Is Meditation For Everyone? (open discussion, all views welcome)

This is a casual discussion event open to all views and perspectives. Respect for others is a must (or at least try).

I often hear about people saying how great meditation is. If I can be frank, I just don’t get it. Is it something I’m doing wrong? Do you need to do it a few times to get the full experience? Is Meditation for Everyone?

Is it even clear what “Meditation” really is? When I look it up I see some slightly different definitions that may seem minor but to me changes the meaning entirely. Here are a few examples:
Betterhealth: “The deliberate focusing of attention to bring about feelings of calm and heightened energy and awareness.”
Merriam-Webster: “Engaging in contemplating or reflection”
Cambridge: “The act of giving your attention to only one thing, either as a religious activity or as a way of becoming calm and relaxed”

There’s a mix of what the act of meditation entails, and the purpose/goal/intent behind of meditation. When asking if it is for everyone, it could be whether some people are not capable of performing meditation properly, or some people are not religious or not in need of any relaxation technique.

I was once asked to “just try it”, and so I did. It was the most boring 15 minutes of my life. Maybe I just didn’t do it right. I sat eyes closed, complete silence and thought about nothing. However I was bored, so I must have been thinking about how bored I was so I guess I didn’t really clear my mind. But you can’t just ask someone to be not bored!!!
I am religious and I do pray, but I’ve been scolded for suggesting they are the same or similar. Perhaps there are some common goals between the two practices, but which one is more effective? I would say prayer is more effective for a few reasons; mainly that it makes more sense that your Peace or Enlightenment is coming from out outside source rather than from within. I don’t think we are perpetual enlightenment machines.

Sometimes I wonder if the people who do say how great meditation is are just putting on an act… I will pray over it.

What are your thoughts? Come join us for a fun discussion! All views and beliefs welcome the more diversity of opinions the better.

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