Discover the Difference Between Meditation & Guided Visualization

Mada Eliza Dalian explains the difference between meditation and guided visualization, followed by a brief meditation.

Transcript

Today we will look at the difference between meditation and guided visualization.

As you listen,

Take this opportunity to connect with your inner being by observing your inhalation and exhalation.

Meditation and guided visualization are fundamentally different approaches to the reality of our human existence.

Most people,

Though well familiar with the word meditation,

Have little understanding or experience of what meditation truly is.

Especially in the Western culture,

People confuse the two thinking that guided visualization is the same as meditation.

The essential difference between guided visualization and meditation is that guided visualization engages the mind and meditation observes the mind.

Guided visualization,

Which is also often described as guided meditation,

Uses your imagination to visualize achieving a certain state such as distressing or relaxing.

With guided visualization,

You try to change the existing reality and create a new one based on your perception of what is good and what is bad.

You try to imagine something positive,

Replacing something negative.

Though guided visualization is helpful for healing,

Relaxation or changing negative thoughts into positive ones,

In a way it still keeps you in the mind and its illusion of good and bad,

Positive and negative.

Though guided visualization will temporarily improve how you feel,

It will still keep you identified with one part of your mind,

Forcing you to deny the opposite part.

Meditation does not use imagination or the mind.

It does not deny any part of the mind.

It simply observes the duality of the mind.

The essence of meditation is a simple witnessing of what is.

It is an alert observation of whatever is happening in the present without mental or emotional engagement.

Meditation is simply a process of observation,

Of witnessing of what you are thinking or feeling without reaction or judgment.

In other words,

Meditation is a detached,

Non-judgmental observation of reality without qualifying it right or wrong,

Good or bad.

By simply observing your breath coming in and going out,

Your awareness begins to settle in the silent center of your being.

From this place,

You become conscious that all your positive and negative thoughts,

Judgments,

Desires,

Fears,

Stress,

Anger,

Sadness and even happiness constantly change and move like passing clouds.

By seeing the impermanent nature of your thoughts and emotions,

You understand that your pain and suffering are merely created by your mind and its judgments.

When you watch your beliefs,

Conditionings and attachments to your thoughts,

Emotions,

People and things,

You realize that you are not your story but the observer of the story.

All your problems begin to naturally drop away when you start to meditate and disidentify from your thoughts,

Emotions and beliefs.

This kind of meditation practice begins to spontaneously and permanently transform your inner turmoil,

Stress,

Insecurity and anxiety.

Through detached observation of what is,

You jump out of the duality of your thoughts and emotions and experience the silent stillness of your being.

The good news is that your ability to witness is innate even though you might have forgotten about it.

Witnessing is an integral part of the inner consciousness of your being.

You become aware of the silent presence of your inner being with each moment of witnessing no matter how brief it is.

Through the practice of meditation and self-observation,

You become aware that you are a pure consciousness.

Your consciousness is the center of your being eternally.

It is never born and never dies.

It is within you always even when you are asleep.

Once you know you are nothing but consciousness,

You are healed out of suffering.

Just as regular exercise is essential for our physical health,

Meditation is essential for our mental,

Emotional and spiritual health.

Learning to meditate and reinforce your ability to observe is like a muscle that you must strengthen.

A dedicated meditation practice will strengthen this muscle.

It will also spontaneously bring you to the relaxation,

Inner peace and happiness that you seek.

Increasing your ability to witness will improve your health,

Strengthen your self-confidence and deepen your understanding of yourself and others.

It will help you learn your life lessons,

Open your heart and feel grateful for your life and the opportunities within it.

Now let's take a few moments to observe what is.

Sit comfortably with your back straight,

Take a deep breath in and fully exhale out through your mouth.

Repeat this a few more times.

Now relax your breathing and simply start observing your breath going in and out.

You can observe your breath coming in and out either in your nostrils or by observing your belly going in and out.

As you watch your inhalation and exhalation,

Simultaneously begin watching what is happening inside.

Watch your thoughts coming in and out,

Watch your body sensations and stay focused watching your breathing.

Continue watching your breath coming in and going out.

Breathing in,

Breathing out.

Breathing in,

Breathing out.

So watch the gaps between your inhalation and exhalation.

And that you are simply the witness of whatever is happening in this moment.

You are witnessing your breathing,

You are witnessing your thoughts,

You are witnessing how you feel,

You are witnessing your body sensations while your focus remains on watching your breath.

Take 5 to 10 minutes each day to practice observing your breath and strengthening your ability to watch your thoughts and emotions.

In the next podcast,

I will speak about different meditation techniques and will elaborate on the difference between active and passive meditations.

Until then,

Namaste and may peace be with you always.

Reviews

So interesting! I never realized or knew the difference or even that there was a difference...THANK YOU! ☀️🙏

Descriptive in a guided meditation tone and pace. I enjoyed the clarity and economy of language used. Lovely first for me from her. Truly blessed to have found this as it is simple enough to share with all.

Love these short and sweet lessons anyone can do!

Excellent, thanks for sharing such a clear way to understand the fundamental differences. A big topic made delightfully simple. My sincere gratitude. Namaste 🙏 💕🌈🦋

I really enjoyed this. Thank you for explaining the difference of the two. 🙏💕

Thanks for the explaining because I’m been doing the guided visualization and realize I’ve been ready for meditation for a long while. To sit and observe is only thing you need to do. Thanks

So simply put! I understand now... thank you.

A wonderful explanation!! 🙏🏽🦋🕉

I I know so little about meditation and this was a wonderful piece of information. Thank you

May peace be with you, as well. Heartful thanks ! ♥

Even after years of successful meditation...there are periods when it is hard to settle, to observe vs getting involved. You've helped me recall the basics. I dont mind beginning again. This time....the rewards are known and I am sure will combine with prior realizations and wisdom building.
Thank you. Namaste.

Very concise. Thank you .

Loved it!! I've always wandered about this and these words hit my own conclusions. Thank you

Thank you for this.

Great explanation, in simple terms where all can understand. Thank you for this guided meditation /explanation.

Thank you for that clarification. Very helpful!

Beautiful explanation! Nice close with short meditation 😊.

Thank you.
That was very clear and easy to follow.

Very Good explanation! I was Impressed!

Very educational for me. thank u