Although there is no single definition of the word ‘Meditation’, it is usually used to describe a state that is experienced when the mind dissolves and is free of all thoughts. This is often accomplished by turning inwards and focusing the mind on a single object, one’s breath or perhaps a mantra.
The result is the experience of a thoughtless state of mind where one is simply in a state of being. People who practice meditation on a regular basis have reported great benefits by meditating such as a greater spiritual connection to their source, an increase in patience and compassion, feelings of peace, calm, joy, tranquility etc.
With these kinds of benefits, the practice of meditation is growing in popularity on a daily basis but there are those, like myself, out there who want to meditate but haven’t had a lot of success in achieving the state of meditation on a consistent basis through traditional methods? This article offers an alternative approach to achieving a state of meditation for those who have tried other methods and haven’t had the success they would like, or simply find this method more fun.
If you are already meditating on a daily basis and find it easy to clear your mind of all thoughts this article is not for you. It is intended for those, like myself, who find it hard to set time aside to try meditation and for those who have trouble clearing the mind when they do meditate, getting frustrated with the endless chatter of thoughts the mind generates.
Very recently I discovered a method of achieving the same benefits of meditation without the two challenges I just described. A few months ago, I walked into a store that sold board games and table top miniature games like Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000 and Dungeon’s & Dragons. They had a display case of painted miniatures which I took a look at and found absolutely amazing. These miniatures were all hand painted and looked like miniature pieces of art rather then toys. I remember thinking that painting these must take a lot of patience and some very small paintbrushes.
I was very impressed and I spoke to my fiancé about them that night. She must have seen how impressed I was with them because she went back to the store a few days later and bought me a starter set of Warhammer miniatures for me to try painting. As this was a few weeks prior to our wedding I didn’t have any time to get started with painting them but I did go and pickup some acrylic paints to paint them with.
A few weeks after our wedding I decided to try painting one of the Night Goblins miniatures which came with the set to see how well I could do. Although I only wanted to try it out for a few minutes that night, the minute I started painting I got hooked. A few hours went by and I had my very first completed Night Goblin miniature painted. It was too late in the night to go show it to anyone, but I was very excited by how good it looked.
I showed the painted Night Goblin to my wife the following morning and she complemented me on how good it looked. That night I tried painting a few more of them and got totally hooked. Since then I have purchased more miniatures from the Warhammer and the Warhammer 40,000 series as well as paintbrushes and paints.
A few other people I know also got into this particular hobby after they tried painting their first miniature and also got hooked. I was thinking the other day about why it is that I find this hobby so fascinating and so addictive and that is when I realized something. I realized that while painting the miniatures, I was experiencing the same benefits I experienced in the few times I was able to meditate in the past.
At first this seemed a bit strange, since I wasn’t really trying to meditate or to have a spiritual experience, but when I thought about it some more I realized it’s not so strange after all. The physical aspects of what transpires when painting miniatures is very similar to the physical process of meditation. The hobby requires a lot of concentration on one object (the miniature) and this concentration drowns out thoughts without a lot of effort. While painting, I am so focused on painting that I have no thoughts. It’s total mental silence. Once in a while a thought enters when I have to think about which color to paint a certain part of the miniature, but right after I switch colors I’m back to total concentration without thought.
The painting process requires and actually generates a state of concentration, patience, silence, stillness, and a tranquil mind. The experience becomes very similar if not identical to meditating, except that it’s even more fun.
I do not try to drown out thoughts, I let them be if they come, but because I am concentrating on painting the thoughts just go away by themselves. I do not have to try anything, I just focus on painting and the rest takes care of itself. I am totally convinced that, at least for me, the experience I’m having while painting these is exactly the same as people have meditating using more traditional methods.
After every painting session I find myself calm, peaceful, tranquil, spiritually connected and just experience a feeling of overall joy. Not only that, but in most cases I also have a beautifully painted miniature to be proud of as well.
I am really enjoying this, and the other people I know who have tried painting these have reported very similar findings. I am not saying that everyone should go out and get into this specific hobby, but I am sure that there are many other things out there that can be done similar to this which would create the same kind of results. For example gardening, drawing, painting, origami, or anything else out there that can be done quietly, by yourself in a tranquil environment which will clear your mind and let you relax. I do not believe it was an accident that I found this particular hobby, and I am sure that if you set your intention of finding your ‘Meditative Hobby’ you will find it.
Once again, I want to re-iterate that in no way am I saying that you should give up the traditional methods of meditation if you are experiencing success with them, but if you haven’t been able to implement regular meditation into your life this might be a stepping stone in the right directly. I know I am thoroughly enjoying it so I wanted to share it as an alternative for those like me who have found the regular methods challenging.
Good luck!

-Paul

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