Everything You Need to Know About Meditation
Meditation is a well-known practice that requires a person to utilize a technique (such as visualization or mindfulness) to achieve a state of calmness, clarity, and stability. This practice encourages people to be more aware of their environments while focusing on a specific thought, item, or activity.
It is worthwhile to note that meditation can be used by everyone whether they are religious or not. Besides, there is no specific time for practicing. So, whether you are chanced to practice meditation in the morning, afternoon, or late in the night before sleep, you can still enjoy the benefits of meditation whenever you want.
The origin of meditation
Meditation has been in existence for numerous years. It was first documented in the Indian subcontinent around 5,000 to 3,500 BCE. However, this oldest documentation was seen in the form of wall arts. Later around 1,500 BCE, the Vedas documented meditation as a form of spiritual and religious exercise.
Later in the 6th and 5th centuries, lots of religious people in Buddhist India and Taoist China started practicing meditation. However, it is difficult to ascertain the specific origin of Buddhist meditation as several scholars have varying opinions. The sutras of Pali Canon, Vimalakirti Sultra, and other old records had some passages that relate to meditation.
By 20 BCE, the oldest evidence of meditation in the West was noted in the spiritual practices documented by Philo of Alexandria. His record encouraged people to pay attention to their environment for some sort of spiritual benefit. Over the years, documentations of different forms of meditation were seen in Korean Buddhism, Judaism, Tanakh, etc.
However, it was only around the 18th century that many intellectuals in the West started paying attention to meditation. By the late 19th century, meditation has become a common practice in the West as lots of people are using it to relieve stress and other everyday issues.
Types of meditation
There are different types of meditation, with each offering a wide range of benefits. The most common types include the following:
Mindfulness meditation
Originating from Buddhist teachings, this meditation encourages you to focus on your thoughts without any sort of judgment. In the West, mindfulness meditation is one of the most common types of meditation.
Focused meditation
This type of meditation is all about concentrating on one of your five senses. It is often recommended for people that need extra focus.
Spiritual meditation
In this meditation, you need to pay attention to the silence around you to create an unparalleled connection with the higher being. It is often practiced by people involved in Daoism, Hinduism, and Christian faith. In addition to meditation, people usually use sage, frankincense, cedar, myrrh, and other essential oils to boost their overall experience.
Mantra meditation
In Buddhist and Hindu traditions, mantra meditation is a popular form of meditation. It requires you to repeat a particular sound, word, or phrase and focus on it.
Visualization meditation
Visualization meditation requires you to visualize positive pictures or scenes. You will have to take advantage of your five senses to retain your visualization of the scenes or images for an extended period.
Other types include:
Movement meditation
Progressive meditation
Transcendental meditation
Benefits of meditation
According to various studies, some of the benefits of meditation include:
To relieve stress
To make ends meet, most individuals need to work from time to time. Resultantly, we are constantly stressed and need to regulate our stress levels. Fortunately, you can use meditation to reduce your stress levels.
To lead a happier life
Research has shown that individuals who practice meditation are often happier than people who don’t. This is because of the ability of meditation to encourage positive emotions and thoughts that can make you lead a happier life.
To reduce the risk of heart disease
As noted by some studies, C-reactive protein levels can be reduced by regular meditation. These protein levels could encourage the development of some cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, you can lower the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure by practicing meditation.
To ensure sounder and healthier sleep
If you are suffering from insomnia or any other sleep problems, meditation can help you to manage the condition. This is because the practice can stimulate some hormones that promote the relaxation response.
So, if you would like to enjoy all the massive benefits of meditation, don’t hesitate to start practicing it today.