What Meditation is Not - Lesson #2 (Meditation is a Trancelike State)

Certainly in some practices, meditation aims forare striving for. So again, a trance would not help
and culminates in the meditator being transfixed inus attain that goal.
a "trance". However, with Insight meditation this isWhen you think of being in a trance you typically
not the case. It is true that a deep relaxation isthink of hypnosis where the person in the trance
realized and a euphoric state can be experienced,can be controlled by the hypnotist. The only
but again the goal in Insight meditation is muchperson controlling us in Insight meditation is our
higher.own being. And that again is what we're striving
Actually, with Insight meditation, we becomefor. Meditation when practiced regularly, provides
more attuned to our consciousness, not glazedus the skills to handle life's experiences in a more
over in a trance. We are actually striving for afulfilling way. Food taste better, smells are
more awakened and vivid state. Vipassana andsweeter and overall experiences are just
Insight meditation uses concentration as a tool tomagnified in their brilliance. We're more objective
more heightened awareness. Insight meditationand not as judgmental and our actions in what
allows one a more attuned state to one's owncould be knee-jerk situations are held in check.
emotional changes. If you've ever seen the movieIt's truly amazing what a regular practice of
"The Matrix" you saw how the lead charactermeditation can provide us as humans and sitting in
was able to slow down the perception of time toa trancelike state is definitely not the road to
better enable him to deal with events he wasbecoming an experienced meditator.
experiencing. That to some degree is what we