About Meditation

Meditation is the practice of mental and emotionaltension and stress, to sharpen the mind, to
focus that enables one to attain a deeper stateachieve a higher state of consciousness or to
of consciousness, beyond that of the active,increase self-awareness. It is also used in any
material world. It includes elements found innumber of religious rites. Many different types of
almost all the world's religions, but is also practicedmeditation exist. Stress reduction, and a general
in alternative forms of spirituality. Differentsharpening of the mind, is the most commonly
disciplines of meditation can cultivate differentreported benefit that can be gained from them all.
spiritual goals. Those interested in exploringMindfulness meditation, a very common form of
meditation have a great, wide world of possibilitiesthe practice, encourages its adherents to maintain
available to them.an open focus and exist - simply be - in the
The history of meditation can be traced back tomoment at hand. Concentration meditation urges
the very beginnings of recorded history itself, andthe practitioner to center attention on a specific
it doubtless stretches back to long before that. Itobject. It is often used in religious worship and
is impossible to know for sure when meditationgeneral spiritual practices. Many colleges,
was first discovered. Perhaps the Neanderthalsuniversities, churches and temples offer courses in
withdrew to a meditative state prior to a hunt.meditation. These usually just introduce students
The cave paintings of the Cro-Magnon may wellto the subject in a broad form.
have been used in rituals in which meditation wasFor more detailed and specialized instruction,
also involved.students may seek out a weekend retreat at a
The earliest historic record of meditation is foundmonastery. There are several, observing both
in Hindu scriptures, the Tantras, which wereEastern and Western traditions, in the United
written around 5,000 years ago. GautamaStates. Prices for instruction can range anywhere
Siddhartha, the Buddha, spent much of his time infrom thousands of dollars to free, depending upon
meditation. Once meditation was the province onlythe level of expertise being accessed. Even
of a few shamans, gurus or other wise men.amateur instruction can whet the appetite of the
Today, its popularity spans the globe. In both thestudent for more advanced study and practice.
Eastern and the Western worlds, meditation isThe most important feature in meditation of any
now being practiced by a wide variety ofsort is conscious breathing. Regulation of the
different people in nearly every walk of life.breath is necessary for achievement of the deep
Many spiritual leaders insist that meditation canmeditative states and the levels of relaxation that
lead us from the world of suffering into a worldaccompany them. Meditation is achieved when the
of peace and happiness. It settles the mind,body is completely relaxed and the brain reaches
permitting us to find peace within ourselves. Itthe theta state, which is the state of
may be used to facilitate healing, to reduceconsciousness between wakefulness and sleep.