How exactly do Vulcans control their emotions and/or reach Kolinahr?

[Unimatrix Q]

What are the meditation techniques like that they use to get rid of their emotions or at least control them, how do they work and what would a Vulcan that successfully reached the state of Kolinahr, his life, his mind and thought processes actually be like?

And would such a person really never feel any emotions again in his life?

 

[NCC-73515]

We get some insight into that in VOY Gravity, IIRC

 

[Sci]

It's never been established canonically in any detail, probably because the concept is actually completely unrealistic and would be psychologically damaging if attempted in real life.

 

[shapeshifter]

"Exactly" has never been explained, but I have a friend who used AA to beat alcoholism (substitute 'emotions') for going on a decade now. Following the Steps, healthy diet, exercise and meditation* seem to work. "How you react to situations, pausing to consider your next action carefully", is an exact quote.

* Staying focused in the moment, ignoring distractions.

 

[Nyotarules]

The Trek universe assumes the Vulcan brain can function in this capacity with the kolinhar training. However T'Pau reputation for being logical was considered ruthless. A logical mind is not a moral, compassionate or empathic one.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Tuvok claimed meditation stopped death from pon far.

Meditation in this singular case is obviously a euphemism for masturbation.

But what if they always mean masturbation when they say meditation?

 

[The Wormhole]

But what of they always mean masturbation when they say meditation?

I'll get back to you after I'm done meditating...

 

[Oddish]

Well, if a man calls his car his "meditation chamber", I guess we know what's really going on in there.

 

[Sci]

"Exactly" has never been explained, but I have a friend who used AA to beat alcoholism (substitute 'emotions')

Addiction to alcohol is absolutely not the same thing as having emotions. In point of fact, many alcoholics report using alcohol precisely to try to numb themselves to avoid dealing with their deeper emotions.

 

[fireproof78]

Addiction to alcohol is absolutely not the same thing as having emotions. In point of fact, many alcoholics report using alcohol precisely to try to numb themselves to avoid dealing with their deeper emotions.

Indeed, more of a coping mechanism, if unhealthy. I enjoy an exchange from MASH where Radar asks for a martini then coughs at the taste.

Radar: I thought this stuff was so supposed to make you feel better.

B.J.: It's not. It's supposed to make you feel nothing.

 

[Sci]

Indeed, more of a coping mechanism, if unhealthy. I enjoy an exchange from MASH where Radar asks for a martini then coughs at the taste.

Radar: I thought this stuff was so supposed to make you feel better.

B.J.: It's not. It's supposed to make you feel nothing.

That's it. That's why they're always such assholes: Vulcan is a planet full of raging alcoholics.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I've always figured that Vulcans are taught even at toddler age to keep their emotions in check, and that it's a practice that they must keep doing until the day they die. It's been well established that Vulcans do have emotions--and rather intense and volatile emotions actually--and that logic, meditation, and constant self-restraint were the tools they used to control their emotions rather than have their emotions control them.

Kolinahr. That's just the highest level of emotional control--and something that most Vulcans are unable to achieve, IMO.

 

[Oddish]

True. One of my favorite Tuvok moments is in "Hunters", when he has a letter from his family, but he's going over the tactical review. He reads the review... then he looks at the letter. Then in silence, he puts down the review and goes and sits down with the letter. It doesn't seem like much, but in his Vulcan psyche, his fierce love for his family has battled with his logic... and the feelings won.

 

[Tim Thomason]

Tuvok claimed meditation stopped death from pon far.

Meditation in this singular case is obviously a euphemism for masturbation.

But what if they always mean masturbation when they say meditation?

Well, we see them meditate, and it doesn’t seem to involve any bit of active self-pleasure, and looks just like what I would consider meditation. Sitting down, calming your mind, and entering some type of zen-like state of nothing going on.

Spoiler: wej Duj

In fact, the last episode shows us group meditation and private meditation in one's quarters, with the Vulcan Captain interrupting (and joining in). Both times, the central character broke meditation "rules" by engaging in work while meditating, but still made something of an effort to do so. Meditation was even considered a punishment for her emotional outbursts, so we can't really assume she was focusing on some kegel exercises or something.

 

[XCV330]

beyond the Kohlinar, which to me seems extreme even by some Vulcan standards, and certainly doesnt seem to reflect Vulcans normally seen in star trek, they seem to take a more practical Stoic view of emotions, only ramped up greatly. This has been of great interest to me in the last couple of years.

Looking at writings from Stoics such as Epectitus and Seneca, the idea is not so much to purge emotions as to understand what they are, where they come from, and to not be enslaved by them.

Epectetus was also very influential on Emperor Marcus Aurelius, as you can find in his meditations.

a quote of Epectetus:
“Every desire degrades us, and renders us slaves of what we desire. If it's freedom you seek, then wish nothing and shun nothing that depends on others, or you will always be a helpless slave.”

Seneca likewise is constantly arguing for being in control and not being enslaved by factors outside of control or emotional responses. He was not at all opposed to "The good life" and would today be considered a multi-millionaire. Likewise you can see with the Vulcans that they are not monkish (most of thme) ascetics going about drab dull lives dressed in sack cloth. They build wonderous hanging cites, create flowing artistic scripts, study the universe in elegant starships and are willing to meet threats head on.

 

[fireproof78]

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy may be of interest as well to those seeking a balance between emotional and logical extremes.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Well, we see them meditate, and it doesn’t seem to involve any bit of active self-pleasure, and looks just like what I would consider meditation. Sitting down, calming your mind, and entering some type of zen-like state of nothing going on.

Spoiler: wej Duj

In fact, the last episode shows us group meditation and private meditation in one's quarters, with the Vulcan Captain interrupting (and joining in). Both times, the central character broke meditation "rules" by engaging in work while meditating, but still made something of an effort to do so. Meditation was even considered a punishment for her emotional outbursts, so we can't really assume she was focusing on some kegel exercises or something.

Vulcans are touch telepaths.

Finger tips to face = Soul to soul.

Finger tips to their own fingertips = Their own soul grinding inside itself.

Meditation pose = fingertips to their own fingertips.

 

[publiusr]

Addiction to alcohol is absolutely not the same thing as having emotions. In point of fact, many alcoholics report using alcohol precisely to try to numb themselves to avoid dealing with their deeper emotions.

Hitting the bottle to hitting the Bible…

 

[The Wormhole]

Kolinahr. That's just the highest level of emotional control--and something that most Vulcans are unable to achieve, IMO.

Indeed. We know from Voyager that Tuvok had to give up his attempt at Kolinahr because his ponn farr kicked in. So it seems a Vulcan either achieves Kolinahr within seven years or never.

 

[Unimatrix Q]

It seems like from "Alter Ego" that Vulcan Meditation has an analytical component, maybe based on Stoic techniques.

But not all emotions and feelings are directly indentifiable and/or have an discernable cause. So i wonder how they would treat those feelings.

And i guess Vulcans, even without considering Pon Farr, may also know times with a dull mind, where they are unable to analyze, concentrate or focus on anything.

So i wonder what they do in these cases.

And iirc, according to Crucible Spock - The Fire and the Rose, part of the Kolinahr consists of deconstructing emotions to take away their reality. So that they are there only in words. Wonder what's actually meant by this and how one is supposed to deconstruct an emotion.