| Meditation is not easily definable: depending upon | | | | relaxation, meditation is continually becoming more |
| the context, there can be many different types | | | | and more popular among people all over the |
| of meditation and thus many different definitions. | | | | world. When we speak of meditation the most |
| Let us compare two definitions from authorities | | | | common image that our mind conjures up is that |
| we can rely upon. The first definition is from that | | | | of a Hindu saint sitting cross legged and chanting |
| great tome, ‘The Encyclopedia Britannica’. | | | | mantras. The description is quite accurate but |
| It defines meditation as ‘private devotion or | | | | from having seriously religious connotations at one |
| mental exercise consisting in any of innumerable | | | | time, meditation became the in thing by the |
| techniques of concentration, contemplation, and | | | | efforts of one Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, an Indian |
| abstraction, regarded as conducive to heightened | | | | who espoused the concept of |
| spiritual awareness or somatic calm.’ The | | | | ‘Transcendental Meditation’, which took |
| other definition is taken from the Columbia | | | | the technique out of its religious settings and |
| Electronic Encyclopedia which says that meditation | | | | made it more popular among people of all faith. |
| is a ‘religious discipline in which the mind is | | | | Today, 50 years since the birth of Transcendental |
| focused on a single point of reference. It may be | | | | Meditation, it still remains popular among western |
| a means of invoking divine grace, as in the | | | | societies. |
| contemplation by Christian mystics of a spiritual | | | | Music has always played a major role in the |
| theme, question, or problem; or it may be a | | | | relaxation of the human mind and body. It also is |
| means of attaining conscious union with the divine, | | | | a great accompaniment to meditation and yoga. |
| e.g., through visualization of a deity or inward | | | | The correct type of soothing music will make |
| repetition of a prayer or mantra (sacred | | | | sure that you have a complete meditation |
| sound).’ The common point between these | | | | experience and will also guide you through the |
| two and all other definitions is the same; | | | | steps of meditation. Inner Splendor Media, a New |
| meditation is the act of consciously directing your | | | | York based company specialises in providing |
| attention to alter your state of consciousness. | | | | meditation music,sleep music and more. |
| Even though it is an ancient technique of | | | | |