Why is Meditation so Important for Enlightenment?

In my previous article, I mentioned the main benefits of meditation: relaxation, a clear and energetic mind, heightened awareness, sensitivity to positive and negative energy, calmness and peace, the ability to detect states of consciousness, discovering and resolving internal conflict, and increased productivity. Today I want to talk about my latest findings and why meditation is becoming an even more important part of my daily life.

The first lesson, and one that proved very profound, was the importance of reinforcing positive thinking. The old adage, “you are what you eat” and the Buddhist quote, “what you think, you become”, perfectly express the idea that: you alone determine who you are. This is something I’ve been pondering for quite some time and the realization I met with, was that I alone, stand in my way. That my happiness, contentment, and purpose in life, is clouded by my own mind. And this realization reveals that while it may be difficult to always see, you alone determine whether or not the external world can affect you. Even when bills are due and work is stressful, only you determine whether or not they upset you. It is a difficult realization to apply, but through meditation you can successfully achieve it.

So with this thinking comes the idea that reinforcing positive thinking is the obvious path. If we get to choose how to experience life, than why not experience it content and happy? And the importance of this lesson escaped me until very recently. I was meditating to my new favorite song on YouTube and it resulted in this incredibly intense and uplifting wave of positive energy. I literally teared up as I felt myself letting go of all my emotional and psychological burdens. Warmth and contentment, like I had never experienced before, filled my body and I felt at peace with the universe. It was so powerful that I felt unconditional love for all life on this planet. Anyone could have approached me, friend, family, or stranger, and I would have hugged them lovingly and done anything I could to help them. It was both strange and wonderful, and it was this moment when I realized the importance of the lesson above. That if, through meditation, one could recall this feeling, you would spend the rest of your days happy and content. Willing and excited to lend a hand to anyone in need.

Note: reinforcement is based on the theory that through consistent practice, one will weaken the neurons of your past self and strengthen new, positive ones. I explain this in more detail here. Also, vary your meditation times, locations, rituals, etc. Sometimes a minor change can result in a totally different meditative experience. Exs. before sleep, after a nap, with and without tea/coffee, wearing different clothes, listening to different music and sounds, etc.

There is one problem with positive thinking though, and it’s something I’ve personally worried about and observed. It’s this idea that the best creativity comes from suffering. I’ve noticed that when I feel depressed and lonely, I channel my darkness into whatever I happen to be working on. And you see this best in music. Bands will produce brilliant works of art in their early albums and the moment they get famous, their future albums dive. It’s like a switch gets flipped and the motivation to end your suffering kills your creativity. Joe Rogan and friends have also mentioned it as comedians. They admit to a superstition where any alteration or improvement in their routines may destroy their ability to write new and compelling content. It is a real concern because so much brilliance seems to come from those dark times. I’ve even wondered what will happen upon becoming enlightened. Will the urge and ability to unravel the mysteries of the universe end?

Another retrospective element of meditation comes from the successful integration of practice into your daily life. Often times I will hear individuals complaining about their life and the many stressors we find within. And I always think to myself, “wow, that would be awful to experience all that negativity without meditation, especially when you believe so ardently that it is real.” So much pain and suffering could be mitigated simply by meditating, yet so many do not heed its relevance. I urge you, reader, to carefully consider what it is you may be missing.

So, the title of the this post asks, “why is meditation so important for enlightenment?” I cannot possibly provide a complete and articulate answer that will convince you one way or another. I doubt it’s even possible to adequately describe it without writing an entire book. But I will at least provide this: meditation is a tool that provides a distracted mind with a moment of calmness in which they can hopefully glimpse reality. It is a statistical thing, like loot drops in World of Warcraft. You raid week after week with the hope that your gear drops, and it takes much time for it to happen (unless you’re lucky). Meditation is similar. You will meditate day after day, perhaps frustrated with the results, but eventually your loot will drop and realization will form within your mind. And when it does all the rewards of enlightenment will begin to stream within. And once you have it, it will all seem so obvious, and you will wonder how you never saw it before. A surreal and wondrous world will open up before you and your journey will begin. But be wary, because the path is dark and uncertain, and even if you begin it, you may never reach the end. There are distractions and obstacles that will fight you mercilessly and without rest. But the tool of meditation will always remain with you, ready to conquer whatever comes its way.