Meditation
Introduction
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.
History
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 ancient Hindu traditions of Vedantism, and meditation plays a salient role in the contemplative repertoire of Buddhism and Jainism as well as other faith-based contexts.
Techniques
Meditation techniques can be classified based on their focus. Some focus on the field or background perception and experience, also called mindfulness; others focus on a preselected specific object, and are called "concentrative" meditation. There are also techniques that have been developed to combine concentration and mindfulness.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves focusing on the mind itself. It is a form of meditation that involves focusing attention on feelings, thoughts, and sensations occurring in the present moment. Mindfulness practice has been employed to reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, and pain.
Concentrative Meditation
Concentrative meditation involves focusing all of your attention on a specific object while tuning out everything else around you. The goal is to really experience whatever you are focusing on, whether it's your breath, a specific word or mantra, or a piece of music.
Benefits and Research
Research on the processes and effects of meditation is a growing subfield of neurological research. Modern scientific techniques and instruments, such as fMRI and EEG, have been used to see what happens in the bodies of people when they meditate, and how their bodies and brains change after meditating regularly.
Physical Health
Meditation has been proven to have numerous benefits to physical health. These include improved cardiovascular and immune health, reduced blood pressure, and decreased inflammation in the body.
Mental Health
In terms of mental health, meditation has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve attention and concentration, and increase overall psychological well-being.