| Meditation, not to be confused with mediatation, is | | | | to achieve the desired goal of inner peace and |
| an ancient art form that has been practiced for | | | | self awareness, transcending the mundane cares |
| centuries, with origins in the Eastern part of the | | | | that usually bog down a good number of us. |
| word; India being a prime example. The basic use | | | | Meditation, as practiced in India, has its origins in |
| of meditation is as a form of healing which does | | | | the Hinduism and Buddhism faith. The original |
| not require the ingestion of any medications, | | | | Buddha, Siddhartha Guatama, is believed to have |
| relying only on the individuals mind and how it may | | | | achieved enlightenment while meditating under a |
| be finely tuned to achieve the desired effects on | | | | Bodhi tree. Buddhist meditation is classified into |
| both mind and body. The purpose of meditation is | | | | two forms: the samatha and the vipassana, both |
| to transcend “normal” thinking and elevate | | | | of which are necessary for achieving |
| oneself into a higher state of awareness and | | | | enlightenment. The two classifications have also |
| consciousness, achieve a relaxed state of mind, | | | | been found to merge into one another, with a |
| and be able to clearly focus. | | | | session starting out with samatha characteristics |
| Meditation covers a wide range of spiritual and | | | | while ending up with a vipassana practice. While |
| psycho-physical practices and is not limited to | | | | the samatha practice is based on focusing the |
| religious traditional practice. The common | | | | attention single-pointedly, the vapassana practice |
| denominator among all types of meditation, | | | | is aimed at seeing things as they really are, in the |
| however, is the discipline involved – anyone | | | | true nature of reality. |
| going into a regime of meditation needs to know | | | | In the vipassana style of meditation, the focus of |
| the level of discipline that will be required. | | | | awareness is first of all on the rising and falling the |
| As has just been mentioned, meditation does | | | | breath and then, when respiration is almost |
| have a number of religious roots including forms | | | | suspended and the mind and heart are still, the |
| developing from the practice of the Baha’i | | | | focus is then shifted onto either some simple |
| faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism , | | | | symbol e.g. a candle flame or a body part such as |
| Judaism, Jainism amongst many others, and more | | | | the individual’s thumb; or a concept. This is |
| recently, from New Age movements. | | | | provided that any of these is not likely to prove |
| The practice of meditation can take one of | | | | emotionally or intellectually disturbing. |
| several forms including the focus on a single | | | | Meditation has been practiced in India for centuries |
| object or process such as a mantra. Meditation | | | | and there are meditation practitioners and |
| can also be performed while walking or | | | | coaches in India who have further developed the |
| performing or engaged in a simple repetitive task. | | | | art of meditation into a fine skill which will help the |
| The object in all cases is to focus and | | | | individual gain a sense of peace, awareness and |
| concentrate while minimizing distractions in order | | | | total well-being. |