The year 2022 has shown an influx of technology that claims to help people detach, retrospect – meditate. A simple search of the word ‘meditation’ on Google will get you a surge of apps that claim to help you achieve mindfulness. These popular apps include Headspace, Calm, Mindfulness, Buddhify, among others, and you might be stunned to learn that a majority of these apps are actually not Indian in origin. This innovate technology is taking the world by the storm, and India is slowly but steadily joining in too.
While most of us might think of the idea of using our phones to meditate as absurd, Andy Puddicombe, the monk-turned-entrepreneur behind Headspace—a popular meditation app—thinks otherwise. As he put it on a recent TV appearance, “for most of us, the phone is the most stressful thing in our life—and I love the paradox in that, the irony. The phone’s a piece of plastic, a piece of metal, a piece of glass. It’s not good or bad…We define the relationship with the phone. I love the idea that the phone can actually serve up something really good, that’s good for our health.”
But does fitness, wellness and well-being guru Mickey Mehta agree?
APPS TO DETACH
To give a brief introduction to said-apps, they principally work on guided meditation, and follow a daily schedule that the user follows. They blend helpful technology with meditation techniques and are simple, easy and convenient to use for a user anytime, anywhere. ‘Meditation’ sessions typically last for three to 25 minutes daily, and most users of these apps claim to be very impressed with this technology.
But first, Mickey talks about what meditation is exactly. “Meditation is being. It is a state, and not condition of mind. When one meditates, one is being one with oneself, he/ she is not doing anything per se. Mindfulness is just another way of explaining what meditation means. When you are achieving mindfulness, you are actually clearing your head of any thoughts; you become anchored or rooted to your soul. To explain simply, meditation brings you joy and not happiness. Joy is a state of mind while happiness is a fleeting feeling, it’s gone once the moment is passes.”
He uses the analogy of a lotus. Just like a lotus thrives despite being surrounded by muck, a mind that is calm is not easily disturbed by any occurrence.
But the real question is, can these meditation apps help achieve this state of mind?
CONS
“When these apps are telling you to do one thing or another, or to think a certain way, they are actually defeating the very purpose of meditation. Meditation is being, not doing,” Says Mickey. “Using technology to achieve mindfulness is not organic, not personalized, and can never take the place of a meditation guru who will guide a person to meditate. One should also beware the addictive nature of these apps, they should aide you, not become your crutch.”
One must understand that meditation is a mechanism that will help a person to cope with his/ her issues, and will later enable the person to weed out all issues himself. Therefore, it is advisable to not let the convenience of this technology entice you and addict you.
PROS
Don’t let the few cons stop you from exploring this new world of meditation using technology. The cons may be few, but the pros are many. The millions of reviews left by the apps’ users is testimony to that. Meditation is like a medicine for all ailments, and if an app is helping you meditate, that should be enough reason for you to jump right in.
Mickey compares the mind to a clear sky, where each passing cloud is a thought. Headspace, the meditation app mentioned earlier, also uses this analogy in one of its early meditation sessions.
“If you are new to the world of mindfulness and meditation, using an app is highly recommended, just to get an idea of what meditation is all about. These apps are great as a beginning guide to meditation, but be careful that they are not disturbing your state of mind. Apps like Headspace, Calm and Buddhify are great for today’s busy population, as they are easy and convenient to use.”
It’s like having a guided meditation teacher in your pocket. However, Mickey advises to use these apps as just a starting point, and later wean off them. The ultimate goal one should have is achieving mindfulness.
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