The term meditation holds several connotations. For some it is a simple practice in which the only requisite is doing nothing, but for others it is a highly mastered skill that requires a lot of efforts and concentration.
Meditation may be understood as a practice in which an individual uses technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear, emotionally calm and a stable state. The APA Dictionary of Psychology defines meditation as a profound and extended contemplation or reflection in order to achieve focused attention or an otherwise altered state of consciousness and to gain insight into oneself and the world. Traditionally associated with spiritual and religious exercises, meditation is now also used to provide relaxation and relief from stress; treat such symptoms as high blood pressure, pain, and insomnia; and promotes overall health and well-being. Thus, meditation is not a static “thing”. It’s a “doing”.
The benefits of meditation have been described in various religious tenets. In Hindu philosophy, meditation is called “dhyana”. “Dhyana” is a Sanskrit word in which “Dhi” means receptacle or the mind and “yana” means moving or going. Dhyana means journey or movement of the mind. It is a mental activity of the mind (dhi). In Hindu philosophy, the mind (manas) is viewed as a receptacle (dhi) into which thoughts pour back and forth from the universal pool of thought forms. A significant treatise on meditation was written by Patanjali in ancient India in the form of yoga sutras which described the stages of yoga and the objective of yoga – where the actor of meditation, the subject of meditation and the act of meditation merge into one. According to the Buddhists traditions, meditation is a means of transforming the mind. They have practices and techniques that encourage and boost concentration, positivity, a feeling of Zen in all aspects of our lives. Mindfulness meditation is often seen as a method to rewire our minds and subsequently our bodies to learn new patterns and habit, it allows us to nurture and develop more positive ways of being.
Meditation is often misjudged to be a process that involves concentrating our thought on a single point at a time. But in reality, the process is about being free, being thoughtless. Implanting the seed of meditation in our day-to-day life will benefit us in numerous ways that cross and breaks the fortification of the evils of our daily habits, our lost patience, our lost confidence, our anger issues and much more. Meditation has the magic powers to wholly change the life of a person by impacting the physical, mental, emotional as well as spiritual life of a person. It is a wholesome experience that integrates the shattered and fragmented aspects of our personality.
Meditation leads to a calm mind. When your mind is calm, focused, and accepting, we experience all aspects of life in a richer, fuller way. This is because we are not judging everything, but allowing it, moment by moment.
This new way of seeing can result in the creation of more “life energy” as well as a desire to engage more fully with every aspect of life. Meditation opens us to an entirely fresh, peaceful, and rewarding relationship with the world, one that embraces everything and rejects nothing. Each time we meditate, we have the opportunity to cultivate a new way to live more peacefully and joyfully.
With meditation, we not only feel the difference in our personality, but also feels the immense energy with transformative capacity to mould the society towards its greater good.
By Dr. Pramila Srivastava
Email: ps.a@iins.org
Twitter: @PramilaBK
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