Meditation and Relaxation | Is Meditation Meant to Relax?

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Are you easily stressed out? Wondering if meditation will help you relax? Is relaxation even a proper goal regarding meditation?

Many believe that meditation and relaxation are inseparable concepts. In this free podcast episode, radio counselor Roy Masters explains that while relaxation can be a healthy side effect of meditation, one should not meditate for the comfort of feeling relaxed. Roy points out the difference between meditation and hypnosis.

While the meditation technique has benefited Brad, he felt the need to call because he doesn't know how to handle the divorce from his wife who is suffering from multiple sclerosis. Roy describes possible spiritual and emotional factors that could spread multiple sclerosis; along with how one should handle a loved one inflicted with M.S. without making it worse.
(Clip from episode: K4616)
This podcast is brought to you by the Foundation of Human Understanding: http://www.fhu.com

Quotes regarding relaxation from the book
How Your Mind Can Keep You Well by Roy Masters:

“Be careful not to go to sleep or to do the exercise for relaxation. The procedure is only to prevent an accumulation of tension by correctly meeting life’s experiences, not to dull the effects that will follow your failure to do so.”

“When we cannot give love, we need love. When we cannot understand, we need understanding. It is very frustrating, because no one has any to give us. We usually try to bring ourselves ease, relaxation and peace of mind through external or material endeavors, and that is impossible. These substitutes are not truly fulfilling, and only make us crave more of what does not fill; nothing really satisfies.”

Quotes regarding relaxation from the book
How to Conquer Suffering Without Doctors
by Roy Masters:

“Pride, like God, wills things to happen. In your pride you cannot relax your will, your effort; you cannot let go to let happen what should. There being nothing greater than you, you are alone with the problems, which cry out for decisions and judgments. And if you should finally let go, it is only because the world you have shaped draws upon you and drains you of your ignoble breath until you have no strength left with which to will things, to hold everything together, and it all comes crashing down around you. Here is panic again, panic that comes from having to face your fallibility; add to this the panic of having the terrible responsibility for what you have done.”

“If you can now realize the Truth concerning your pride, you can also realize all the implications. Realizing the implications, you can relax from the error of goal setting and cure getting. Realizing that decision making is the original sin of pride should relieve your ego from the burden, the loathing of its own puny efforts. It is simply a matter of realizing that you cannot make decisions and realizing that you cannot cure the problems either. Curing sin involves effort of your pride, and effort leads to guilt because it is an ambition.”