I’m always surprised by peoples’ objections to meditation—by all the reasons they aren’t interested.
They think it’s boring, or pointless, or that they need to become a Buddhist.
They think it’s all about relaxing. Or that meditation is somehow an end in itself.
I get it.
If all that were true, I wouldn’t do it either.
But meditation isn’t a demonstration of faith.
It isn’t representative of any particular belief.
You aren’t committing to an ideology.
It isn’t just a pretentious way to kick back and relax.
And it certainly isn’t an end in itself.
(Any more than dieting is an end in itself… Do you diet because you just really enjoy the experience of not eating food??)
Yes, Buddhists meditate. Yes, meditation is a part of many religions. Yes, there are lots of gurus who want you to convert…
So what?
Buddhists also eat food.
Food is a sacred part of many religions.
And there are approximately eleventy billion vegans who want you to convert.
And yet, here you are… wanton and defiant. Eating each and every day.
As if eating food has nothing to do with any of those things.
Well… meditation doesn’t either.
All a meditation is, is a technique that helps you move from one state of mind to another.
That’s it.
You are in one state… you meditate… your consciousness moves… you end up in a different state.
That’s all.
No religion. No belief. No boring, pointless routine.
It doesn’t sound like much…
But it might be the most important skill you ever learn.
Because consciousness is the key to damn near everything.
Not because “everything is consciousness.”
Not because “everything is connected.”
But simply because consciousness is the common denominator in everything you’ll ever do, or think, or be.
Think about it like this…
No matter what you are doing, you are in some state of mind or another.
Whether you are happy, or anxious, or sleepy, or feeling connected, or dreaming, or having a moment of clarity, or anything else you can think of—your state of consciousness is ultimately responsible for the experience you are having.
Not your environment. Not your company. Not your station in life.
Your own consciousness.
That’s why some people can stay happy and optimistic, even when things are falling apart.
Because it’s more about what’s going on inside you, than what’s going on around you.
Most people emphasize the opposite…
They remain passive on the inside and focus on trying to control the world around them. By controlling others, or controlling the situations they put themselves into, or trying to control the quantum wavefunction using New Age affirmations. (Ugh.)
There’s nothing inherently wrong with trying to steer your life in the direction you want.
But focusing all of your efforts on controlling the rest of the world—while neglecting to exercise any control over your own mind—is a really poor way to do it!
Even when you can’t control your environment… which, you might as well admit it, is most of the time…
If you want to change what you are experiencing—then changing your own state of consciousness is the most effective course of action.
It doesn’t even matter what kind of experience you are looking for…
Maybe you want to be more present. Maybe you want to be less anxious.
Maybe you have insomnia and just want to go the fuck to sleep.
Any time you move from one experience to another, you are changing states of consciousness.
You can change randomly, at the whim of your environment.
Or you can stop drifting, take up a contemplative practice, and start exercising some intentionality.
Stop drifting.
Start flying.
That’s it.
That’s why you need a contemplative practice.
Even if you aren’t a spiritual person.
As long as you are a conscious person—then you have an unspeakable amount to gain.
Because you will be taking an active role in directing the one part of your life that touches everything in your life.
You don’t have to explore spiritual states of consciousness if you don’t want to.
Personally, I don’t know why you wouldn’t…
Saying, “I don’t want to experience a rapturous state of unity,” is a bit like saying, “I don’t want to experience the most profound, intense orgasm of my entire life.”
But hey… to each their own.
If you just want more focus and less stress, cool… Do that.
It’s a good place to start.
And it’s way better than drifting.
But if you’re one of those people who will never be satisfied with normal…
If you have that irrepressible longing inside you, urging you to deeper things…
If some horizon is calling you, but you aren’t sure how to get there…
Then this is the path you’ve been longing for.
It’s been right here all along. Waiting patiently…
Right behind your eyes.
So what’s the catch?
What’s the downside?
Like any skill worth having, a contemplative practice takes work.
It requires thought, and courage, and curiosity.
And passion doesn’t hurt.
There are no shortcuts. No passive paths to mastery. No secret laws of nature poised to sweep you up and reward you for your open mind and best intentions.
It’s like learning a sport, or martial art, or a musical instrument.
You can do it.
