Can meditation be considered a hobby?

stefanabovetheview · January 8th, 2011, 14:25

So im writing my personal statement for applying to university, should i include meditation in my hobbies?

Panthau · January 8th, 2011, 14:40

If a hobby is something you like to do in your freetime, then its a hobby. Still the word hobby implies rather something to kill your time, having fun with it and then leave it behind, nothing serious so to say. Meditation on the other hand, is something we´re benefiting from, something that can change our point of view radically. So it can be called a hobby, but that could be easily misunderstood, as it is much more then that.

Edwin · January 8th, 2011, 21:13

I think the same applies to other hobby's as well Panthau, like for instance some kind of sports.
People usually like doing that, like soccer, or running or whatever, and it is very beneficial for your health, but at the same time something you enjoy doing.

I think the term "hobby" applies perfectly for meditation !

Itlandm · January 9th, 2011, 08:51

I would say that meditation that is not part of a religious practice is a hobby. (And it is possible for the same person to practice both religious meditation and "hobby meditation".)

Panthau · January 9th, 2011, 15:06

Mhh i still wouldnt call it a hobby from my perspective. A hobby is something im doing just for fun, to relax and/or kill time. Meditation is rather something like brushing my tooth, its something necessary, and i even do it if im not in the mood for it.

Midnight · January 9th, 2011, 19:14

I think you might be getting too caught up in the words, Pan.

I enjoy meditation as a hobby, and it is sort of a spiritual practice for me as well. But I enjoy doing it, and it is an interest of mine, therefore I would consider it a hobby. No reason a hobby can't be fun, and beneficial.

stefanabovetheview · January 9th, 2011, 19:21

Thanks guys

I realized i can call it a hobby! Becuase its something I enjoy and benifits me, going to gym is a hobby and its something i enjoy and benifits me aswell. Just like weightlifting, sometimes you dont feel like it but you do it. And meditation is not really nessesary (by that i mean its not something i HAVE to do, i choose to do it). As an example doing physics is not a hobby since i do it because i HAVE to for school.

Itlandm · January 9th, 2011, 20:00

Heh. If you only do hobbies when you are in the mood for it, you're a pretty easygoing fellow! Even middle school soccer players will go to training when they don't feel like it, and back in the days, girls would do their piano even if they might have wanted to be outside playing. Think of it as an obligation to yourself.

Panthau · January 10th, 2011, 00:39

Just expressing my point of view, like everyone else. Youre right Midnight, its probably just my association with the word hobby.

Midnight · January 10th, 2011, 02:50

Yes, of course. You raise a good point too, someone who has never had experience with meditation who had been reading this board might have had thought that meditation was just a hobby, and assumed it wasn't that beneficial for that reason. Words only have the meaning that we give them. Which is why I will now call meditation a crime.