A Journey of Math and Mindfulness: Merging Meditation with Mathematics
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Chapter 1: The Beginning of a New Challenge
In this inaugural post of a weekly series, I embark on a personal quest—an ambitious goal that I’m not yet ready to disclose fully. To achieve success, I recognize the necessity of excelling in both mathematics and meditation.
Why both disciplines, you might ask?
Mathematics provides the technical skills essential for tackling complex problems, enhancing my understanding of abstract concepts, and fostering the creativity involved in crafting elegant proofs. On the other hand, meditation serves to ground me, sharpen my focus, and maintain my emotional equilibrium. I've consistently observed that when I pause my meditation practice, my overall functioning diminishes significantly.
Each week, I will share updates on my journey through Meditations and Math. Writing not only helps me keep track of my progress but also clarifies my thoughts. My hope is that by sharing my experiences, I can motivate others to pursue their paths.
My ambitious goal is indeed significant, potentially spanning over a decade or more. I plan to divide this journey into phases, with each phase comprising specific milestones to guide my progress. Through experience, I've learned that without a well-defined plan, I tend to lose focus and squander time.
Phase 1: Earning an Engineering Degree and Completing 10,000 Hours of Focused Meditation
Achieving my ultimate objective requires that I complete an engineering degree and dedicate 10,000 hours to focused meditation.
Academically, I must fulfill my responsibilities, pass exams, and receive my degree. The prospect of returning to school excites me; it feels liberating to prioritize learning. I consider myself fortunate to be in a position to pursue this goal.
While I wouldn’t claim to be uneducated, having spent over 13 years in highly technical roles, I have never attended university. In terms of meditation, I plan to explore various styles, but will only log my 10,000 hours during object-oriented meditation, concentrating on the breath, bodily sensations, and sounds.
Why this particular style?
Reflecting on my strengths, I realize that my capacity for intense focus and obsession has waned in recent years. I've become easily distracted, my efforts feel scattered, and my conviction about where to direct my attention has weakened. Based on my experience, increasing my practice of object-oriented meditation will serve as an effective remedy.
Phase 1: Step 1: Gain University Admission and Meditate Daily for a Year
Now, we arrive at the starting line. I have just over a year to enhance both my cognitive abilities and mathematical skills before applications open.
Self-study has always been a passion of mine, so I've selected a series of textbooks to refresh my knowledge and push beyond my current limits. Refer to the image at the beginning of this post for a glimpse. My aim is to write basic proofs before I begin university.
For those looking for textbook suggestions, consider checking out The Math Sorcerer on YouTube, who offers extensive discussions on various textbooks, often with helpful comments from viewers.
The Daily Routine
To summarize, my plan is to dedicate at least one hour daily to meditation and another hour exclusively to mathematics. Watching videos or reading textbooks won't count; only hands-on practice with pen and paper will be timed.
I’ll share my progress every Sunday, both here and on Substack for those who prefer that platform.
If you'd like to support my (text)book fund, feel free to visit my Ko-fi page.
I look forward to connecting with you all next week!
This video titled "Math Meditation for Focus" delves into enhancing mathematical abilities through focused meditation techniques.
In this TEDx talk, Bruno Buchberger discusses the importance of self-reflection in both mathematics and meditation, offering insights into their interconnectedness.