THIS is Why Hypnosis and Meditation are the Same Thing
Meditation, like many other religious practices, had its roots in mysticism as it was utilized in many religious traditions as a form of prayer, dating back to the Middle Ages.
It was mentioned in religious beliefs such as Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity: each interpreting it in their own way. In the Indian Buddhist scriptures, they called meditation “training of the mind”. In Chinese, the philosophers referred to it as “guarding tranquility” or “embracing simplicity”.
How about hypnosis?
If we consider hypnosis as a state of focused attention, in which people can be more responsive to suggestions, then meditation can be defined as the use of a technique to train awareness and attention, culminating in mental clarity and calm. Hypnosis, like meditation, aims to achieve mental clarity and calm. There is clearly an overlap between the two forms of mental training.
In hypnosis, we create a make-believe world, which is purely suggestive. The Latin word “hypno,” which means “sleep,” is a bit misleading, because, under hypnosis, the subject is fully awake and mindful of their surroundings. Therefore, it is important to understand that an altered state of consciousness doesn’t necessarily resemble sleep.
The hypnotized individual is guided towards a state of calmness, almost sleep-like, and though they appear asleep, they are awake and focused and concentrating intentionally. For example, if the hypnotherapist creates a make-believe world where you are drifting through the Swiss alps, feeling the gush of the foehn wind, and if the hypnotherapist insists on you acting like a wild deer, you wouldn’t indulge in the act because that isn’t in your best interest. This is possible because you are in a meditative state; a state of self-awareness and inner calm, and you are very much in control to deal with any sort of suggested impulses.
The Similarities Between Meditation and Hypnosis
A saying by Robin Sharma goes like this: “The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.” In a stream of consciousness, our daily chaotic and unchecked thoughts have a way of encapsulating the mind and our emotions, leading to stress, limiting beliefs and unhealthy patterns of thinking. Meditation, therefore, is considered a moderator between the mind and body, producing a state of relaxation and focus, which can counter unintended and unhealthy mental habits and thought patterns.
Neuroscience points out that mindfulness can also strengthen the connection between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex to allow a better recovery from stress.
The human mind has 4 basic states of awareness: Beta (alertness), Alpha (light hypnosis), Theta (deep hypnosis), and Delta (deep sleep). We analyze, judge, evaluate, and so on during our waking hours, which is the Beta state. In hypnosis, the brain enters the alpha and theta states. The focus is on using hypnotic suggestions to imagine new possibilities, observe a different perspective, or perhaps access suppressed memories, etc. This results in increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, creating a sense of mindfulness. Just like meditation, this is quite beneficial physiologically and psychologically.
In fact, we can say meditation is another way to enter a hypnotic state. Theoretically, these are two different belief systems intertwined around the same state of mind. Simply put, guided meditation is synonymous with self-hypnosis. The hypnotic state is focused on a single chain of thought, just like meditation. Both…
- Both build brain regions, synchronize brainwaves, and boost body chemicals.
- Both enable access to the subconscious and conscious mind.
- Both present an outlet to unplug and rewire our brains.
- Both help as stress busters and disentangle thoughts.
- Both are backed by history, research, and study.
Maybe you’re just searching for serenity. Perhaps you’re seeking advice on a particular issue. Either you’re grappling with a dilemma from the past or perhaps you’re trying to connect with aspects of your individuality you feel you’ve lost. There are many myriad reasons to “meditate” in this manner. However, if the activity has a clear structure and intent, if it’s intervening in your life to try to change it, and if it incorporates visualization, it really is just guided hypnosis.
The benefits of hypnosis and meditation are enormous. Hypnosis is frequently used in meditation techniques, albeit with a different name. The two methods also diverge from one another in certain ways. But the question is, does it even matter whether what you’re practicing right now is categorized as “hypnosis” or “meditation” if it improves your mental health and quality of life? Now, that’s a question we can meditate upon.
Sources:
PositivePsychology.com – https://positivepsychology.com/history-of-meditation/
Scientific American – https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/what-does-mindfulness-meditation-do-to-your-brain/
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