Meditation is becoming more popular for a variety of reasons, ranging from stress reduction to the quest of enlightenment. Nonetheless, there are numerous misconceptions about what meditation is and how it is practiced. The eight Major Misunderstandings About Meditation are listed below.
Misunderstandings About Meditation #1 Meditation is stopping thinking and having a blank mind.
The most common Misunderstandings About Meditation are that it is used to “stop thinking.” Long-term meditation does, without a doubt, reduce the amount of thinking that occurs, which is fantastic. One of the first things that individuals new to meditation encounter is the inane, repetitive, and generally unpleasant chatter of ideas that bounce from one to the next in their brains.
But what does a blank mind imply? The misunderstanding occurs because we often connect with our mental ideas (our inner monologue) and think they are reflecting the reality of our experience. As a result, the lack of thinking is believed to be represented by a blank mind. However, the breadth of the mind includes much more than thought.
The goal of meditation is to cultivate awareness, or the feeling of being fully present in the present moment. When we are attentive, our minds are extremely busy and alert, yet they are not consumed by thinking. Rather, we are aware of our bodily sensations, emotional and mental movements, and how each of these things emerges as part of our moment-to-moment experience. When we spend our whole lives lost in identification with thinking, the mind gets immersed in the varied complexity of our experience, a richness that we are ignorant to.
Misunderstandings About Meditation #2. Meditation is self-indulgent escapism.
Meditation seems to some individuals who have never practiced it to be an “escape from reality.” We often hear the pejorative phrase “navel-gazing,” which implies that meditation is sheer self-indulgence.
From a more conscious standpoint, rushing about staying busy and occupied so that you never have time to be really with oneself is escapism. Meditation brings us face to face with our own fears, illusions, suffering, and selfishness. This is a significant element of the goal of meditation. We begin to disempower ourselves when we can sit with and accept these unpleasant aspects of ourselves. This simple act of letting and accepting has profound implications in the healing and release process.
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Misunderstandings About Meditation #3. You have to be super flexible & sit in full lotus.
The majority of the meditation positions usually associated with meditation, such as full lotus, originate from periods and civilizations when chairs were not widely used. Like a result, as in many poor nations, people sat on the floor. As a consequence, their pelvis was organically conditioned to sit in this position without pain.
For those of us who have grown up sitting on chairs, a chair may be a better place to sit to meditate. There is no needed or required posture to meditate in. The capacity to rest deeply while remaining awake and keeping the spine straight are the two most important factors to consider. The mind has plenty to think about without having to worry about how you sit to meditation.
Another important factor for a successful meditation is about finding the best manifestation methods that will suit you to bring your desires to life. Manifestation also plays a big part in a successful meditation.
Misunderstandings About Meditation #4. Meditation is just deep relaxation.
These Misunderstandings About Meditation stem mainly from its growing popularity as a stress-reduction treatment. While meditation may help with stress management and overall wellness, limiting its function and purpose to this is misguided.
Deep relaxation is an important part of learning how to meditate, but it is just one side of the equation. The other half is paying close attention. If it seems complicated, you’re getting a sense of why meditation is a discipline and not as easy as sitting with your eyes closed.
Misunderstandings About Meditation #5. The CD will do it all for you.
We’ve all seen advertisements for items that promise profound meditation like a Zen monk in a couple of minutes. It is OK to use binaural beats and other technologies to attune to slower brainwaves. It may and does have a positive impact, but it is not meditation, and you are not meditating while you use them.
Let’s take a look at the Zen monk claim to see how this works. Some meditators may achieve natural brain hemisphere synchronization after many years of dedicated practice, which means that neither the left nor right brain is dominating, but they are functioning together. The problem is that this is not the goal of meditation, and it ignores everything else that meditation is and demands of the meditator.
Misunderstanding #6. Meditation is ‘Eastern’.
It’s simple to see where this misconception stems from. Meditation, on the other hand, is a universal spiritual practice found in almost all human civilizations and traditions. It may not be called meditation in all countries and traditions, but the labels are unimportant when it comes to the concepts and objectives. And, let’s be honest, the origins of all three main global faiths are ‘Eastern.’
Misunderstandings About Meditation #7. Meditation is Religious.
The beauty of meditation is that our philosophical or religious beliefs are irrelevant. Meditation is a practice of immersing oneself in awareness itself, transcending mental structures. The mind’s beliefs grow more apparent as time passes, and their influence over us decreases. We go deep inside ourselves to get access to our soul – our real essence. As a result, individuals of various faiths or no religion may (and do) practice mediation.
Misunderstanding #8. In meditation, you say “OM” a lot.
A ridiculous and pervasive stereotype. Saying om or any chants does not mean your meditation is successful. However, if you are over doing it, this may harm your meditation process. Chanting mantras is among the top misunderstandings about meditation for a reason. These chants will destroy your focus, and you will feel discomfort in yourself also.
Meditation is about finding balance in your soul and physical body. If you want to learn more about meditation, visit a webpage like zenspiree meditation for a deeper dive. Avoid these common misunderstandings about meditation, and I hope you find success in your journey of inner peace.