You don’t need to feel super-spiritual, or “tuned in,” or all insightful and evolved. (In fact, you’re better off if you don’t.)
But it does require some effort and commitment.
How much depends on how far you want to go.
Anyone can learn chopsticks on the piano in a matter of minutes.
A six year old can leap right into a karate class for kids.
And if you just want to de-stress and be mindful, a few pointers and a quick timeout will get you on your way.
If that’s all you need, then what I’m talking about is overkill.
I’m talking about learning Beethoven… and then composing your own symphony.
I’m talking about getting your black belt… and then becoming Bruce fucking Lee.
I’m talking about becoming the person that YOU aspire to be…
Right now, there is some stubborn spark—some vagrant destiny—trying to burn it’s way out of you.
This is the way.
You think I’m kidding, but I’m not.
You think I’m exaggerating, but I’m not.
You can do it.
You are capable of far more than you realize.
If you liked this post, please consider sharing, along with a brief comment of what you thought… It doesn’t sound like much. But these small gestures make a tremendous impact on building our community, and helping other wayward rebels find a perspective that they can resonate with.
And if it spoke to you, why not Join the Tribe? It's free.. And this is just one tiny piece of more than two decades of impassioned work...... And YOU probably belong here with the rest of us!!
In any case, thanks so much for stopping by! – \m/ – Z
About Zach Herbert
I teach people to do cool things with their consciousness, and break their brains with beautiful ideas.
Professional heretic. Unlikely mystic. Host to rebels, misfits and independent thinkers.
Find out more here. And follow me on Facebook at:
Tara says
I have been interested in incorporating meditation into my daily routine, but have felt like I didn’t have the time. After reading this I know I need to make it priority. Thank you for the impactful words, Zach!
Gemma Reeves says
Honestly I’m almost evangelical in my passion for meditation 🙂 it’s changed my life…really!
I sought it out initially as a way of finding some healing and escape from a rough time I was going through but what I found was sooo much more!
I’m finding my spirituality.. Trying to expand on it and having some experiences that sometimes make me wonder if I’m going crazy lol..it’s great!!
I really miss doing it if I’ve had a couple of busy days and gone without.
Great article.
Cindy Travis says
Hey Zach, do you do any personal one on one coaching-teaching? I’ve been meditating daily for 20 years and going nowhere. It’s fucking frustrating as hell.
Zach Herbert says
Hey Cindy! Not quite yet, but I plan to do (a very little bit of) one-on-one coaching after the beginning of the new year.. If you want to send me your contact info, I’ll give you a heads up before I post the page. [Update: the page is here.]
kelly ann chase says
I’m not even sure how I got here….I’m glad I did. 🙂 Everything I have read intrigues me…both the content and the “voice” it’s written (style maybe). It feels like I’m having a conversation with an old friend or a new friend that I feel an instant connection with. Thank you! Disclaimer: I have been called a hippie plenty. I have also been called “worse” things 😉 …a friend who most always calls me “hippie Girl” was at a Fancy dinner/ Country Club type banquet thing That I was also at. I like to stretch the formal attire requests to the limit, if I play by those “rules” at all. On this occasion however, I think I fit the bill quite accordingly, looked the part for a fancy golf banquet (did you know there are places that will not let you golf without a collard shirt? wtf?) Anyway, while at this function, a couple walked by us in jeans and t-shirt/tank-top. They were the only people I saw that day not in “costume” for the event. My friend looks at me and says, “see that, those are real hippies”!! I looked at him and said, “I wouldn’t know, I try not to label people….especially based on what they’re wearing”. 😉 <3
I was going to apologize for possibly leaving this comment in the wrong thread… but I really tend to be "all over the boards" in all avenues of life most of the time. It's who I authentically am, for now. Meditation is gonna be a fucking bitch huh? 😉 All the best things are. Thanks again!! PS, when I was in high school a friend told me "the IN thing this year, is to be a non-conformist" LOL… and for whatever reason, that quote keeps coming to mind on your site. Enjoy your day. PSS, I liked this site just from the picture and tagline, as you described, I like it more now I'm exploring it!!
Liliana Avalos says
I’ve never meditated. Any advice on how to accomplish this? How long is recommended? Any tips you can share?
