MEDITATION IS A WORD, and words are used in different ways by different speakers. This may seem like a trivial point, but it is not. Now that we have discussed what MEDITATION ISN'T, let's see what it REALLY is...
11: MEDITATION AND ALL MY PROBLEMS WILL GO AWAY
Meditation is tough in some respects, requiring a long discipline and a sometimes painful process of practice. At each sitting you gain some results, but they are often very subtle.
10: YOU SIT AROUND THINKING LOFTY THOUGHTS.
Vipassana is the practice of awareness, awareness of whatever is there, be it supreme truth or trivial trash. What is there, is there.
9.- MEDITATION IS SELFISH.
The meditator’s intention is to purge her own mind of anger, prejudice, and ill will, and she is actively engaged in the process of getting rid of greed, tension, and insensitivity.
8.- MEDITATION IS A GREAT WAY TO GET HIGH
Meditation does produce lovely blissful feelings sometimes. But they are not the purpose, and they don’t always occur.
7.- MEDITATION IS RUNNING AWAY FROM REALITY
Meditation is running straight into reality. It does not insulate you from the pain of life but rather allows you to delve so deeply into life and all its aspects that you pierce the pain barrier and go beyond suffering.
6.- MEDITATION IS FOR SAINTS AND SADHUS
Meditation teaches you how to disentangle yourself from the thought process. It is the mental art of stepping out of your own way, and that’s a pretty useful skill in everyday life.
5.- MEDITATION IS DANGEROUS, AND A PRUDENT PERSON SHOULD AVOID IT
Everything is dangerous. Walk across the street and you may get hit by a bus. Take a shower and you could break your neck. Meditate, and you will probably dredge up various nasty matters from your past.
4.- THE PURPOSE OF MEDITATION IS TO BECOME PSYCHIC
Levitation is not the goal. The goal is liberation. There is a link between psychic phenomena and meditation, but the relationship is complex.
3.- MEDITATION IS A MYSTERIOUS PRACTICE
Meditation is not a mindless formula that gives automatic and predictable results; you can never really predict exactly what will come up during any particular session.
Cats of the Night 