What Does Meditation Do? (Part II)

In my last post entitled "What Does Meditation Do?" I said that the primary purpose of meditation is to quiet the mind. I take that back. There are many things that meditation does and they all fit together into one experience and break down into many. Another thing that meditation does is that it brings awareness to how the mind functions. When you meditate you are observing your mind. You put yourself above your mind instead of unconsciously existing within it.

The Two Minds Of Meditation

Sometimes it seems like there are two minds while I am meditating. There is the mind that sneaks in and gets me to think about random things. There is also the "larger" mind that observes this "little" mind of distractions. I tend to associate the "larger" mind with the true self, the soul, that part of the self that exists below or beyond the programing of the little mind. I say programing because it is an accumulation of code amassed throughout the lifetime. It seems this code's primary purpose is protection on a macro (i.e., species) level. I've spoken about this in other posts. But also protection on a micro (i.e., individual level). This is how shame develops. The larger mind observes this happening but often falls asleep and the little mind becomes the only mind. When this happens the self becomes absorbed into the little mind. That becomes the only reality.

Why Shouldn't I Compare Myself To Others?

Any comparison you make between yourself and someone else will always be false because no two people had the same experience growing up. Therefore, the mental programings (i.e., the minds) of different people will always react differently to the same situations based upon their past experiences. As such it makes no logical sense to feel bad about yourself based on a comparison between yourself and another person. This is just the mind trying to protect you albeit in a dysfunctional manner. This is protection on a macro or species level. Jealousy begets competition which weeds out the weak and increases the overall chance that the species will survive.

As such, the next time you notice yourself comparing yourself to another person, acknowledge this is what is happening then say your meaningful word internally and move on.

Why Does The Mind Do What It Does?

It is my understanding that the mind is programed to avoid situations that are uncomfortable. This programming started when you were born and has been continuously edited ever since. As you get older less and less editing is done unless you actively seek to edit this programing through meditation or psychotherapy (for example). This programing exists as a survival tool. The less discomfort you experience, the more likely you will be to survive and reproduce. Our physical bodies are here because our progenitors possessed this programming. In that sense it is a good thing and should not be judged to harshly.

Some (probably most) of this programming was brought about through childhood trauma. This programming may be useful on a macro level (i.e., it increases the likelihood that you will continue to live long enough to reproduce), but on a micro level manifests itself in dysfunctional ways. For example, if a child is shamed he will seek to avoid situations where will be shamed in the future. This protects him from shaming but prevents him from fully living his life.