Eight Myths About Meditation
Recently I taught a unit on Eastern philosophy and spirituality to a group of high school seniors. In order for them to fully understand and appreciate what we were reading and discussing we began a multi-week series of meditation sessions. Most of them had never meditated; a few had experienced some form of relaxation or visualization practice with various athletic coaches. I have taught meditation practice for many years to all ages and was heartened, even thrilled, by the responses of these eighteen year olds, future leaders of our world. (I use some of their comments, with permission, in this article.)
Myth #1: Meditation is not a way to relax
Relaxation is one of the benefits of developing a regular meditation practice. Guided by a skillful teacher, you learn to relax tension in head muscles, particularly the jaw, and neck and shoulder muscles. A correct posture, achieved by imagining a piece of string kept taut and coming from above and moving down the back of the top of the head and spinal column, helps to hold the head and shoulders back allowing for the chest cavity to open, more air to circulate in the lungs, and for the great solar plexus muscle between the lungs and the abdomen to act as a bellows.
It is important to sit with a straight back either on the floor or ground or in a chair with your hands loosely resting on your knees. As more oxygen enters the blood stream, every cell is fully energized. Fingers and toes tingle. Breath deepens and slows. After only some practice a relaxed body allows for inner mental spaciousness and lays the ground to begin intensive concentration practices—for beginners usually based on the reference point of the rise and fall of the breath—until you feel confident that you can concentrate on the breath with single-minded attention.
Myth #2: Meditation does not sync the mind and body
One of my students wrote that by focusing on the breath our mind and body synchronize, increasing our blood flow, oxygen intake, and even mental capacity. Meditation is about simplicity. Every person has reasons to be happy, reasons to be thankful, and finding them is as easy as focusing on the one common gift everyone can be thankful for: the breath.
Myth #3: Meditation practices do not sharpen the mind
Concentration practices are among the most intense mental exercises you will undertake. It is normal for the mind to be filled ceaselessly with thoughts. As you are able to concentrate more and more on the breath and like a laser beam shine a thin intense ray of concentration onto your breath, yoking your mind with the breath, you become more aware of the frantic nature of your roiling thoughts. Do not tense the mind to reject the thoughts, rather practice what one of my meditation teachers called “Teflon” mind; do not let anything stick. As thoughts, emotions, memories, the whole of our internal Easter parade floats by, name the thought and let it go. After only a few sessions of this practice, and using the breath as a constant reference point—“come back to the breath”—I will remind students again and again, you will find that your mind becomes clear and diamond sharp. Relaxed body and concentrated mind is what we are practicing.
Myth #4: Meditation is not a focusing activity
Another student wrote that our class meditation was deeply relaxing but also a focusing activity. He describes how in deep meditation all perception of space melted away, even the perception of where parts of his body were. By stripping away concentration to the outside world, he was left with only the feeling of existence. He reports that this psychological presence was the simplest and most elegant form of existence.
Myth #5: Meditation does not heighten awareness of the present moment
In a deep, relaxed but concentrated state it is easier to accept the idea that all we have to experience is each precious individual moment. We can let go of the past and not worry about the future. We begin to realize that every prior moment was necessary to bring us to this present one, and this chain of continuity can be relied on until the last nano-second that we are breathing.
Myth #6: Meditation does not allow for a sense of inter-connection with the world
Meditation allows us to have a penetrating connection with the world through the realization that we all exist in the same ocean of breath—we breathe the same air and are interconnected through this simple act. This realization allows us to feel connected in a new and vital way. We breathe the same air as Hitler, Idi Amin, Gandhi and Mother Teresa. A student states that through just one simple breath you embrace the wholeness of the earth and all of its creatures, becoming part of something greater than just self.
Myth #7: Meditation does not encourage a sense of well-being
One student eloquently describes this sense of well-being. He writes, so for me, meditation is an act that is passionately active, one that bases its practice on improving the human condition, on bettering the well-being of others around us. When I end a session on meditation, I can already feel the effect that a mode of deep contemplation and reflection has on me. For one, with my body relaxed and at ease, I am naturally happier; I am more prone to laugh, to smile, and to interact with others. And with my mind cleared of the clutter, I possess a natural tendency to exude a feeling of optimism that catches on with those around me. Thus meditation influences others and me.
Myth #8: Meditation does not bring the freeing power of meditative perception
This student offers a powerful summation of her experience. (Possibly all our experiences.) She writes that by letting go of my body, but also being completely aware and grounded in my seat, I feel I was able to connect to some greater power. Coming out of meditation I was often astonished by the greatness of humanity and all it could achieve with the possible realization and development and gentleness that accompanies this type of enlightenment. It is essential that we realize the power of our perception, because I have learned that ultimately, it is in my power alone to control and make peace with everything I face, because what I choose to believe in can be all that exists.
