Meditation

Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. Scholars have found meditation difficult to define, as practices vary both between traditions and within them.

Origins

Meditation has been practiced since antiquity in numerous religious traditions and beliefs, often as part of the path towards enlightenment and self realization. The earliest records of meditation (dhyana) come from the Hindu traditions of Vedantism, and meditation exerts a salient role in the contemplative repertoire of Buddhism and Jainism as well.

Techniques

While meditation techniques have been used by many cultures across the world, they vary in form and practice. Some of the major types include Transcendental Meditation, Mindfulness Meditation, Vipassana Meditation, Loving Kindness Meditation, Chakra Meditation, Kundalini Meditation, Sound Meditation, Mantra Meditation, and Qi Gong.

Health Effects

Meditation has been found to have numerous health benefits, including stress reduction, reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression, and an overall increase in quality of life. However, the effects of meditation have been hard to study scientifically, due to the subjective and unique nature of the practice.

See Also

• Mindfulness
• Yoga
• Spirituality
• Relaxation technique
• Stress management

References

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