8 Major Meditation Misunderstandings

Misunderstanding #1 Meditation is stopping thinking and having a blank mind.

This is probably the number one misunderstanding about meditation – that meditation is to “stop thinking.” Certainly, a benefit of long term meditation is a reduction in the the amount of thinking that goes on, and that is great. The inane, repetitive and usually negative chatter of thoughts that jump one to another in their minds is one of the first things people new to meditation are confronted by.

But what would a blank mind mean? The confusion arises because we are most of the time identify with our mental thoughts (our inner monologue) and we believe it is reporting the truth of our experience. So a blank mind is assumed to be the absence of thought. But the vastness of mind encompasses so much more that thought.

In meditation we aim to develop mindfulness, that’s the

experience of the full-ness of mind. When we’re mindful the mind is very much active and aware, just not consumed in thought. Rather, we are conscious of the physical sensations, movement of emotions and thoughts, and of how each of  these things arises as part of our moment to moment experience. The mind becomes absorbed in the diverse richness of our experience, a richness that we are oblivious of when we spend our whole lives lost in identification with thinking.

Misunderstanding #2. Meditation is self indulgent escapism.

To some people who have no actual experience of practicing it, meditation looks like “escaping from reality”. We often hear the derogatory term “navel gazing,” suggesting meditation is pure self indulgence.

From a more conscious vantage, running around keeping busy and distracted so you never having time to be with yourself deeply is escapism. In meditation,  we’re brought into direct contact with our own fears, delusions, pain, and selfishness. This is a big part of meditations purpose. When we can sit with and accept these unwelcome parts of ourselves we begin to disempower them. This simple act of allowing and accepting has deep significance in the process of healing and liberation.

Misunderstanding #3. You have to be super flexible & sit in full lotus.

Most of the meditation postures traditionally associated with meditation like full lotus, come from times and cultures that did not commonly use chairs. As a consequence, as it still is in many developing countries, people sat on the floor. As a result their pelvis was naturally conditioned to sitting in this way without discomfort.

For those of us then who have grown up sitting in chairs, as chair might be the more appropriate place to sit to meditate. There really is no required or necessary position to meditate in. The two primary things to consider the ability to relax deeply, stay alert, and keeping the spine straight. The mind already has plenty to obsess about without how you sit to meditate being one of them.

Misunderstanding #4. Meditation is just deep relaxation.

This misunderstanding about meditation is largely from it’s increasing common prescription for stress management. While meditation is certainly greatly beneficial in managing stress and increasing health, to reduce it’s function and purpose to this is way off the mark.

Deep relaxation is definitely an aspect of how to meditate, it is however one half of a fluid dance. The other half is alert attention. If that sounds less than simple and straight forward, you are getting some idea of why meditation is a practice and isn’t as simple as just sitting with your eyes closed.

Misunderstanding #5. The CD will  do it all for you.

We have all sen the adverts for products that promise meditation as deep as a zen monk in  a matter of minutes. Using the technologies of binaural beats for and other technologies to attune to slower brainwaves, is fine. It can and does have a beneficial effect, and it is not meditation and when using them you are not meditating.

To understand this lets look at the zen monk claim. Through many years of disciplined practice some meditators can attain a state of natural brain hemisphere synchronization, meaning neither left or right brain is dominant but they are working together. The issue is, that is not the purpose of meditation and it disregards all else that meditation is and requires of the meditator.

Misunderstanding #6. Meditation is ‘Eastern’.

It is easy to understand where this misunderstanding comes from. Meditation is though a universal spiritual practice in pretty much all human cultures and traditions. It may not be termed meditation in all cultures and traditions, but looking at the principles and intentions the names are not important. And let’s face it the source of all three major world religions is ‘Eastern’.

Misunderstanding #7. Meditation is Religious.

The great thing about meditation is that our philosophical or religious belief are not important. Meditation is process of immersion in consciousness itself, beyond the structures of mind. The beliefs of the mind become increasingly transparent and their power over us diminishes. We dive deep into the heart of ourselves to gain access to our spirit – our true nature. Therefore, mediation can (and is ) practiced by people of different religions or no religion.

Misunderstanding #8. In meditation you say “OM” a lot.

A silly and persistent stereotype.

So here you have my top 8 misunderstandings of meditation, let me know what you think and any you think should have made the list

 

 

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