I am going to say it upfront: the spiritual mantra that you need to meditate in order to be spiritual or progress is rehashed ad nauseam to the point that it tastes like gum you have chewed all the flavour out of. It is also incredibly elitist and it can be an ego trap.
So, yes it can be beneficial to meditate, for some.
And yes, it can help you progress on your spiritual path.
But no, it’s not the only way. And for some people, especially those of us who suffer from anxiety, depression or PTSD, it can actually be harmful.
In this episode, I talk about the dark side of meditation: yes there are some risks, both for the mind but also for your physical health. So I want to call out all those meditation teachers who rave about the benefits of meditation and ask them to be a little more nuanced about meditation. Nothing is only positive and beneficial.
Also, for someone who works two jobs to pay their bills, when will they have the time or space to meditate? Elitist much? Plus, it’s a mega ego trap. So beware.
I am not against meditation. I started off my spiritual journey taking a zazen meditation class in 1999. I am just saying there is not just one way to calm the mind and connect to your inner self. And in this episode, I list twelve activities you can engage in that will bring similar benefits. But before you do any of these, if your goal is to quiet the mind, then your first need to understand the mind. You need to know that you are not your thoughts. You need to know that the quality of your thoughts has a direct impact on your emotions and thus behaviour but also your health. And you need to know that you can choose which thoughts you want to give mileage to. It can take practice to get there, but it’s entirely worth the effort.
People who tell you to meditate without educating you as to how your mind works are dangerous. And given how many narcissists cruise in the spiritual waters (yes, like sharks), I want you to enter the meditation waters with eyes wide open. Meditation classes have also been known grooming grounds for cults. And it’s not that I want you to be paranoid. Just prepared.
To listen to the episode, click here.