Anyone reading Ray Dalio's new book, Principles?

[themickey]

I read that fMRI studies have shown meditation to have favorable effects on the brain, quite apart from just the subjective evaluation of perceived benefits.

Anyone can do a number of things and these will have favorable effects.
Swimming, exercise, an outing, a hobby, coffee chat with friends, reading a book, music, art, learning, teaching, working, partners, children, gardening, keeping pets, dancing, drugs, alchohol, food, being near a beach or lake....

This list goes on.
There is NOTHING special about meditation imo, just gobbledegook, all in the mind, imagination and possible very minor benefits.

 

[lindq]

All in the mind? And where do you expect it to be? In your toes?

 

[themickey]

All in the mind? And where do you expect it to be? In your toes?

No you're right, delusion and fuzzy feel good is in the mind, sorry for stating the obvious.
But these things don't change the real world.
Yes, fuzzy feel good may make you perhaps motivated to take action which then changes the real world, but so will for example going on holiday or exercise or socialising make you more motivated.
So meditation imo is inconsequential, its just that marketing sales gurus want you to believe its some sort of superfood for the brain, it's not!