Meditation: Separating Lies from Truth

The truth about meditation is quite different from what the average, inexperienced person thinks of it. Public opinion is shaped by a lifetime of societal influence, such as through Hollywood comedies, written by people who know little about meditation, that lampoon meditation and other “kooky” spiritual practices.

You can benefit by knowing the truth about meditation. Once you start practicing regularly, you won’t want to stop.

Below we list common truths and falsehoods about meditation.

1. People of all walks of life practice formal meditation.

This is true. It used to be that only those whose religion encourages regular meditation or those who were considered social outcasts would meditate. 30 years ago, announcing at a party that you meditate invited snickers and ridicule. Not any longer. Today, all types of people do it.

2. Other than attaining a little peace of mind, there’s nothing to gain from it.

This is false. Medical studies have routinely proven the health benefits of meditation in recent years, including stress reduction.

You’ll gain much more than a little peace of mind. Everyone experiences monkey-mind on occasion, some more than others; your mind is wound up from life’s everyday pressures and it takes on a life of its own, such as when you can’t get a particular song out of your head or can’t stop worrying. You can stop both through this spiritual discipline. Turing the channel in your mind, so to speak, becomes much easier. You’ll sleep better too.

3. It takes too long to do it.

This is false. 20 minutes each day is all you need. Turn off the TV in the evening, or get up 20 minutes earlier in the morning.

We meditate for an average of 30 minutes each day. We’ve meditated on planes, trains, boats, and buses, in taxis and hotels, on mountains, at the beach, and elsewhere. As long as you set aside 15-20 minutes, or even less, you can put your mind at ease and reap other benefits through this discipline.

4. It won’t tell me any secrets that I couldn’t get from asking myself simple questions.

This is false, and we prove it to ourselves almost daily. The subtle glimpses of insight you’ll get from regular practice are absolutely astounding. For example, you can ask yourself about a work-related issue, and in the following hours, days, or weeks you’ll get a (sometimes stunning) flash of insight about the situation.

The main goal with sitting down and going inward is to slow down and detach from your conscious mind. In doing so, you tap into your subconscious, and also your super-conscious, otherwise known as your higher-self or spiritual self and gain access to insight from the other side and, or guides of the Light.

It’s entirely possible to regularly get insight through this spiritual discipline that can change your life for the better.

5. I won’t be able to do it regularly because I’ll tire of it.

This is true, but only to a point. At first, your mind will be trying everything in its significant power to distract you because it feels threatened and wants to stay in control. But once you make it a daily habit, you’ll find that it’s automatic and you’ll look forward to it, similar to exercise. Plus, you’ll get used to the feel-good, healthy brain opiate release that comes from deep meditation and you won’t want to stop.

Find the truth about meditation yourself--start the regular practice and increase your self-understanding and understanding of others and everyday situations, reduce stress, and upgrade your intuition.

Copyright © Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo