For the most part, people who have attempted to meditate find the practice relaxing and pleasant. But what’s the point? Since “real life” is not as peaceful as the quiet, incense-infused, tranquil space of meditation, what is actually being accomplished by sitting in a funny position for 10 minutes?

 

While many people misunderstand meditation as a temporary escape from reality, a place to “forget all their worries”, this is NOT the point of meditation at all.

 

For the purpose of clinical psychology, the point of meditation is to develop and practice an approach to life to be applied during all of one’s waking hours. Meditation is not to be understood as an escape from reality, but as an effort to align oneself with reality. If one can access the truth of the situation, one is best able to effectively manage it.

 

When training oneself to “peacefully witness” thoughts, emotions and urges without “attaching” to them, one is developing the skill of effective and peaceful management of human perception.

 

Applying the lessons learning during the meditation session in our "real life" IS the point of meditation practice. Otherwise, meditation will be used as an "escape" from reality only - an attitude that "real life" is too overwhelming to deal with.