Oakville Zen Meditation
Misinformation & fake news about mindfulness-based meditation Part I
Here is a list of the most common fake news and misinformation regarding meditation.
Found online, the list is not exhaustive and not in any specific order.
The main purpose of practicing meditation is to suppress thoughts: No
The main purpose is to tame, then, eventually, to control our thoughts and mind by focusing mindfully on an “anchor” such as breathing. Achieving a thoughtless mind is pure fiction
since thoughts/feelings will always pop up.
Being mindful, then in order to control them is the essence of meditation.
The practice of meditation is easy. No
The practice is demanding since it requires many attributes and skills such as:
- Understanding the rationale, process, and true objectives of mindfulness meditation.
- Requiring time, quiet location, commitment/ discipline, patience, perseverance, and above all a non-judgmental attitude about the quality and progress of our meditation.
The practice of meditation requires a few minutes per week. Complete non-sense.
Guided meditation is the most effective way to practice mindfulness meditation. It is a marketing trap.
Pure, genuine meditation is w/o audio-visual gimmick and pseudo-teacher.It is the most effective approach.
Reading books about meditation is necessary.
Meditation can be summarized in 1-2 pages.
Learning/practicing meditation alone is enough. Maybe for a small minority.
Initially, a genuine teacher with proper credentials is recommended.
Solo practice is just as good as group practice. Not true!
Group practice is necessary, and more effective. Both are complementary.
“After a while, you will be able to shut down your mind”. Impossible. Again, it is a marketing trap.
Meditation is simple: just to focus on something. Not true!
Meditation is a dual physical and mindfulness-based mental exercise involving 4 interrelated
components:
- Being mindful of our body posture and stillness.
- “ on focusing point (mind anchor) such as breathing.
- “ on incoming thoughts to let them go.
- Returning mindfully to the focus point.
Breathing is the only focus point in meditation. Not true!
Breathing is the main mind anchor, however, for experienced meditators any kind of focus target including sensorial input can be used as long as the focusing point is not the source of daydreaming preventing the practitioner from being mindful of her/his incoming thoughts.
“You will feel the benefits of meditation quickly”.Not true!
Benefits will come but the timeline is unpredictable and based on the practitioner and the quality/quantity of practice including group practice. Again, patience and determination are keys.
Looking for the benefits of meditation is critical to assess its effectiveness, Not true.
Looking for quick benefits is counterproductive since it may produce impatience, frustration, and discouragement. Daily meditation won’t magically transform your life into one of immediate bliss, and perpetual stress-free serenity. But you will be able to tell the difference in the quality of your life.
Meditation will make you happy. Terrible. Pure delusion and a marketing trap.
Serenity is not happiness.
Part II will follow next week Thanks.
