It is strange for me to read in the comments all the advice to--as I understand it--be a relatively "whole" person before beginning meditation. In my limited ex

It is strange for me to read in the comments all the advice to--as I understand it--be a relatively "whole" person before beginning meditation. In my limited experience and perspective, I was under the impression that meditation can assist one with releasing stress and anxiety... I thought meditation was one tool which could be applied for achieving more "wholeness" as a person, and I'm surprised at the suggestion that apparently other means must be pursued first? It seems to me that it would be hard to go wrong with 15-30 minutes of "meditation" spent focusing on breathing and non-judgmentally observing your thoughts as they bubble up and dissipate. I've often felt that a lot of my stress and anxiety and even depression is the result of hanging onto things and the result of trying to control things which are actually outside my control. Or perhaps these other comments are directed toward the serious, multiple-hour, practice of meditation? I have no desire to separate my consciousness from my physical being, for instance. I'm happy to stay firmly rooted on earth, while learning to accept the good in my inherent existence. If that makes sense.