Does Meditation Really Work?
I have come to understand that once something doesn't fall within the realms of instant gratification, it will always be thrown into the box of uninteresting things. Meditation is one of those things which has landed in that category.
One thing which is evident is that we live in an extremely noisy world, modern technology has ensured that we are constantly connected. The irony is that the more plugged in we are in this virtual world the more disconnected we feel in the real world.
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Meditation has helped me eliminate the desire for things which don't matter. Like most people, I have contemplated leaving everything behind and finding a cave in some mountain away from all the craziness.
But I’ve grown to understand that the true hero is the individual who is able to joyfully participate in all the madness. While preserving their true self and navigating around the world with a consciousness un-penetrable to the ill effects of modern chaos.
One thing I must dismiss about meditation is that it isn't the solution to all your problems or the answer to all your questions. What I found to be important is not finding all the answers, but rather asking the right questions. The universe is far too complicated for our small minds to even comprehend the mechanics of existence.
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Some of the right questions could be, how can I help make the world a better place? how can I limit my own suffering? Asking the right questions might not give you all the answers you seek. But it nudges you in the right direction to seek valuable experiences which ultimately surpass your desires of wanting to know everything.
One of the things which I’ve thought about deeply and tried to change about myself is that inability of being present in the moment. There is this cycle we all seem to fall into, the pendulum of constant anticipation of the next thing. We are unable to find peace with the present moment, our constant striving never ends.
I know that it’s important to plan ahead but the modern disease of never being able to enjoy the view and smell the roses is contagious on all levels. I think a lot of it has to do with the environment.
Modernization has not only altered our lifestyles but it has also changed the way we think. The moment we are cut off from nature our essential being loses that inward centre. Money becomes the consolation for a life of tension, anxiety and inner conflict.
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So how does one function with the high demands of modern life? How does one take part in this game, which seems to devour every ounce of our precious energy.
That answer is meditation. Meditation washes away the dust from daily life. It stills the waters and places you in a centre whereby you are able to think clearly. Sure, there are days when things feel heavy and one has to put on a brave face to get through it. But what meditation tries to do is open you up to those very things which create disturbances in your mind.
Most of the things which we are afraid of in this world are just, “Smoke & Mirrors.” Meditation polishes that mirror so we are able to see our true selves. It strips away the labels we’ve spent our whole lives defending such as our jobs, identity or even religion.
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It places us in a vast pool of emptiness with nowhere to go and nowhere to stand. That for me is where total freedom is found, stripping away all of those labels we thought were essential and realising that they hold us back in experiencing the total transformation of our inner being.
Whenever the subject of meditation comes up, it revolves around the same issues such as, “It’s not for me” “I don't have the patience” "I've tried, but I fall asleep after a few minutes."
If you think back at the time when you started to learn how to drive, It seemed like an impossible task. You were overwhelmed by having to concentrate on the gearbox, while holding onto the steering wheel and looking at the windscreen while still being conscious of other cars around you.
Like that situation, you had to spend time developing those cognitive functions in order to operate comfortably without overthinking and trying so hard. Meditation is the same, it takes practice to train your mind to focus. To clear those obsessive egoistic thoughts and voices in your head.
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However, meditation is a difficult undertaking like all worthwhile pursuits in life. It requires consistency, discipline, patience and willpower. Just like brushing your teeth, once the habit is hardwired you simply start to do it everyday.
People often ask me to describe how meditation makes you feel. To be honest, I don’t really feel anything after meditation. However, what is more interesting is how I feel when I don’t meditate.
It’s like that feeling when you haven’t brushed your teeth in the Morning and you keep rubbing your tongue against your front teeth to feel the residue stuck on your teeth. You can operate perfectly fine throughout the day, but something just doesn’t feel right.
Aside from the improvement in my physical condition, it really has installed an inner clarity. Life isn't a multiple choice exam with definite answers. There are often grey areas that require an intuition which cannot be found in books.
It all starts with trusting yourself, knowing that you are a child of the universe. That everything you need is within and meditation is simply the process of sifting through the rubble in order to discover the diamonds.
