Probably one of the best posts about meditation I have read here let alone the internet. Very clear. One of the reasons I like it is because it appeals to my scientific rational side. It wasn't until I did vipassana that I really appreciated it's value, but that's because they do explain the effects on the brain and biochemistry rather than going into woo woo that I never quite appreciated or liked. They recommend not creatively visualising, for example, as that just gets you 'attached' to a visualisation or something you find 'beautiful' like a lily or a forest - when we should equally meditate, for example, on rotting corpses. I'm so excited about going to sit this vipassana on the 26th... yay.

Have you read/heard of any studies re: lengthening the telomeres? They suggest it actually changes the strands of your DNA. Amazing.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29518528

I'm sure you have! xx