| > | | | | that includes no aspect of movement or |
| Meditation describes a state of concentrated | | | | sensation. For some people, especially in the |
| attention on some object of thought or | | | | Christian faith, prayer is a form of meditation. |
| awareness. It usually involves turning the attention | | | | What is always involved is time out from the |
| inward to a single point of reference Meditation is | | | | world around and a stilling of the mind.Although it |
| a way of contacting the inner energy that | | | | is possible to learn meditation techniques from a |
| powers the natural processes of healing and | | | | book, it is much better to have a teacher. Failing |
| self-realization. Many cultures preserve some form | | | | this, a tape can be helpful. It is usual to start by |
| of ritualistic technique - in one or two cultures | | | | adopting a comfortable posture in a quiet location |
| dating from thousands of years ago - that | | | | and closing your eyes. At first it may be difficult |
| promotes change from the normal levels of | | | | to steer the attention gently away from your |
| perception and that may result in feelings of | | | | racing thoughts without forcing the mind to |
| well-being. This is probably why meditation in one | | | | behave in a set way. The vocal repetition of |
| form or another is central to the practice of so | | | | sounds (a mantra), or a visual object of |
| many of the world's religions.The word meditation | | | | devotional significance to which the attention may |
| comes from the Latin meditatio, which originally | | | | be recalled when necessary, is helpful to some |
| indicated every type of physical or intellectual | | | | people.It has been found that meditating effects |
| exercise, then later evolved into the more specific | | | | changel heart rate and respiration, helping to |
| meaning "contemplation."Eastern spiritual teachings, | | | | reduce stress. As the thoughts slow and the level |
| including meditation, have been adapted and | | | | of tension in the body drops accordingly, feelings |
| increasingly practiced in Western culture.The use | | | | of calm, detachment, peace, and sometime joy |
| of Meditation for healing is not new. Meditative | | | | begin to fill the mind and spread through the body. |
| techniques are the product of diverse cultures | | | | Meditation promotes a state of deep relaxation, |
| and peoples around the world. It has been rooted | | | | but also mental alertness and openness. An |
| in the traditions of the world's great religions. In | | | | equilibrium between activity in the rational left side |
| fact, practically all religious groups practice | | | | of the brain and the creative right side of the |
| meditation in one form or another. The value of | | | | brain is established and there is an overall increase |
| Meditation to alleviate suffering and promote | | | | in the brain's range of operation. Benefits reported |
| healing has been known and practiced for | | | | includedecreased anxiety, feelings of anger and |
| thousands of years.Whereas some traditions are | | | | aggression, depression, nervousness, and physical |
| strictly mystical, directed toward a unity with all | | | | tensionincreased awareness and concentration, |
| creation and an infusion with sublime joy, others | | | | mental clarity and resilience, creative intuitive |
| may be described as more pragmatic, striving | | | | powers, emotional stability and control, and also |
| instead toward what is simply a state of "being" | | | | overall health and well-being. |