[Lefu]

I hear the word meditation a lot, but I don't really know what it is. I've looked it up on the internet, but there are so many conflicting and kind of crazy definitions. What is it, and what's it for?

Thanks

[MudCrab]

Others are more competent to answer your question. Even so, perhaps you might begin here:

7 Health Benefits of Meditation
http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/7-h...-of-meditation

[Inedible]

The word meditation is very general. It is like the words prayer, religion, exercise, dieting, art, music, and so on. Your own goals are important in choosing a version of meditation. If you are using meditation for stress reduction or healing, though, you should know that often meditation will make things seem worse rather than better. You may be better off with an exercise plan. Walking is really good for stress reduction and it gives you a way to clear your mind.

There are different types of meditation and different ways / goals of meditation. Having sampled several types including Buddhist meditation, I would describe it as a form of mind training where you screen the thoughts in your mind before engaging them. You screen the thoughts for being positive and negative and only engage the positive thoughts as negative thoughts are harmful. There is also a relaxation part of it where, when thoughts arise, you focus on your breath rather on the thoughts. This enables the mind (and, to a great extent, the body) to relax. It also helps people to stay and live in the present rather than getting caught up in thoughts about the past or the future. When those thoughts come up, just return to your breath - the act of breathing takes place in the present moment and therefore, you are encouraging yourself to live in the present moment rather than in the internal world of your thoughts.

There are enhancements to meditation such as chanting, controlled breathing exercises (prana), staring at the floor or at a lit candle (this worked for me). Buddhist centers are good for learning meditation. There are different types of Buddhism and techniques vary. For some, you have to sit on a pillow. Others will let you sit on a chair (which I prefer since I have a bad back). Some places will burn incense to set the mood. There may be statues and offerings. I used to like the dharma talks which would set the tone of the meditation. Some Buddhist centers even offer secular meditation. Meditation is an instrinsic part of Buddhist religious practice. Since Buddhism is a worship of the teachings of the Buddha and not of a god, I would see Christian priests and other religious people partaking in the meditations. My old Catholic church had a meditation club.

There are a lot of benefits to meditation and it's worth exploring. It is a great alternative to tranquilizers!

[Inedible]

To help with side effects of meditation - it can stir things up emotionally - I would suggest looking into The Sedona Method. You might be able to get a book on it at your local library.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Lefu

I hear the word meditation a lot, but I don't really know what it is. I've looked it up on the internet, but there are so many conflicting and kind of crazy definitions. What is it, and what's it for?

Thanks

like others have posted in its broadest terms meditation means different things depending upon ones own religion, cultural background, therapy approach, location...

for me, meditation is a state of mind where a person is totally relaxed. similar to being in a trance state of mind with one difference, the person meditating is in a state of focused awareness.. they are aware of whats going on in their body, whats going on around them in their environment, aware of people around them, aware of sounds, smells...even though everything around them is going on as it/they normally do the person is still totally relaxed.

some people choose a word or phrase to help them achieve total relaxation for example some people chant(say) or think the word oooommmmm, oooommmmm, others achieve total relaxation through focusing on their breathing, .... some people set a goal for example I know someone who prepares their self for meditating by picking the goal of lowering their blood pressure/heart rate. then she sits down in a comfortable position, closes her eyes, takes some deep breathing breaths, then when she is totally relaxed she focuses on her heart beat and listening as the heart beats slow down out of high anxiety beating rate to a normal slow beat. she also sets the goal of how long she will remain in this total relaxed state of mind.

When I meditate I achieve total relaxation by listening to a recording I made of me rowing my canoe around the lake. I focus on picturing myself on that lake again, in the canoe rowing. when I make the recording I purposely started out rowing as fast as I could and then slowing down to where there are spaces of time when no movement on my part was happening and the sounds of nature came through. During my meditation I dont think, I just listen. sometimes a thought unrelated to the recording or something outside myself will gain my thoughts. I just rein it back in by reminding myself to focus on the recording and relaxing. I do this meditation for work stress reduction. I have another meditation I do at bedtime which focuses on my breathing and relaxing my body for sleep problems.

[Open Eyes]

It is nice to learn how to "meditate" because you allow your brain to "relax" and not be constantly thinking, worrying, problemsolving, and processing.

I have found my own way of "meditating" where I go up to my room and lay down and just allow my brain to float free and let go. When I do that I find that my entire body slowly relaxes and I don't feel so "anxious and overwhelmed". I have PTSD which means that sometimes I can have too many thoughts/Ideas/efforts to find resolve going on and I just get overwhelmed. By teaching myself to "let go" as I have discribed, I noticed that I also am getting better at "letting go" when I unknowingly fall into "ruminating and getting angry or upset".

Open Eyes

[Lefu]

My thanks to all, it helped a lot.

[Mark56]

And meditation, by whatever name is affixed, is nearly always followed by a healthy dose of Ahhhhhhh..............

A heart well centered,
Mark56