{"id":18475,"date":"2025-09-15T17:48:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T21:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valuecare.wpgamma.com\/?p=18475"},"modified":"2025-09-15T17:48:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T21:48:15","slug":"meditation-faq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/valuecare.wpgamma.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/15\/meditation-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"Meditation FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What is\u00a0Meditation<\/a>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The basic idea generally associated with why people\u00a0Meditate<\/a>\u00a0is that during our day we are constantly subjected to sensory input and our minds are always active in the process of thinking. We read the newspaper, study books, write reports, engage in conversation, solve problems, etc etc. Typically, as we do these normal activities we engage in a constant mental commentary, sort of an inner \u201cThe Drama of Me.\u201d Usually people aren\u2019t fully aware of all the mental thought activity that we are constantly engaged in.<\/p>\n

Meditation<\/a>\u00a0allows all this activity to settle down, and often results in the mind becoming more peaceful, calm and focused. In essence,\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0allows the awareness to become \u2018rejuvenated\u2019.<\/p>\n

Meditation<\/a>\u00a0can be considered a technique, or practice. It usually involves\u00a0Concentrating<\/a>\u00a0on an object, such as a flower, a\u00a0Candle<\/a>, a sound or word, or the breath. Over time, the number of random thoughts occuring diminishes. More importantly, your attachment to these thoughts, and your identification with them, progressively become less. The meditator may get caught up in a thought pattern, but once he\/she becomes aware of this, attention is gently brought back to the object of concentration.\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0can also be objectless, for example consisting of just sitting.<\/p>\n

Experiences during\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0probably vary significantly from one individual to another, or at least if different techniques are involved.\u00a0Relaxation<\/a>, increased awareness, mental\u00a0Focus<\/a>\u00a0and clarity, and a sense of peace are the most common by-products of\u00a0Meditation<\/a>. While much has been written about the benefits of\u00a0Meditation<\/a>, the best attitude is not to have any expectations when practicing. Having a sense of expectation of (positive) results is likely to create unnecessary strain in the practice.<\/p>\n

As well, since\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0involves becoming more aware and more sensitive to what is within you, facing unpleasant parts of oneself may well be part of\u00a0Meditation<\/a>. Regardless of the experience, the meditator should try to be aware of the experience and of any attachment to it.<\/p>\n

Failure to experience silence, peace of mind, mental clarity, bliss, or other promoted benefit of\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0is not in itself a sign of incorrect practice or that one can\u2019t\u00a0Concentrate<\/a>\u00a0properly or\u00a0Concentrate<\/a>\u00a0enough to be good at\u00a0Meditation<\/a>. Whether one experiences peace or bliss is not what is important. What is generally considered important in\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0is that one is regular with their\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0-every day- and that one make a reasonable effort, but not strain, to remain with the object of concentration during the practice. With regular practice one inevitably acquires an increased understanding of and proficiency with the particular\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0technique.<\/p>\n

Some people use the formal concentrative\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0as a preliminary step to practicing a mindfulness\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0during the day where one tries to maintain a calm but increased awareness of one\u2019s thoughts and actions during the day.<\/p>\n

For some people,\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0is primarily a spiritual practice, and in some cases the\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0practice may be closely tied to the practice of a religion such as, for example, Hinduism or Buddhism.<\/p>\n

How is\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0different from\u00a0Relaxation<\/a>, thinking, concentration or self-Hypnosis<\/a>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Relaxation:<\/p>\n

Relaxation<\/a>\u00a0is a common by-product of\u00a0Meditation<\/a>.\u00a0Relaxation<\/a>\u00a0itself can assume many forms, such as taking a hot bath or reclining in the Lazy-boy and watching tv, etc.\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0is an active process where the meditator remains fully aware of what the awareness is doing. It also attempts to transcend the thought process whereas many forms of\u00a0Relaxation<\/a>\u00a0still engage the thought process.\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0allows the body to\u00a0Relax<\/a>\u00a0and can offset the effects of\u00a0Stress<\/a>\u00a0both mentally and physically to a potentially much greater degree than passive\u00a0Relaxation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thinking:<\/p>\n

Thoughts generally consume energy in the process of their formation. Constant thought-activity, especially of random nature, can tire the mind and even bring on headache.\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0attempts to transcend this crude level of thought activity. Through regular practice one becomes aware that they are not their thoughts but that there is an awareness that exists independent of thought. Descartes (\u201dI think, therefore I am\u201d) obviously was not a regular meditator!<\/p>\n

