Meditation is not for happiness, but here are the real reasons for you to Meditate

I try to meditate every day for 2 hours in the morning and 1 hour in the evening. I also try to follow the routine of a monk (as much as I can). Here are my thoughts on why you should also meditate.

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“Why would you do meditation if you are already happy?”

I can’t say how many times I have heard this. Because there is a notion being spread that meditation will make you happy (and productive) — obviously a path to happiness is easy to sell and it promotes a vested interest of certain people running meditation as a business. Western society has this great nack to take something Eastern (which sounds mystical), simplify it and convert it into a business. Another great example is of tantra which is sold as a way for great sex. I also wrote an article about ‘Tantra is not about Sex’.

I think it’s time to call out the BS.

I have seen many meditation teachers in Europe who lack peace and joy in them. Many spend a month or so in India or Bali, learn some basic techniques and come back as ‘teachers’. As an example, once I was attending a meditation group and the girl who was teaching meditation got annoyed because of some noise from outside while doing the mediation — it was obvious that she did not achieve peace in herself.

My experience says that meditation groups in Europe attract people who are deeply disturbed, and often suffer depression because they have been told that it will bring them immediate happiness. But that is far from truth.

I do daily meditation, sometimes a few hours a day and I can definitely say it's not about achieving happiness. In fact, happiness is not necessarily what I (or others should) seek. It would be childish to think that we can only have happiness in life as suffering is a part of life (e.g. when somebody we love passes away etc.).

So what is a meditation about?

Meditation is the path to inner truth: I meditate to know myself. Who am I? What do I really want in this life? What are my fears? Most of us live life in fears and regrets. So much so that most people cannot seat for 30 mins in silence — because all the thoughts, regrets, fears come to their mind and they do not know how to deal with it. I want to live a life true to myself, without fears, and meditation helps me to follow that path, howsoever difficult it can be.

Meditation will give you peace: I can seat in silence for hours in my room, and feel complete peace and joy for no reason. It is amazing to know that no matter what, I can always find inner peace just by sitting in my room alone.

Meditation is about being silent and just being present: Have you ever tried to be silent — both in speech and in mind? In our society we find noise everywhere — cafe, gym, restaurants, co-working — there has to be music to stimulate our mind. We are so not used to the idea of being in silence. But once we are silent we can just listen. Listen to ourselves, our bodies, our needs, our desires, etc. It is the ultimate way to be completely present.

Meditation will help you find joy even in the simplest of activities: Monks have this capability to enjoy even the most basic routine. Have you found joy in just walking, drinking water, or folding papers, which does not require any mental stimulation? Through meditation, one can be joyful by just being and doing anything.

And why you should not do meditation?

The beginning will be very difficult, very painful and sometimes unbearable. So if you are not ready to face yourself, don’t do it.

Also, if you want to be just happy — meditation is not the path. The fact of being more aware of yourself and the world, you will be sad.

If you are self-aware and in touch with yourself, how can you feel happy when you can read about children dying of hunger in some parts of the world?

Meditation can be often lead to deep thoughts, regrets and hours of being solitude with no social life. You have to learn to forgive yourself, forgive others, get over all the regrets and ready to face the truth. Most people are happy to live a superficial life and for them, it is very hard to go through that process.

Meditation will ultimately make you peaceful, but the path is very long and difficult. So be prepared for that!

I can say for sure when you reach that peace in you, nothing can take away that inner peace and feeling of joy by just being.

I hope you found this article an interesting read. Feel free to share and like.

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Rudradeb Mitra

Occasionally write as busy building Omdena, Mentor@Google for Startups, Tech Council Member@Save the Children & Forbes, Book Author, Deeply spiritual.