JM

 Meditn v spacing out 

This is an excellent question!

It brings up a contradiction that a lot of meditation instructions contain.

The usual instructions go something like this:

1. Sit quietly with a reasonably straight posture.
2. Try not to think about all of your problems at once.
3. A meditation object like a mantra might help you with this.
4. With practice, you will reach a state of profound rest mixed with incredible clarity.
5. Once you find this state, you can let go of your object and just be.
6. This state is endless - there is no limit to how deep you can go.
7. Avoid trance-states and spacing out.

What?

Step #7 doesn’t make any sense.

They just told me to sink into profound rest; now they’re telling me not to space out?

The fault is with how the instructions are given.

This bit of instruction should appear in step #3.

A meditation object can help us avoid worrying andspacing out.

Would it surprise you to learn that the state of profound rest is much deeper than the “relaxation” of spacing out?

When you space out, you engage in a form of mind-wandering that’s a little less energized than worrying.

Think of it as a transitional state.

The open awareness you will eventually find is a much deeper state.

Its signature is incredible stillness and clarity.