Jaiveer Sandhu

Cognitive & Brain Science • Vipassana retreats • Interested in applications of meditation

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

I’ve done multiple 10-day silent retreats observing only my breath and body

How does Vipassana meditation increase happiness, tranquility, and concentration?

Here’s a thread on my reflection of the technique and personal changes after 6 Vipassana retreats over 4 years

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

The daily practice piece is the most underrated part of this whole framework. Retreat shows you what's possible. The actual rewiring happens in everyday life. In Vipassana tradition they push two hours a day minimum and for a while that felt like a discipline thing to me. Then I noticed that daily life keeps generating fresh material and the practice is what gives you somewhere to take it

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@Noa_Reeds Lesson 2 is great, you can read about impermanence and genuinely feel like you've got it. Then you sit with knee pain for two hours and watch it change. The concept becomes a direct observation. Completely different thing

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@stephen_zerfas @maverick_zip The cold shower thing is such a good entry point for this. The anticipatory bracing is usually worse than the actual thing. Once you train catching it there you start noticing the same move everywhere

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@jonnym1ller The cold shower thing is such a good entry point for this. The anticipatory bracing is usually worse than the actual thing. Once you train catching it there you start noticing the same move everywhere

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@Noa_Reeds This one takes a while to actually verify. At some point the object stops mattering as much as the quality of attention you bring to it. The stability itself becomes the rewarding thing

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@RianSweetDoris The EIT piece is the most interesting part to me. That prefrontal quieting is exactly what happens in longer meditation sits past a certain point. The 'trying to focus' feeling just drops away. Different route to the same shift

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

https://t.co/uQwG56G3Y8

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

This is a great blog post for anyone interested in learning more about a 10 day Vipassana course!

@learnwithvidya articulates her formative experience in an accessible way for any reader, a worthwhile read

[Vidya — Freelance Writer & NoCoder ✨ @learnwithvidya]

@jaiveer Hey Jaiveer,

Thanks for inspiring through your thread about Vipassana. I was finally able to write a blog post sharing my experience as well:

https://t.co/cxKBNpOHiz

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@podcastleverage @AdamFard_ Knowledge only through books and reading remains intellectual (this is still very helpful)
Meditation and self-observation develops a deeper level of understanding through your own hard work, and also gives more meaning to reading
Knowledge through direct experience is wisdom

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@joe_lurie @majahoward852 Had a similar experience where I felt the second retreat was not nearly as profound, didn’t have any ‘major’ breakthroughs. A big reason I think is that I came into the second one with high expectations

I’ve found benefits really emerge after establishing a daily practice

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@takezopure I think meditation and gratitude are very intertwined, especially with metta (loving-kindness practice)

Meditation develops awareness of realities outside of ourselves which can increase appreciation and consideration for others. This is a great way to start any day

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@thenichols Which retreat center did you attend?

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@TheCoolestCool The same is true with sports. Attaching our emotions to wins and loses creates a very volatile foundation. A balanced mind helps us perform our best in all pursuits.

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

(4/9)

When asked about his mentality going into Game 3, Giannis responded:

'I don't get too high, I don't get too low'

It's easy to become overwhelmed by emotions, especially in sports

Mindfulness enables equanimity by not feeling excessively attached to highs and lows

[Jodi Ettenberg @legalnomads]

5) Training yourself to stop reacting can (despite my suspicions to the contrary) help in handling pain.
By focusing my awareness on the searing pain that I felt but in a neutral, detached way, I was able to wedge a corridor of relief between the pain & me for the first time.

[Ankur Warikoo @warikoo]

I recently complete a 1,095 day streak of meditation (3yrs, 30 mins, every single day)
Here are 11 things I learnt from the experience.

A thread...

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@pialeichter @DanGoldfield Fulfillment contingent on fleeting emotions or events will set yourself up for disappointment. Sooner or later this sensation will change

Regular Vipassana practice helps one internalize the importance of equanimity and impermanence, resulting in sustainable fulfillment

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

(11/15)

Meditation teaches impermanence. Everything is constantly changing, attachment or reaction to a transitory feeling causes misery. Eventually this sensation will change

Before I only understood this intellectually, but now I learned it within the framework of my own body

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@VoteLewko I wrote a reflection after a few retreats, hopefully this helps

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

I’ve done multiple 10-day silent retreats observing only my breath and body

How does Vipassana meditation increase happiness, tranquility, and concentration?

Here’s a thread on my reflection of the technique and personal changes after 6 Vipassana retreats over 4 years

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

Full Giannis quote:

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@Giannis_An34 is a basketball superstar

After two disappointing playoffs, he said 'I don't know if this year is going to be different'

Michael Jordan probably wouldn't say that, but it's still inspirational

Here's how mindfulness helped Giannis win an elusive NBA championship

[NBACentral @TheDunkCentral]

" I don't know if this year is going to be different. I’m not gonna lie to you."

- Giannis Antetokounmpo
(h/t @AhnFireDigital )

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

(4/9)

When asked about his mentality going into Game 3, Giannis responded:

'I don't get too high, I don't get too low'

It's easy to become overwhelmed by emotions, especially in sports

Mindfulness enables equanimity by not feeling excessively attached to highs and lows

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@learnwithvidya Multiple retreats reinforce the learning, but ultimately the real benefits compound over time with daily practice

I like the analogy of working out - when you go to the gym, your body becomes stronger. Meditation is mental reps for the mind

'Consistency is the key to success'

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

3. Mindfulness can be used in sports to perform your best - a case study with basketball superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

@Giannis_An34 is a basketball superstar

After two disappointing playoffs, he said 'I don't know if this year is going to be different'

Michael Jordan probably wouldn't say that, but it's still inspirational

Here's how mindfulness helped Giannis win an elusive NBA championship

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

I've discussed the default mode network, pain response, and mindfulness in sports (threads below)

Next I'm writing on meditation vs prescribed drugs, a Vipassana course taught to 1000+ prison inmates, and scientific connections between Olympic level meditators and psychedelics

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

***
I’ll use this account as a blog to discuss the science of meditation, psychology studies, and various applications in daily life

Next I’ll review the default mode network, the meditation effect on pain reception, and how NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo exemplifies mindfulness

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

2. Meditation effect on pain response and emotion regulation

[Jaiveer Sandhu @jaiveer]

How do emotional reactions amplify unpleasant events?

Can meditation change the way we perceive pain?

A study analyzing expert meditators reveals key differences in our emotion regulation

This has important implications for how we handle stress