An Unpopular Truth: Concentration Precedes Meditation

We've got it all backwards. We are putting the cart before the horse — and nobody questions it.

Today, I’m challenging a widely accepted belief: that meditation teaches us concentration. But we've got it all backwards — and we wonder why we’re not peaceful.

We are putting the cart before the horse.

We’re trying to meditate before learning how to concentrate.

Sitting still, closing our eyes and focusing on our breath is no doubt a pleasant way to relax — and be present, for a moment. However, it isn’t the same as being clear-headed, focused and available throughout your day.

Think of a businessman burdened with all sorts of problems. He’s stressed, he can’t sleep, he’s exhausted. His wife arranges a picnic by the lake. He lies down under a tree and, within moments, he falls asleep.

When he wakes, he tells his wife that he has had the best sleep in months, perhaps even years.

What happened?

The environment lent him its calm, lulling him to sleep.

But did he learn how to sleep?

No.

The moment he returns to his usual environment, all his problems are still there. The restlessness and stress come back as quickly as you can say 'Jack Robinson'.

And this is just like modern meditation.

You sit in a quiet room, close your eyes, remove all distractions and create an environment conducive to calm. And for those few minutes, you feel peaceful.

But what happens when you open your eyes?

The phone rings. The traffic’s heavy. You’re interrupted. Someone says something that annoys you.

Where did your peace go?

If your presence depends on physical stillness and closed eyes, how useful is that when you return to everyday life?

Somewhere along the way, we have forgotten how to pay attention.

Thanks to modern technology, smartphones and social media, our minds have become scattered with too many desires and distractions.

And the solution we’re given is to meditate.

Sit quietly. Close your eyes. Focus on your breath.

Breathe…

I mean, do we really need to be told to breathe? Is this really how far we’ve fallen? Have we become so distracted that we now need an app to remind us to inhale and exhale?

We don’t need another technique. We need to learn how to pay attention — and this requires concentration.

In this short video, I explain how to make your mind calm, so you can concentrate — and be present at all times, not just sometimes.

Thank you for reading and watching.

Till next time,
Be Well, 
Meredith ∞ The Elder Sage