I don't give a fuck what people tell me for practice if it works. I would sing mantras over a sheep's skull if it would do something fun.
But it can be a bit rattling to see "practice this way only" stated when it can't possibly be an authoritative claim. Where are the results?
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I think if we limit the idea of meditation as being attentional training, we can say that it’s best to keep that as front and center in the practice, which means ignoring the fireworks at every opportunity. Meditation is more for many, so it’s not a blanket proscription.
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Ignoring the fireworks, AFAIK, is standard to most.
It's the approach to everything else that varies. Do you approach the Void, pull away from it, ignore it altogether, serenade it with songs...?
Do you call the Void a thing or do you just think about Nibannah or flow?
Etc.
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I mean, my ancestors seem to have been on the "work yourself into a trance and explore the astral plane with your ghost friends" track, so there's also that.
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is that why you're all alcoholics?
is booze your Nordic ayahuasca?
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Don't say that to anyone in Northern Norway if you have a dear relationship with your face. It's a good way to get in trouble.
History: Norwegians seeded booze as a way to control Sami communities. With no cultural awareness of booze, so half the men became drunkards overnight.
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Not that I know why you'd ever find yourself in Northern Norway, mind.
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A few weeks ago I drove a couple of ladies from Norway who lived on Bjornoya.
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I mean, it's technically Norway.
It's also halfway to Iceland.
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They spoke Norwegian. They were good passengers. We had a good vibe going in the car.
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Norwegians are excellent passengers. We have to put up with our families' bullshit through every mountain trip, hyttetur and drive to the store (that is 5 kilometers away - we're not Americans).