I can be accused of being a bit dogmatic. 🙂
But certain things are just…
Here’s an example:
#Meditation doesn't need to be performed while sitting. There's #walking and #running meditation too. Pay careful attention to each step. Listen to the sounds around you. Feel your feet hit the ground. Notice how your muscles contract. Be fully present in the moment. #Mindfulness pic.twitter.com/xUavgeqMvl
— Beth Frates, MD (@BethFratesMD) May 8, 2018
This is a well-meaning quote and it’s totally accurate — except for that very first part.
#Meditation doesn’t need to be performed while sitting. There’s #walking and #running meditation too. Pay careful attention to each step. Listen to the sounds around you. Feel your feet hit the ground. Notice how your muscles contract. Be fully present in the moment. #Mindfulness
What this quote is describing is not meditation — it’s mindfulness. Which it does indeed say at the end.
But meditation in fact DOES need to be performed while sitting.
Meditation is STOPPING.
Meditation is GOING WITHIN.
It is IMPOSSIBLE to go within to the degree necessary with true meditation unless you have your butt on the ground (or the floor, or a mat, or a pillow — anywhere but your bed!) and you have pulled your attention into the body and are focusing with the intention to stop thought.
You canNOT be running or walking or even standing outside gazing at the gorgeous beauty of the ocean and also be meditating.
Yes, you can find peace and quiet and stillness inside while doing those things, and I suggest that you do!
But none of those are meditating.
Same thing happens with this one:
Make your day your #meditation pic.twitter.com/0kOSntGhzs
— Brainwave Architect™ (@brainwavetweets) May 10, 2018
“Make your day your meditation” — no sorry, it doesn’t work like that.
Meditating is something very very specific.
It’s binary.
You’re either doing it, or you’re not.
Or more precisely: Meditation is a NOT DOING.
Which means, again, you cannot be “doing” anything while you’re doing it.
How’s that for turning your brain into a pretzel? 🙂
It’s great that people are propounding the value of meditation all over the place, and that they’re trying to show how it’s easy and accessible and that mindfulness should be your everyday. How they’re making it normal and common and standard and just part of being.
But “doing something” along with “meditation” is truly impossible — at least, it is until you’re seriously beyond the norm in the Enlightenment cycle! (And I cannot claim to know what that’s like, I’m only reporting on what I’ve been told from the one or two beings I’ve encountered who were!)
Meditation is meditation — nothing else.
Please don’t get it confused. 🙂
Leave a Reply