencing work on peripheral nervous systems and non‑brain intelligence.
• Personal stories describe chronic, shifting pain (neck/back, TMJ, tendinitis) that appears strongly linked to stress and emotional states, sometimes resolving after psychological or behavioral changes.
• Referred pain and tightness chains (e.g., hand pain originating in forearm muscles) are described as common and surprising, reinforcing the idea that felt location ≠ origin.

Purposes of meditation: relaxation, insight, or something else?

• One thread questions whether meditation is only needed when stressed; others push back, comparing it to strength training: not strictly “necessary,” but powerful for building capacities like attention and equanimity.
• Disagreement over whether meditation is a “tool to get somewhere” or a goal‑less practice/state. Some Buddhist perspectives emphasize insight into inner reality and reduction of suffering; others emphasize ongoing practice even after “insight.”
• Multiple commenters stress that thinking about meditation is not the same as practicing; practice can change the felt meaning of “I.”

Evidence, safety, and scientific framing

• Skeptical voices ask for clear, measurable benefits and mechanisms, comparing meditation evidence unfavorably to strength training.
• Others point to growing scientific literature on meditation’s effects, but links are sparse and contested.
• Risks are noted: intense practice can, for some, exacerbate anxiety or trigger psychosis‑like experiences; psychosis‑proneness and stress are mentioned as factors.

Techniques for muscular and autonomic relaxation

• Body scans, progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training, and “self‑hypnosis” are highlighted as structured ways to progressively relax skeletal and possibly smooth muscle.
• Several describe self‑developed or traditional methods (e.g., qigong, “intuitive release”) where focused awareness plus non‑resistance allows tight areas to soften, often accompanied by odd but ultimately relieving sensations.
• Some see these as secular, de‑religionized forms of meditation; others argue traditional frameworks already emphasize these somatic aspects.