Is meditation auto-hypnosis or self-hypnosis?
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definition
"Meditation is not auto-hypnosis; it is the art of witnessing, where awareness transforms the hypnotic into the awakened."
According to Osho, meditation is not merely auto-hypnosis: for much of the journey its techniques resemble hypnosis, but only the state of witnessing—knowing and seeing breath, body, and mind—makes it meditation. Hypnosis without witnessing leads to stupor and unconsciousness; when the hypnotic process is joined with clear, continuous awareness, it transforms into awakening.
Meditation may start like self-hypnosis, but it becomes real only when you stay inwardly awake and keep watching everything happen.
Why this matters practically
- Prevents drifting into dullness by emphasizing alert awareness.
- Guides practice: pair relaxation techniques with steady witnessing.
- Clarifies the goal: not trance, but awake presence.
- Guides practice: pair relaxation techniques with steady witnessing.
- Clarifies the goal: not trance, but awake presence.
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