I always seem to grow from these type of posts. Generally people have a different point of view which allows the point of view to be more colorful and sometimes controversial which can open our minds.
A lot of what you state happens to be astonishingly accurate and it makes me ponder the reason why I had not looked at this with this light previously. This particular article really did switch the light on for me as far as this issue goes. However at this time there is just one position I am not too cozy with and whilst I try to reconcile that with the actual core idea of your issue, let me see what all the rest of the readers have to say.Nicely done.
Hi, Nice site. Some truly wonderful posts on this site, thank you for contribution.
I like your writing style truly enjoying this internet site .
you’re truly a excellent webmaster. The web site loading pace is amazing. It sort of feels that you are doing any unique trick. Moreover, The contents are masterwork. you’ve done a magnificent process in this subject!
you’ve got an excellent weblog right here! would you wish to make some invite posts on my weblog?
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
published view of the situation. pleased, I love to read articles that are informative worthwhile anyway.
Hi, Nice site. Some truly wonderful posts on this blog, thank you for contribution.
This is a really good read for me, Must admit that you are one of the best bloggers I ever saw.Thanks for posting this informative article.
I like this website because so much utile material on here :D.
Hello there, I found your website by means of Google even as looking for a related subject, your site got here up, it appears great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
You made some first rate points there. I seemed on the internet for the difficulty and located most people will go together with together with your website.
Thanks a lot for providing individuals with an extremely brilliant chance to read articles and blog posts from here. It can be so useful plus full of fun for me and my office mates to visit the blog more than thrice in 7 days to read through the fresh stuff you will have. And definitely, I’m also usually contented with your very good tips and hints served by you. Certain 2 tips in this article are basically the finest we’ve had.
I the efforts you have put in this, appreciate it for all the great articles .
These kind of post are perpetually inspiring and I opt to browse quality content so I happy to seek out several smart purpose here within the post, writing is simply nice, thank you for the post
Wonderful blog! Do you have any hints for aspiring writers? I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m completely overwhelmed .. Any ideas? Many thanks!
Oh my goodness! a tremendous article dude. Thank you Nevertheless I am experiencing concern with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone getting similar rss downside? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thnkx
Neat blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your theme. Appreciate it
Good post. I study something tougher on totally different blogs everyday. It would always be stimulating to read content material from different writers and follow a bit of something from their store. I’d want to use some with the content material on my weblog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll offer you a link on your net blog. Thanks for sharing.
Hey, Great article! This is my first time i visit here. I discovered so numerous fascinating stuff in your website.
This can be a sensible blog site. I indicate it. You might have a lot information about this situation, and a lot passion. You also know how to produce men and women rally behind it, clearly from the responses. Youve got a design here thats not also flashy, but tends to make a statement as massive as what youre stating. Wonderful job, certainly.
You should take part in a contest for the most effective blogs on the web. I’ll advocate this website!
Thank you, I’ve recently been looking for information about this subject for ages and yours is the best I have discovered till now. But, what about the conclusion? Are you sure about the source?
Good site. I was checking constantly this site and I am impressed! Very useful information specially the last part I care for such information much.
Nice blog. I was checking constantly this weblog and I am impressed! Very useful information specially the last part I care for such information much.
My brother suggested I would possibly like this web site. He was entirely right. This submit truly made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this info! Thank you!
love the blog, thanks for sharing your thoughts
Terrific work! This is the kind of info that are supposed to be shared across the net. Disgrace on the search engines for not positioning this put up upper!
I think other website proprietors should take this web site as an model – very clean and wonderful style and design, in addition to the content. You are an expert in this topic!
This is exactly honestly useful, You will be an awfully seasoned doodlekit. I had become a member your current provide for and show toward wanting a greater portion of ones own good blog post. At the same time, I’ve truly contributed ones own online site with my social networking sites!
Superior day! I might have sworn I have been to this online site previously but once checking by a lot of the publish I understood you’ll find it new to me. Even so, I am positively delighted I discovered it and I will be bookmarking and checking again quite often!
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely return.
You made some decent points there. I did a search on the issue and found most individuals will agree with your website.
Just want to say your article is as astonishing. The clearness in your post is just excellent and i can assume you’re an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the enjoyable work.
This post gives the light in which we are able to observe the reality. This is really nice 1 and provides in-depth information.
Im not a very holy or a clam person but will
agree to it that meditation does help brink back
peace to you.
Anyways nice article. thanks for sharing.
so interesting a topic.
There are a few interesting closing dates in this post but I don‘t know if I see every one of them center to heart. There exists some validity however is going to take hold opinion until I consider it further. Good article , thanks and now we want more! Put into FeedBurner as well
Excellent weblog. All posts have a process to learn. Your hard work is very good and i enjoy you and wanting for some more informative posts.
I have not checked in here for a while since I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
This blog was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something which helped me. Kudos!