Meditation is increasingly becoming a common activity, but many people have different perspectives on it. Individual perception is a personal preference, and many people would hold opposing viewpoints if they lacked experience and understanding. It's true.
It's normal for people to become acquainted with the rituals and values that they previously mistook for meditation. One example is when people claim that meditation is a method of quieting the mind; however, this is not the case.
Several books have been published on the topic of meditation. Even so, they can create confusion since they were written from the perspectives of people who adhere to the principles and beliefs of particular religions or ideologies. Some have made comments and values about meditation that sound like universal rules, but meditation is, in general, an extremely precise technique that is unique to a particular method of practice.
What Isn't Meditation?
There are a few popular myths about meditation, including:
Myth 1. Meditation is merely a type of relaxation – It's important to note that meditation is not the same as relaxation. A good example is when we sleep. Sleeping and relaxing are not synonymous, but the crucial link is that when we sleep, we relax. The same concept applies to meditation; one of the results of meditation is relaxation, which occurs when one sits straight for a period of time and relaxes. However, this does not eliminate the mind's duality aspect. It is important to recognize that one of the many advantages of meditation is the ability to relax. It calms you down, relaxes you, and gives you a sense of serenity.
Myth 2. Meditation is for those who are looking for answers to their spiritual questions – Contrary to popular belief, anybody who wants to reap the many benefits of meditation can do so. One of the main goals is to induce a comfortable state that allows one to become conscious of who they are without exerting too much effort. It is an important tool for everyone because everyone wants to learn more about themselves without having to rely on anyone else to tell them, and meditation is the only way to do so.
Myth 3. Meditation is not the same as meditation or reflection – when one concentrates or focuses on something, they are simply narrowing their awareness. After excluding anything else, one can only concentrate on one particular object. Meditation is all-encompassing because it expands the consciousness. When one meditates, they become conscious of something but not of something concrete. Meditation is merely one of the different types of focus. When in meditation, concentration requires one to focus their attention on a particular task or activity. There is no concept of directing your attention to a specific job or company. Meditation gives you the freedom to be present in the moment without having to focus on something in particular.
Concentration is a skill that can aid in the learning of meditation, especially in the early stages, but it is not the same as meditation.
Myth 4. Meditation is not a religious activity – Popular belief holds that meditation consists of sitting in a certain pose, chanting some specific, persuasive words with a phonetic meaning, and burning essence. Meditation is not the practice of doing a specific activity in a specific pose for a set amount of time. It is true that learning to meditate takes time and requires sincere effort and commitment, but this does not make it a religion or a ritual. Meditation is simply the quality of one's being that happens when one becomes conscious of one's true self and can take any action with awareness. Meditation may be practiced by anyone, regardless of faith, race, age, sex, creed, or nationality. Meditation is more enjoyable to do once you understand it because it does not require any straining.
Myth 5. We conclude that meditation is not a state of mind, but rather a state of no-mind. We cannot assume that meditation is just about what one thinks; rather, meditation is about finding a calm place that exists inside you all the time. According to scientists, there are four essential states of mind based on the strength of mind waves. Alpha, beta, gamma, and theta are the four states of consciousness. When we say we're in the beta zone, we're simply referring to the state in which we work and carry out our daily activities. The alpha state is only below beta, which is the meditative state. Further depth states of mind are gamma and theta. It allows one to become still, tranquil, and relaxed without any stress or tension; in other words, it allows one to become happy. Alpha is the state of mind that occurs during meditation, not the meditation itself. There is no machine or mechanical device that can be used to generate awareness; instead, gadgets can only be used to make us understand what is true by creating the right conditions.
Myth 6. Meditation isn't the same as self-hypnosis – Since there is a need for an object of focus in both self-hypnosis and meditation, it is needed in both cases. When meditating, however, the person doing the meditating must retain an understanding of the present moment while still being very conscious and not losing track of time. When people think of hypnosis, they normally think of a subconscious state. Hypnosis aims to transform the subject into an emotionless vegetable who is more vulnerable to being manipulated by a third party. Meditation, on the other hand, causes one to become more aware of their emotional changes. One gains a clearer and more precise understanding of oneself.
Myth 7. Meditation is not a mysterious practice; it is an art that deals with various aspects of consciousness that are deeper than abstract thinking. The only curious thing is that while there might not be specific terms to describe meditation, the same can be said for many other things. For example, we all know how to walk, but few, if any, of us have a clear definition of the order in which nerve fibers and muscles contract during the entire process of our day-to-day activities like walking. The same can be said for meditation; we may not be able to describe it in depth, however we can practice it. One cannot foresee the outcome of meditation because it is merely an examination or experiment, as well as an experience to look forward to.
Myth 8. The goal of meditation is to become a psychic – Many people believe that the end goal of meditation is to become a psychic superman. The specifics, such as reading minds and levitation, are not the ultimate goals in meditation; rather, self-liberation is the ultimate goal.