Meditation VS doing nothing

[Basman]

I've lately been experiment with "doing nothing" which is exactly what is sounds like. I start my mornings these days with 30 minutes of doing nothing, where I just sit and do nothing. I don't focus on anything in particular or restrict myself from anything except doing a particular activity. I can think as much or as little as I want and I don't have to sit still as opposed to meditation.

So far, I've found doing nothing to be much better at processing emotions primarily as well as letting me contemplate things of interest compared to meditation. I find the emotional processing particularly valuable and something easily gone amiss these days. When doing nothing I feel like I'm dealing with karma that I've carried for years, bit by bit.

Meditation on the other hand is much more directly relaxing and leaves me with tingly sensations. From the hundreds of hours of meditation I've done I don't remember ever feeling like I processed anything like I do with doing nothing deliberately however, probably since you consciously disengage from thoughts when meditating. Meditation feels much more like a chore while doing nothing feels more relaxed despite the former being inherently more relaxing but also more strenuous to actually do. Meditation can also feel a bit pointless in my experience.

Just my two cents.

[Raze]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nco9isReoA

[Eskilon]

47 minutes ago, Basman said:

I can think as much or as little as I want

Well, you are doing something

[Basman]

1 minute ago, Eskilon said:

Well, you are doing something

Yup. I'm doing nothing.

[Ulax]

I like it 🎉

I have been thinking of doing something similar 

Edited March 9 by Ulax

[Salvijus]

Sounds weirdly good. 

[Basman]

On 09/03/2025 at 3:12 AM, Eskilon said:

Well, you are doing something

To be more clear, doing nothing is just less restrictive than meditation in practice. Meditation is itself an activity. It is not really possible to actually do nothing in the literal sense ordinarily.

In practice when doing nothing I do experience sometimes simply observing thought and letting it pass as opposed to engaging with them because I don't want to disturb the stillness. But if I want to contemplate something I can do that. I find doing nothing to be superior as a method for learning to know yourself.

[Eskilon]

7 minutes ago, Basman said:

In practice when doing nothing I do experience sometimes simply observing thought and letting it pass as opposed to engaging with them because I don't want to disturb the stillness. But if I want to contemplate something I can do that. I find doing nothing to be superior as a method for learning to know yourself.

I see, It's more flexible than meditation, where you would discard all thoughts all together. It seems like you found a good middle ground, and that is cool and valid

[Carl-Richard]

The way I like to conceptualize meditation is being completely fine with just sitting here or being here. If you are able to simply accept what is here, to just exist without needing anything, that's what it is.

What you're describing as "do nothing", I do a lot when I'm walking or sitting in the sauna. I just let my mind wander and give myself time to think about something without distractions. It's really beneficial for your emotions and general problem-solving.

There is this psychologist who talks about the benefits of this in particular and interestingly uses the character of Sherlock Holmes as a device for communication:

 

 

Edited March 10 by Carl-Richard

[gettoefl]

Yes this is cool. Carve out time with specifically no plans and no agenda. If during sitting, you feel the need to clean the toilet or write a song or do some exercise then go for it. Remember you are doing for the sake of doing not for the sake of getting. Big difference. Big outcome. Each day should be different. If you keep needing to clean the toilet, that's your signal from the universe to schedule more cleaning time not meditation time. You will get to a point where sitting in itself is valuable for itself and looked forward to as a nice daily reboot.

Edited March 11 by gettoefl

[Aaron p]

I would personally recommend replacing all meditative practices with just sitting and simply intuitively feeling around in the mind the mystical, magical and impossible aspects of reality/direct experience.

If you think you don't know what I'm talking about, you are wrong. 

Edited March 11 by Aaron p

[z3rolight]

I consider meditation as something deliberately forced!. Which comes mainly with a purpose!. I consider meditation to be false!... To sit relaxed and have an empty mind without thoughts... I think it is the refreshment of the mind.

[Aaron p]

Instead of doing any practise...recognise: it.

[Ulax]

@Basman Just wanted to say thank you for making this post mate.

It inspired me to give it a consistent go and it has been helping me significantly in recent weeks 👊

[Basman]

1 hour ago, Ulax said:

@Basman Just wanted to say thank you for making this post mate.

It inspired me to give it a consistent go and it has been helping me significantly in recent weeks 👊

Good to hear. I'm happy that it was helpful ❤️.

[cjoseph90]

20 hours ago, Ulax said:

@Basman Just wanted to say thank you for making this post mate.

It inspired me to give it a consistent go and it has been helping me significantly in recent weeks 👊

+1 good post. I agree with doing "nothing to be much better at processing emotions" 

[Basman]

Another point on doing nothing that I've discovered is that it is highly mood dependent. Sometimes I feel sleepy. Other times I'm full swing with my thoughts. Other times I'm borderline mediating with very little thoughts. Meditation in comparison is much more consistent in my experience, with how you focus on your breath and disengage from your thoughts and hold a sitting pose.