Why is Meditating different?
Many people are fond of running, fishing, cooking, making music, kitesurfing, snowboarding, cycling, etc. At first sight, this looks a little strange, because these activities usually do not give us money or fame. What we are after is the exceptionally high quality of the feelings that we experience during our hobbies. Our hobbies give us a feeling of great satisfaction, our minds become clear and most of all: we experience a lot of pleasure. So: why should you start practising Meditation if you can already relax quite well when you are playing tennis or working in your garden?
In this section, know the features of Meditation that makes it different from other activities.
Is Meditating different?
What Meditation and our hobbies have in common is that during these activities we focus on one thing. We lose ourselves completely in what we are doing and that is something that our body and our mind enjoy very much. We give our mind a rest and we can enjoy a break amidst those 60,000 lines of thought that we usually go through from day to day. So: our hobbies are excellent for our mental relaxation and rest. But Meditation goes further and deeper than most people think. When Meditating we are training our mental powers whereas when we are, for example, practising sports we are only training our physical powers. Let us sum up the differences between Meditating and practising our hobbies:
- When practicing our hobbies we do not train ourselves in concentration, focussing and self-consciousness. In most cases we do not become observers of our own mind. We do not get any insight into our own character and we do not learn how to accept things without judging. In contrast to what happens when we are practising sports we do not suppress our emotions and our feelings when we are Meditating. In fact we open up to our emotions and feelings and learn how to deal with them. All of these are qualities that in the long run will make our mind more structured and more quiet. In other words: hobbies give you a temporary relaxation, Meditating a lasting one.
- When we are practising sports we are usually out to get results. Doing your best to win, improving your achievements or improving your body have nothing to do with relaxation. Perfectionism, being out to get results and trying to achieve goals often result in experiencing stress and that is exactly what we want to avoid.
- When we practise Meditating we can become totally relaxed whenever we feel the need to. And this is not the case with hobbies or sports. We can use the techniques of mediation at any time and at any place…. In the office, at the toilet, in the train, queuing up at the baker's, during dull meetings, etc. Have you ever enjoyed playing basketball while brushing your teeth?
- Scientific research has demonstrated that during activities that are centred around Meditating alpha and theta brain waves are extremely active. This is remarkable because during these activities we are awake, focussed and active and yet we activate a situation of rest for body and mind. This situation of rest is essential for the recovery of our body cells, the building up of reserves against stress and our growth. This combination of brain waves is never seen during the practising of sports, walking or fishing. From this we can conclude that the effect of relaxation caused by Meditation is much deeper than the effects caused by other activities in which we are strongly focussed.
- If you cannot make your mind calm and peaceful without your favourite hobbies or pastime you probably suffer from some form of inner unrest. It is human to seek pleasure and to try to avoid pain. Our present society is focussed on doing things in order to achieve things and feeling fine. Meditating teaches you how to find you way in this pursuit. We become happy by BEING something instead of DOING something.
- Meditating is a powerful support for your hobbies. Even if you are only interested in the results: no matter what you do, you gain better results when you meditate. Meditating is a natural drug for achieving the best possible results. Your heightened mental powers give you a better focus and power of concentration. Clear thinking results in better decisions, more creativity and less wasting of energy. By Meditating you make it easier for yourself to reach the highest possible level of experiencing success and achievement ( often called a sensation of "flow" or in the world of sportsmen "being in the zone" )
Meditating and practising our hobbies go well together. Both are effective if we want to relax and both make us happier. The only difference is that Meditating gives us a more lasting type of rest and a deeper feeling of relaxation compared to other activities in which we are strongly focussed. Meditating leads to the activating of your mental powers. You have nothing to lose, give yourself a chance, and give Meditating a try for a certain period of time. You will discover that both your own body and your mind, as well as your colleagues in your sports team, your sports coach, your fishing-rod, the golf players that walk right behind you on the green and the people in your immediate surroundings will be very grateful to you!
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Basics & Backgrounds
in Dutch
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