Meditation vs. Trance: Is There a Difference?

Let’s start with a reality check: what many people are practicing as “meditation” might not be meditation at all. It’s easy to mistake the trance-like states induced by guided sessions or relaxation techniques for genuine meditation. Sure, these practices can help you unwind, reduce stress, escape from the harsh realities of everyday life, and even feel blissful—but, in most cases, calling them meditations is a mistake. Meditation is something much simpler, yet infinitely deeper. And understanding the difference is key if you want to experience its true nature.

What Is Meditation, Really?

“In meditation, every form of search must come to an end.”

—J Krishnamurti

Meditation—the authentic kind that ancient Indian rishis (sages) were known for—isn’t about techniques or mantras. It is not a “discipline” or a “practice”. You don’t cultivate it. You don’t need anything special — a quiet room, a scented candle, or to sit cross-legged like a yogi. It doesn’t require effort. There are no instructions to follow.

You could meditate while sitting in a subway or near a water front—or you could be walking on a busy street. When you meditate, there’s no checklist, no end goal, and definitely no “right way” to do it.

That’s because meditation is about abiding in awareness—a kind of relaxed alertness that is free of methods, motives, and agendas. In meditation, you notice what’s happening, both within you and around you, without trying to control or change it. Thoughts come and go but you neither offer any resistance nor be swept away by them. There are no distractions because you’re not trying to focus or concentrate on anything in particular.

Related » Osho on Mantra Japa (Chanting)

Why Trance Is Not Meditation

Meditation is an unaltered state. Trance, on the other hand, is an altered state. Most popular meditation techniques put you into an altered state. For instance, when you follow a guided audio, you might be asked to picture a serene beach or focus intently on a soothing voice. This narrows your attention and helps you relax, often deeply. While this is wonderful for unwinding, or for a feeling peace, it’s only a kind of trance and not meditation. In trance, our awareness shrinks; we shut out the world around us, and our senses too.

Meditation, on the other hand, expands your awareness. It doesn’t aim to transport you elsewhere; it doesn’t help you numb your emotions or forget your problems. On the contrary, it’s about staying right here, fully aware of whatever is happening. In this sense, meditation is an inclusive phenomenon where you don’t block anything from your awareness: you are highly alert of everything and all your perceptions are heightened. You let go of your need to control or manipulate the present moment in any way.

Such awareness, such attention is expansive; it holds everything, from the noise in your head, your thoughts and feelings, to the sensations in your body, or even the sounds of life happening around you.

You Can’t Enforce Stillness or Silence

Many people erroneously belief that meditation is about “achieving” stillness or silence or even—and this is a big misconception—forcing your mind into a thoughtless state. Stillness can’t be enforced, but it arises spontaneously when you observe the movement of your thoughts without clinging to, or rejecting, them. The very awareness of the chattering mind begins to quieten it. Hence, silence is not a prerequisite for meditation; in fact, it is its flowering.

And when you’re aware, time seems to disappear. You’re left with a quiet spaciousness—the kind that makes all sounds, sensations, and experiences possible. At some point, you may realize that the mind-made identity, which you think of as your “self” takes a backseat. You are not this or that or the other—you simply are. There’s no center from which you see the world; there is simply spacious, inclusive awareness.

Related » Zazen: The art of just sitting

Why Meditate

According to J. Krishnamurti, we don’t meditate to achieve a specific state or to gain something—we meditate to understand the nature of the mind and to free ourselves from the limitations of thought.

As I said earlier, when you meditate, you observe without judgment or effort, allowing the movement of thoughts, emotions, and sensations to unfold without interference. This observation reveals the conditioning that drives our actions and reactions. You see, directly, how your mind is limited in its understanding and therefore forms only a contorted and fragmented view of the world instead of seeing the whole picture as it is. Such direct perception is the beginning of true freedom.

An Invitation to Meditate Without an Agenda

So, here’s an idea: try meditating without turning it into a project. Don’t approach it as a chore, or as a way to achieve some goal. Instead, let it be what it is—a chance to just be aware.

Sit in your room or on a park bench or even in a train; or walk around the block—it doesn’t matter. And then become alert, and observe the movement of your thoughts. Let go of the need to “do it right” because there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Simply give your full attention to the flow of life. Approach meditation not as a means to an end but as an the end in itself—an exploration of life in total awareness.