Concentration:<\/p>\n

Meditation<\/a>\u00a0begins with concentration, but after an initial period of concentration, thought activity decreases and keeping the awareness focused becomes more spontaneous. At this point the person may or may not continue to employ the object of concentration.<\/p>\n

Self-hypnosis:<\/p>\n

Self-Hypnosis<\/a>, like\u00a0Meditation<\/a>, involves at least an initial period of concentration on an object. However in\u00a0Hypnosis<\/a>\u00a0one does not try to maintain an awareness of the here-and-now, or to stay conscious of the process. Instead one essentially enters a sort of semi-conscious trance.<\/p>\n

How could\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0help me to be more confident and assertive?<\/strong><\/p>\n

What keeps you from confidence and assertiveness? In\u00a0Meditation<\/a>, you will become aware of the influences that give you the illusion that you are small and unworthy. By witnessing those thoughts in\u00a0Meditation<\/a>, you will see them for what they really are. Meditators often discover that their real power is in being the silent witness. The thoughts are just passing illusions. Once we see them for what they are, we can confidently take our true identity. Some may call this true identity the \u201cGod within\u201d. Others may prefer to think it as the spirit of God within us or the Holy Spirit within us. Whatever words you use, you will begin to see humanity as less of a \u201crace\u201d or competition and more as a celebration of complex, creative people with an enormous capacity for love.<\/p>\n

How can\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0make me more flexible?<\/strong><\/p>\n

People who live by rote, without examining their lives, are destined to repeat their patterns, which they naively begin to believe are their identity. When you become a witness to your own thoughts, you begin to be more humble. You may consider whether others\u2019 thoughts are as valuable. You may even consider what others say as a potential source of life changing wisdom.<\/p>\n

How can\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0make me more self-sufficient?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A person with the habit of examining themselves loses the need to defend what they have done. A meditator need not keep asking others for approval.\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0gives comfort. It puts us in touch with inner knowledge. In this way we need not live as much for what others think of us. We live more for what we ourselves decide we would like to be.<\/p>\n

Will I really learn to\u00a0Relax<\/a>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes. In deep\u00a0Meditation<\/a>, which comes with regular practice,\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0produces a profound state of rest called \u201cthe\u00a0Relaxation<\/a>\u00a0response.\u201d This is a healthy way to live. It enhances the work of the\u00a0Immune System<\/a>\u00a0and shifts people away from reliance on adrenaline. For more information about this, see Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., Minding the Body, Mending the Mind, 1987 at 10-17.<\/p>\n

How could I \u201cradiate love\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meditation<\/a>\u00a0gradually takes away self doubt. In this way, it also takes away the desperate need to have love from others. The witness, which each of us has, is a very powerful and loving part of us. As we become aware of \u201cthe witness,\u201d we also become aware that we share the witness with others. Thus, they are like us. It makes sense to look on others with love. This attitude naturally produces inner radiance. It is very attractive to others. It is an entirely different thing than radiating \u201cneediness\u201d.<\/p>\n

Why will I enjoy life more?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meditators gradually stop having to prove themselves. They begin living life themselves. They can appreciate little things, like the breeze in the trees, the aroma of a\u00a0Rose<\/a>\u00a0or the warmth of the sun. These little things become a source of great pleasure. It helps life itself to become more fun. It encourages the meditator to play more!<\/p>\n

What are the different\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0techniques?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meditation<\/a>\u00a0involves\u00a0Concentrating<\/a>\u00a0on something to take our attention beyond the random thought activity that is usually going on in our heads. This can involve a solid object or picture, a mantra, breath, or guided visualization.<\/p>\n

Typical objects employed include a\u00a0Candle<\/a>\u00a0flame or a flower. Some people use pictures, such as a mandala – a highly colored symmetric painting – or a picture of a spiritual teacher in a high meditative state. Mantras are sounds which have a flowing, meditative quality and may be repeated out loud or inwardly. The breath is also a common focal point. Finally, guided visualization is also considered by some to be a form of\u00a0Meditation<\/a>. A guided visualization can help to bring one into a meditative state; also, visualization may be used once a meditative state has been reached to produce various results.<\/p>\n

Which is right for me?<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is no \u201cright\u201d\u00a0Meditation<\/a>\u00a0technique for everybody. Some techniques work better for certain people while other techniques work better for other people. The important thing is to find what works for you. What are the abc\u2019s of\u00a0Meditation<\/a>?<\/p>\n

There are a few recommended guidelines for meditation:<\/p>\n