The vast majority of the planet’s inhabitants have grown up in a social system based on violence and war. Our economic system, in its current neo-liberal form, seeks unlimited growth, maximum exploitation and immediate profit maximisation. Our Western culture in particular, which has dominated the world stage for some five centuries, is deeply rooted in violence and characterised by a culture of revenge. With a long outdated social system in crisis and decay, it is not surprising that this crisis is manifesting itself in a huge increase in violence in all its forms, not to mention countless wars.
People long for peace and non-violence, but at the same time they feel powerless and insignificant. Today’s governments wield power that makes the individual seem small. But ultimately it is people and their actions that shape history.
What can be done? At this turning point in human history, overcoming violence is of the utmost urgency. Society shapes us, and at the same time, we shape society through our actions or passivity. Of course, the influence of the world on the individual is often greater than vice versa, but it is a constant interaction. My search for peace must begin with myself and be directed towards the world. Violence in myself and in the world must be disarmed. Meditation can help us in this, although I would like to emphasise that this is not an individualistic and consumerist proposal, but a way inwards that leads outwards. A way that is neighbourly and leads to social and collective action.
Given the challenges we face in overcoming violence within ourselves and in the world, the question arises as to how we can take concrete action. Meditation offers us this path of transformation, not only on a personal level but also on a societal level. However, to walk this path effectively, it is crucial to understand the diversity of meditation forms that exist and how we can fully exploit their potential. In the second part of this article, we revisit this theme by exploring different meditation practices and how they transform us inwardly and make us effective outwardly. In particular, we examine the motivation behind meditation practice, a key element that determines how deep and authentic our quest for peace and non-violence is.
Reflective Meditation
This is a particularly powerful and yet very little-used method. We speak of reflective meditation as an act of reflecting on oneself, reflecting on what makes me suffer, reflecting on what I live for, reflecting on who I am, where I am going, what drives me in life, and why this or that makes me suffer.
We make too little use of this form of activity, or to be more precise, of this capacity of our consciousness. We would be much better off if we learned to think about ourselves and reflect on ourselves. Various forms of meditation prove to be extremely useful and valuable tools that can lead us from a world full of contradictions and confusion to a world of well-being and joy. This kind of meditation requires learning, especially learning to be honest with yourself, and it also requires a certain courage to question yourself. It is important to learn to distinguish between toxic and positive thoughts. Toxic thoughts, such as feelings of guilt and inferiority, need to be identified, released and processed.
Once overcome, one can think and act with greater power and sincerity.
Meditation must be nourished by its inner need.
Another support for reflection is contact with good feelings. When you reflect and consciously make contact with good feelings, the process is more effective and the resulting insights are more positive and integrative.
This is true of all three types of meditation. It is often taken for granted that the main thing is to master a difficult technique. But that is not enough.
The effectiveness of a technique depends on the extent to which you can activate your emotional and mental experience. There is a fundamental difference between performing a technique according to a textbook and meditating with full devotion and affection. When you put your full affection into the meditation process, a much greater mobilisation of your inner power takes place and profound things happen. This mobilisation of emotional and spiritual experience, the involvement of the heart, is essential to all the techniques discussed and is the real challenge. A purely mechanical application of the technique will not have a profound effect.
Years of practice are not enough. Actions must have real meaning and be driven by a deep inner desire. Only, when a desire arises sincerely from the heart, such as the desire for reconciliation, will a guided meditation on the subject be approached with the right attitude.
Reconciliation is not achieved by applying a technique, but by activating the heart. Techniques are necessary, but without the involvement of the heart, true reconciliation cannot take place. Techniques alone are not effective. This is true of yoga practices, mental meditation techniques and concentration exercises to create mental stillness. It is the heart that brings about change. When you reflect on yourself, free of toxicity, and activate the good, you find wonderful things within.
Why meditate?
The ultimate question is: Why do you meditate? What are you looking for, what do you need? Maybe you have a lot of stress in your life and you are looking for some peace, so you turn to meditation. That’s a very reasonable approach. But you can go further. If you are looking for something meaningful to enlighten your life, a spiritual or mystical experience, meditation offers you a way to go deeper into these dimensions. Meditation can be more than a method of stress management: it can open the door to profound insights and a fuller perception of yourself and the world around you.
These profound experiences can be achieved in one of several ways. By reflecting daily on the meaning of life, your existence, and your direction, you can also come to this understanding. This search, this desire for a different kind of experience, and this sincere interest can lead to very meaningful experiences. It is about discovering a deeper connection with your inner self and the Universe and gaining insights far beyond everyday understanding.
There are many myths and confusions about meditation. You may ask yourself; how can I tell if meditation is really good for me? To answer this question, there are several clear signs.
For one thing, meditation should give you more clarity and contribute to your well-being. Gaining clarity means becoming more self-aware. You become more aware of yourself and certain aspects of your being that may have remained hidden, both positive and negative.
It should also make you feel good. It is important that you feel better in everyday life. An increase in wellbeing should manifest itself in the way you treat others and yourself better. This wellbeing manifests itself in your interpersonal relationships. If you do not begin to treat others with more kindness, understanding, and compassion – as well as yourself – then meditation is not fulfilling its purpose.
It is about developing coherence by harmonising what you feel, thinks and do. The aim is to treat yourself and those around you better. If so, congratulations, your meditation practice is working.
This explanation of meditation techniques is inspired by Juan Espinosa’s video Meditation and the types that exist.
