Previously, we have looked at four of the six most common meditation mistakes. (#1: I’m trying to quiet my mind. #2: I’m just trying to feel peaceful and open during my meditations. #3: “I’ve been doing the same practice for months or years.” #4: “I’m trying to reach enlightenment or a permanent state of bliss.”)
If you have tried meditation and have become frustrated either with maintaining your practice or with a lack of results, do not feel alone. At times, even the most ardent practitioner can be derailed by these snafus.
If you have tried meditation and have become frustrated either with maintaining your practice or with a lack of results, do not feel alone. At times, even the most ardent practitioner can be derailed by these snafus.
Many faults are rooted in typical, fundamental, misunderstandings about what the purpose of meditation is. These can derail any human being despite the best of intentions. The good news is, the meditations taught by Meditation from the Heart and the way they are presented, side-step the common errors entirely, giving you a far more reliable and enduring experience.
As we reveal more common meditation mistakes see if you recognize your own meditation ‘block(s)’.
Meditation Mistake #5: “I use my meditation as an escape from the challenges of life.” Some
Meditation is more about being fully present with everything that is – including discomfort and challenges. If there were no tough challenges in life then our life would become boring. And we would naturally create a situation that provides difficulties for our-self just to shake things up a bit.
Your meditation practice can empower and strengthen you to face truth and reality without hiding. Most of us are human beings who live and work in the world and have not chosen the monastic lifestyle. Please don’t use that as an excuse to wait to have a meditation practice until ‘the time is right.’
Also, ask yourself, “When or where are you happy?” Is it on vacation? Do you lose that happiness when you come back home and to work? Then treat your work as though you are on vacation. Be happy at work.
Meditation Mistake #6: “I hop from one spiritual teacher to the next trying to find the one who will make me feel the best and fulfill my desires.” “Danger Will Robinson!” No one can make you feel anything or fulfill your desires. Only you can do these things for yourself. It is easy to show powerful and wonderful mystical experiences. It is much harder to work at a gentle pace to build a strong foundation which builds a harmonious and contented life.
Please, do not give your power away to anyone. You and the innate spirit that resides within are perfectly capable of leading you to live a fulfilled life. Let your teachers gently remind and nudge you in the direction that is right for you.
More than anything, realize that we live in an age of fast information, where we can look up something that is puzzling us, read about it and decide if it is helpful or not. The key here is one, not to forget to take the time away from technology to just be with yourself. And two, to remember to move at the pace of a human being – not a cyber-bot.
Meditation Mistake #5: “I use my meditation as an escape from the challenges of life.” Some
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| I’m sure it will be better over there |
people may use meditation as a refuge or ‘spiritual bypass’. Escaping into meditation to avoid facing or dealing with uncomfortable feelings or issues. This approach does not lead to good results. Rather such avoidance could lead to less, not more, ease and ability to deal with life issues.
Meditation is more about being fully present with everything that is – including discomfort and challenges. If there were no tough challenges in life then our life would become boring. And we would naturally create a situation that provides difficulties for our-self just to shake things up a bit.
Your meditation practice can empower and strengthen you to face truth and reality without hiding. Most of us are human beings who live and work in the world and have not chosen the monastic lifestyle. Please don’t use that as an excuse to wait to have a meditation practice until ‘the time is right.’
Also, ask yourself, “When or where are you happy?” Is it on vacation? Do you lose that happiness when you come back home and to work? Then treat your work as though you are on vacation. Be happy at work.
Meditation Mistake #6: “I hop from one spiritual teacher to the next trying to find the one who will make me feel the best and fulfill my desires.” “Danger Will Robinson!” No one can make you feel anything or fulfill your desires. Only you can do these things for yourself. It is easy to show powerful and wonderful mystical experiences. It is much harder to work at a gentle pace to build a strong foundation which builds a harmonious and contented life.
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| Don’t be a cyber-bot |
Please, do not give your power away to anyone. You and the innate spirit that resides within are perfectly capable of leading you to live a fulfilled life. Let your teachers gently remind and nudge you in the direction that is right for you.
More than anything, realize that we live in an age of fast information, where we can look up something that is puzzling us, read about it and decide if it is helpful or not. The key here is one, not to forget to take the time away from technology to just be with yourself. And two, to remember to move at the pace of a human being – not a cyber-bot.
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