MEDITATION ITS ORIGINS
Meditation works to train the conscious mind to a state of stillness and tranquillity
and
brings both physiological and psychological benefits.
Many people associate meditation with Eastern philosophies or religion, but meditation
takes on many forms and philosophies and no religious bias is necessary. You
can take from it whatever it is you need. Primarily, it is a discipline for training
your mind to a point of both deep concentration and relaxation.
Although the most common forms of meditation we know today come from the East,
the early Christians also meditated. However, the most common forms of meditation
were perfected in the East over the centuries within the context of religions
such as
Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Sufism.
They were designed to help reach a point of spiritual enlightenment. However,
for many people in the West today it is basically a practical self-help technique
for coping with the high levels of stress found in daily life.
WHY MEDITATE?
Methods of meditation may differ, but they all have in common the aim of producing
a state of deep relaxation which, it is claimed, rejuvenates both mind and body.
People who meditate regularly say it gives them a new zest for life, with increased
energy, improved concentration and an inner peace that leads to better relationships.
Sportsmen and women even claim it improves their performance.
When you see someone meditate, it looks as if very little is happening. You may
notice that his or her breathing has slowed down, but otherwise he or she remains
quite still, eyes closed.
The work is all taking place on the inside. Most of the meditation techniques
that are used these days are really concentration techniques. Their effect on
the mind might be compared with the effect of exercise on the muscles of the
body. They aim to tone up the minds capacity for analysis, concentration, inference,
memory, perception, recognition and recall.
By developing in regular meditation sessions the mind's strength and flexibility,
it is able to perform much more effectively and efficiently the rest of the time.
In essence, it gives you the ability to stay focused on whatever you happen to
be doing.
LEARNING TO MEDITATE
Although it is possible to learn at home from tapes, CDs or DVDs; many people
find it most effective to have a teacher to guide them, especially when they
are first
starting to learn to meditate.
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