Navigate Meditation
What Is Meditation
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The term meditation refers to a group of techniques, most of
which started in Eastern religious or spiritual traditions. These
techniques have been used by many different cultures throughout the
world for thousands of years. Today, many people use meditation outside
of its traditional religious or cultural settings, for health and
wellness purposes.
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In meditation, a person learns to focus his attention and suspend
the stream of thoughts that normally occupy the mind. This practice is
believed to result in a state of greater physical relaxation, mental
calmness, and psychological balance. Practicing meditation can change
how a person relates to the flow of emotions and thoughts in the mind.
Most types of meditation have four elements in common:
- A quiet location. Many meditators prefer a quiet place
with
as few distractions as possible. This can be particularly helpful for
beginners. People who have been practicing meditation for a longer
period of time sometimes develop the ability to meditate in public
places, like waiting rooms or buses.
- A specific, comfortable posture. Depending on
the
type being practiced, meditation can be done while sitting, lying down,
standing, walking, or in other positions.
- A focus of attention. Focusing one's attention
is
usually a part of meditation. For example, the meditator may focus on a
mantra (a specially chosen word or set of words), an object, or the
breath.
- An open attitude. Having an open attitude during meditation means letting distractions come and go naturally without stopping to think about them. When distracting or wandering thoughts occur, they are not suppressed; instead, the meditator gently brings attention back to the focus. In some types of meditation, the meditator learns to observe the rising and falling of thoughts and emotions as they spontaneously occur.