Meditation is an ancient practice that builds attention, awareness and mental clarity. It employs a variety of techniques that lead the practitioner towards a state of calm and tranquility. In Zen Buddhism, it is considered to be the path to enlightenment.
Some archaeologists date meditation back to as early as 5,000 BCE. The practice has religious roots in ancient Egypt and China, as well as Judaism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and, of course, Buddhism. Today, it is practiced throughout the world as both a religious and a secular activity.
Meditation can be difficult to define because practices vary between cultures. There are many systems and schools of thought – the Tibetan, the Chinese, the Hindu, the Buddhist – but the basic method and the many benefits can be enjoyed by all.
Meditation is a simple practice that anyone can learn. It can be practiced anywhere and at any time and doesn’t require special equipment, clothing or training. You can follow a system, a religion or do it on your own terms.
To meditate is to draw the attention inwards. To notice our thoughts and our feelings as they come and go. To sense, to observe and to let go. The goal is not to control those thoughts or to control our minds, but to simply be at one with them.
Meditation is to be aware of every thought and of every feeling, never to say it is right or wrong but just to watch it and move with it. In that watching you begin to understand the whole movement of thought and feeling. And out of this awareness comes silence.
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Meditation is typically done sitting cross-legged on the floor, but it can just as easily be practiced sitting in a chair, in a coffee shop, on the train or while in motion – for example, walking through a forest.
There are many different types of meditation. Each with subtle variations and outcomes. The most popular methods include: mindfulness, body scan meditation, mantra meditation, focus meditation, loving-kindness meditation, and movement meditation.
Meditation teaches us to breath. To relax and find calm. To exist in the moment. To be non-judgmental and non-grasping. To be more patient, loving and altruistic.
The benefits of meditation are well documented and backed by science. It has been shown to improve focus, reduce stress and anxiety, enhance self-awareness and support emotional wellbeing. Some of these benefits can be felt immediately, while others develop over the longer-term through consistent practice.
Learning meditation is like learning any other skill. It’s difficult at first but the more we do it, the more comfortable we get. A little time meditating each day can have far-reaching effects.
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