Meditation Is Much More Than Just Relaxing
By L.B. Blackwell,
Meditation is a popular topic today. Once an exclusively religious practice, it has been increasingly adopted in the secular world. Universities study it; experts from various fields recommend it.
But, as with most things that become popular, some oversimplification and distortion have crept in.
One of the frequent misconceptions is that it is a kind of relaxation technique, like deep breathing or counting to 10. This idea implies that meditation is easy, a notion that many meditators would be quick to challenge.
Recently, I read an article that offered tips for beginning swimmers. The author noted that beginners tend to assume swimming will be a cinch — until they jump into the pool and are quickly worn out. I have also found this to be true with many people, including myself, who take up meditation. Like beginning swimmers who get worn out after just a few minutes in the pool, beginning meditators often feel overwhelmed and exhausted after only a brief effort to still the raucous mind. Read more…