Tammy White says
I think that I have way too much stuff going on inside my mind to be still long enough to meditate. How do I clear this out or calm it down?
Zach Herbert says
Sometimes it isn’t about being still or calming down. Sometimes it’s about putting your awareness to work in a different way.. Like taking a restless kid who’s been cooped up and not allowed to move, and setting them in motion in a more productive way.
Krista says
Thanks. This is a great site and vision, Zach. I am of fiery spirit, introspective, have transcendental experiences yet am not into not too much nonsense when I know there is a way cooler way to explain things. I am very happy to have stumbled upon this platform. I was thinking in these terms for a looooooong time and you are helping put some of my thoughts into more refined words. You and your work get my vote of confidence, man!
Krista says
Oops! Typo, “not into too much nonsense…”
Alex W. Anderson says
The key to meditation unlocks more strength and flexibility of your consciousness, in the same way that working out/exercising increases muscle tone, range of motion, and knowledge of how the body functions.
Cheers to freedom of movement
Demo says
Thanks brother! This is definitely a realistic view to my unrealistic expectations. I live too much in the mind and not enough in the now.
Jeremybullock says
Dude, I feel like this could be my website! The things I read here sound like they came straight out of my head. I to have spent the past 20+ years investigating all of these concepts and have come to the same freaking conclusions. It’s almost eery how close this comes to my own personal philosophy that I’ve created over the years. I started out in my teens learning how to meditate as I was looking for some sort of mystical explosion into the light. After years of practicing I began to wonder if this was all just bullshit until I began to notice how my thinking was different in my every day waking life. I began to see actual, tangible changes in how my mind operated as I went about my day.
Anyway, thanks for this site my friend. I look forward to Future interactions and would love the opportunity to contribute if possible. I am an aspiring writer and I think we could collaborate and create some pretty awesome shit????
Mestizap says
Hey, where am I? I can finally relate to what you are saying. However, I have been doing mostly guided meditations and some people say it is not the same. Once in awhile lately I have been just listening to Meditation music with my eyes closed and feeling renewed. I read Thich Nhat Hanhm The Miracle of Mindfulness where he says that you can meditate when you wash the dishes, and even when you take a walk..
Honestly Meditation changed my life, I went back to school at age 46 and graduated in 4 years because I truly believed and used a powerful ancient sound meditation. I started with Wayne Dyer, You Can Manifest your Destiny, Deepak Chopra, Soul of Healing Meditation, Louise Hay back in the 70’sm while today I listen to Kelly Howell, The Secret Universal Meditation.. I can fall asleep to it, as it goes to my subconscious.
I started with Bio-Touch, where I leaned about healing and merridians. Then took my first Reiki class. Next, I found Deeksha and took a class to be a Deeksha/One Blessing giver. Deeksha is a teaching from India. Finally, Got my Reiki Master completed last year followed by my Karuna Reiki Master this past January. I also use sage palo santo for clearing, cleansing and for relaxation in my Reiki sessions. So I burn sage and palo santo to purify and for protection, and use a Singing Crystal Bowl, called an Abuelita o (Grandmother) .
Some people call me a combination of names that are flattering and some I do not wish to acknowledge.
Basically people are afraid of me, that I might curse them, but I am a Light worker and do not work in darkness. Most people do not have a clue what any of the things I have mention above are.
So I’m way out there! Especially now with so much uncertainty and that scientist have discovered the Universe is moving at a faster speed than they thought. Are we going to crash, anytime soon? Or could it be the Quickening?
I felt a shift just writing this. Thank you.
CelestialTraveler says
I love love love this post. You tell it like it is Zach. Like with most, if not, possibly all religions, I feel some spiritual people go by the book. I really love what you said: “They remain passive on the inside and focus on trying to control the world around them. By controlling others, or controlling the situations they put themselves into, or trying to control the quantum wavefunction using New Age affirmations. (Ugh.)”
I gave up myself to the universe years ago. I quit fighting and trying to control my destiny. I work with what the universe gives me as if it’s intentional rather than go against what’s going on. A lot of people could use this advice. I feel that most of what happens in my life, the universe has intended to happen. Finding love much later in life than others, moving out much later in life than others, I feel it’s the plan the universe has. Good things happen to those who wait.
Serenity says
Very insightful.. I had to share????