Meditation

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Eliezer Yudkowsky moved [[Koan]] to [[Meditation]]
Eliezer Yudkowsky (+417/-346)
Eliezer Yudkowsky (+1423) created standard ref

(This page is intendedfor the meditation practice, as a standard link from individual meditations, to explain intended use.)

A "meditation" is a puzzle thatin, Vipassana meditation. For meditation in the reader should attempt to solve, or a prompt that the reader should try to state their own reaction to, before continuing. Research shows that you're much more likely to remember useful info if you try to solve the problem yourself before reading the solution. Succeed or fail, the important thing is to have tried first.

Noting your prior reaction to the meditation-prompt is particularly important because conclusions about rationality often sound obvious in retrospect, making it hard for people to visualize the diff between "what I thought before" and "what I thought afterward". Explicitly knowing this difference is important to learning and memory formation.

To use the meditation as intended, try to say your own answer to the puzzle or reaction to the prompt - ideally whispering it to yourself, or moving your lips as you pretend to say it, to make sure it's fully explicit and available for memory. After seeing the author's own response, try to consciously note the difference between your reply and the post's reply, including any extra details present or missing, without trying to minimize or maximize the difference. Again, the key idea behind a meditation isn't to get it right on the first try, nor even agree with the post's stated answer after you hear it - the key use is to notice any differences, insteadsense of letting them blur into hindsight.Koan, see Meditation / Koan.

(This page is intended as a standard link from individual koans,meditations, to explain intended use.)

A "koan""meditation" is a puzzle that the reader is meant toshould attempt to solvesolve, or a prompt that the reader should try to state their own reaction to, before continuing. This method attempts to reflect the research whichResearch shows that you're much more likely to remember a fact or solutionuseful info if you try to solve the problem yourself before reading the solution. Succeed or fail, the important thing is to have 'tried first.

TryingNoting your prior reaction to solve koansthe meditation-prompt is particularly important on LW (and some other places), which is that sincebecause conclusions about rationality often sound obvious in retrospect, it'smaking it hard for people to visualize the diff between "what I believedthought before" and "what I believedthought afterward". Explicitly having some idea ofknowing this difference is important to learning.learning and memory formation.

To use the koanmeditation as intended, try to say your own answer to the koanpuzzle or reaction to the prompt - ideally whispering it to yourself, or moving your lips as you pretend to say it, so as to make sure it's fully explicit and available for memory - before continuing. Afterward,memory. After seeing the author's own response, try to consciously note the difference between your reply and the post's reply, including any extra details present or missing, without trying to minimize or maximize the difference. Again, the key idea behind a koanmeditation isn't to get it right, orright on the first try, nor even necessarily agree with the poster'post's ownstated answer afterwardafter you hear it - the key ideause is to notice the before-and-after difference,any differences, instead of letting itthem blur into hindsight.

(This page is intended as a standard link from individual koans, to explain intended use.)

A "koan" is a puzzle that the reader is meant to attempt to solve before continuing. This method attempts to reflect the research which shows that you're much more likely to remember a fact or solution if you try to solve the problem yourself before reading the solution. Succeed or fail, the important thing is to have 'tried first.

Trying to solve koans is particularly important on LW (and some other places), which is that since conclusions about rationality often sound obvious in retrospect, it's hard for people to visualize the diff between "what I believed before" and "what I believed afterward". Explicitly having some idea of this difference is important to learning.

To use the koan as intended, try to say your own answer to the koan - ideally whispering it to yourself, or moving your lips as you pretend to say it, so as to make sure it's fully explicit and available for memory - before continuing. Afterward, try to consciously note the difference between your reply and the post's reply, including any extra details present or missing, without trying to minimize or maximize the difference. Again, the key idea behind a koan isn't to get it right, or even necessarily agree with the poster's own answer afterward - the key idea is to notice the before-and-after difference, instead of letting it blur into hindsight.