| The ancient practice of meditation prevalent in | | | | is best to explore different types of meditation |
| many spiritual traditions is still relevant in the | | | | techniques before adhering to one for the long |
| modern age because of its inherent nature of | | | | term. |
| promoting deep mental and physical relaxation | | | | However, before one embarks on the path of |
| amongst its practitioners. This is evident from the | | | | meditation, it is crucial to understand the right |
| wide spectrum of physical and mental benefits | | | | mental approach towards it. Often, beginners who |
| that practitioners experienced as they learn to | | | | learn to meditate have a common error of a |
| meditate regularly. Its wonderful physical benefits | | | | definite goal that they strive for blindly. For |
| include relief from insomnia, reduced blood | | | | instance, they might practise meditation to |
| pressure, improved posture, increased energy, | | | | combat stress or to experience happiness. But |
| greater pain management and better control over | | | | having such aims hinder their progress |
| libido. | | | | paradoxically. This is because when we have fixed |
| Though the benefits may vary between | | | | notions about it, it obscures us from the true |
| individuals, in most cases, meditation allows the | | | | experience of meditation. |
| body to function more effectively. In addition, its | | | | Therefore, the ideal approach towards it is to |
| amazing effects on the mental aspect include | | | | embrace it with an open-minded attitude without |
| enhanced tranquility, patience, concentration and | | | | expectations. This implies that we should still have |
| memory. | | | | faith in the benefits of meditation but should not |
| Given that meditation may bring about the | | | | have concrete notions about how it will manifest |
| effects as mentioned above, it gives us the | | | | and what exactly it feels like. The Zen master |
| motivation to practice meditation so as to | | | | Dogen describes meditation succinctly as "just |
| improve our overall well-being in life. But, one | | | | sitting". This means that one should engage in total |
| question lies ahead," Which is the most ideal form | | | | absorption in meditation without intention or |
| of meditation to practice regularly? " The answer | | | | expectation. With this in mind, learn to meditate |
| lies within oneself because every individual has his | | | | and have fun! |
| own preference in meditation techniques. Thus, it | | | | |