Meditation has been a huge part of my spiritual journey. I have been on various meditation retreats and spent long periods practising mindfulness (even before it was cool!) and focusing on what is often referred to as ‘living in the now’. But is any of this really helpful? Here are a few reflections.
Being Grounded is Important
It’s possible to be so carried away in thought that we become out of touch with our bodies and immediate surroundings. Being in tune with our bodies helps us to stay healthy, and being in tune with our immediate surroundings helps us to be more relaxed, and at peace. If you experience a lot of stress, live a life that is very fast-paced, or have mental health issues, meditation could certainly be beneficial.
Don’t Meditate to Become ‘Enlightened’
If you’re attracted to meditation because you want to experience ‘Christ consciousness’ or some other deep state of spiritual awakening, you’re going to be disappointed. Often people begin meditation practice as a form of escape, and the dangling carrot of enlightenment has a strong pull for spiritually-inclined people. But as I explained in depth in this article, there is no enlightenment. You may experience more peace and a greater awareness, but if you’re looking for a grand mystical experience that will free you from your troubles, you’re taking the wrong approach. Psychotherapy or counselling are likely to be a much better option.
How do I get Started with Meditation?
There are of course many different ways in which to meditate, and I would encourage you to explore different approaches and methods and see what appeals. A great way to get started is the 5-4-3-2-1 meditation practice, which is explained in this video. By far my favourite meditation technique is Autogenic Training, which has helped me to counteract the onset of panic attacks, as well as to de-stress in times of personal difficulty.
If all of that sounds too complicated, try simply sitting or lying in a quiet space and focusing on the sensation of your feet. Whenever your thoughts wander, return your awareness to the feeling you are experiencing in your feet. Do this for 10-15 minutes and you might be surprised by how relaxed you feel.
Is Meditation Compatible with Religion?
Of course in certain Eastern religions, meditation is central. For Christians, things are rather more complicated. Prayer is itself a form of meditation, and many Christians will feel that prayer is the most important and most effective way in which to impact our circumstances. In my own experience, the practice of focusing deeply on my thoughts gave me a greater awareness of the existence of God, and while this isn’t necessarily typical, meditation is complementary to philosophy and religion in that we are exploring the nature of our experiences and what it means to be alive.
Conclusion
The word ‘meditation’ encompasses a variety of practices that are focused on making us more aware and in tune with how our minds and bodies function. If you’re just starting out, be aware of your motivations for wanting to meditate, and consider whether talking therapy might be more beneficial, or at least complementary to your meditation practice. Don’t expect miracles, but a small regular time commitment to a meditative practice can reap great rewards and contribute to a more balanced, happy life.
I have written an extensive account of some of the dangers of more extreme meditation practices in my book entitled The Philosophy of a Mad Man. For more information, go here. What’s your experience of meditation and/or mindfulness? Feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!
Perfect Chaos 
36 responses to “Is Meditation Good For You?”
An honest look at meditation and your experience with it. Thanks for sharing!
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You’re welcome, thank you for reading!
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Wow. This is very well written. I’m curious about your personal faith. Are you a Christian? Great job.
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Hi there! That’s really kind of you, thanks so much for reading! I have a somewhat complicated relationship with the Christian faith, as explained in my essay entitled ‘An Almighty Predicament’, which (if you’re interested in reading) you can download as a PDF on my Essays page. You’re welcome to drop me an email with any thoughts / reflections, I’m always delighted to discuss these things 🙂
Thanks again and best wishes! Steven
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Very interesting read! (Well written too–I might add.) I’ve been seeing meditation in a whole new light recently, so it’s interesting to see how other people might practice.
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Hi Christine! So glad you found the post interesting. What’s your favourite way to practice meditation (assuming you practice that is)?
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I find that I’m most peaceful after a yoga session… and I’ve recently learned there’s such a thing as Christian yoga…. But I also enjoy what I might call meditative imagery. You might watch my blog as I’m exploring this more…
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Yes, the dangers of wrong concentration is there. Often not pointed out so this is a useful piece of advice.
And thanks for popping by.
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You’re welcome, friend. Thanks so much for reading! Blessings 🙂
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A great post indeed.
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Thank you for reading, Rabindranath!
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This is an interesting one and it is refreshing not to read an article or post which blindly endorses meditations without taking into consideration the other aspects and “the pull” factors, as you have put it. There seems to have been a boom in the industry of meditation which makes me both glad – because now it appears to be a practice more accessible, even in understanding to others – and frustrated – because you have people who claim to be doing it for reasons that sound just like a cover up of “its trending”. I suppose it doesn’t matter why you have come to meditation, if it works for you and you feel good then it really shouldn’t be of concern to anyone else. Great post and I am a new follower 🙂
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Hi Avriii,
Thank you very much for reading the article and taking the time to comment, it’s great to hear your thoughts. I agree with what you’re saying 🙂
I’m following your blog too, so hopefully we can keep in touch.
All the best with your blogging!
Steven
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