What is meditation?
“Meditation” is the practice of maintaining concentrated focus on a sound, object, visualization, the breath, movement, or attention itself. Its purpose is to heighten awareness of the present moment, alleviate stress, induce relaxation, and facilitate personal and spiritual growth.
Meditation is primarily a personal endeavor that demands compassion and is often pursued without external intervention. It is undertaken for a multitude of reasons, shaped by individuals’ cultural backgrounds. Across various global religions, meditation holds a place in spiritual practices. While its practice dates back through the ages, the exact techniques of meditation remain undefined to this day.
Forms of mediation:
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There are numerous forms of meditation, which essentially depend on an individual’s introspection of their mental activity within their environment, focusing on the process rather than the content.
The term “meditation” was formalized as an interpretation of Eastern spiritual practices and is commonly referred to as ‘Dhyana’, rooted in the Sanskrit word ‘Dhyai’, which means to contemplate or meditate. As meditation is primarily regarded as a path to self-realization, the practice necessitates certain prerequisites that are essential for attaining such self-realization.
Posture importance in meditation:
The most important thing in this process is a comfortable and relaxed posture (asana). Various types of postures are recommended by different schools of thought. However, to attain the state of meditation, any posture that allows the person to remain relaxed for an extended period of time is considered suitable for the meditator.
Meditation Health benefits:
Medically, meditation is highly advantageous and provides significant benefits for both the body and soul. Meditation involves concentration, which in turn relaxes and reduces stress in the body, elevating the meditator to a state of heightened vitality following the attainment of peace and tranquility.
Traditionally, meditation had been perceived as a religious discipline. However, in the current revolutionary age, this practice is seen in terms of its spiritual and philosophical applications, promoting the well-being of individuals.
- It enables the individuals to solve their problems patiently.
- It develops the attitude to look at both sides of the picture and solve the disputes without fighting hopelessly.
- It encourages the mediator to understand the reality of the situations as ‘what they are’ instead of ‘what might be’. Through meditation the individual understands how to recognize the reality and trust upon itself.
Personal experience about meditation:
I’m going to explain the concept of identity by posing the question, “Who am I?” The most significant person in my life is “I.” Through personal experiences, I have delved into understanding myself as a soul. These moments have been incredibly magical for me, unveiling aspects I hadn’t realized before. When I engage in meditation, every time I undergo an experience where I feel my soul connecting with the Supreme Soul. It’s as if I’m standing before God, conversing with Him just as I would with my friends. This sensation persists throughout my entire meditation session. During that profound experience, I’m reluctant to return to the physical world; words fail to capture these emotions.
Since my childhood, I’ve often heard from my family and friends that worrying doesn’t lead to improvements in situations. Yet, when things do take a turn for the worse, it’s difficult to remain composed and collected. The onslaught of our thoughts seems unstoppable.
How to control stress through mediation:
Through meditation, I’ve delved into methods for controlling my own thoughts and generating positive ones rather than negative ones. Externally, circumstances might not change, but our thinking patterns and approaches can be shaped in a way that leads to improvement. This has been an incredible experience for me. I’ve also been studying Raja Yoga meditation, which has greatly contributed to my sense of ease.
Meditation is progressively heightening my awareness about the profound facets of life. The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University plays a vital role in disseminating awareness about the connection between the soul and the Supreme Soul. It’s doing a commendable job of guiding ordinary individuals to explore their inner depths.
Through consistent practice, I’m aware that I can deepen my understanding of the soul’s connection with the Supreme Soul. I keep in mind that peace, happiness, love, purity, wisdom, truth, and light constitute our essence. I strive to emanate pure vibrations into the atmosphere. It’s worth noting that the Supreme Soul, known by different names in various world religions, remains the same universal entity, regardless of one’s religious affiliation.
How to discover yourself and change your outlook through mediation:
When I enrolled in positive thinking classes and began practicing meditation, my perspective underwent a complete transformation. I have evolved into a more composed and content individual. I’ve also unearthed my personal values.
“My life is akin to a DVD. If I handle my DVD poorly, it will end up with scratches.” –
“I’ve come to realize that we hold the reins of our own selves.” –
“No one possesses the power to make us happy or miserable.” –
“We might not be able to change the entire world, but we have the capacity to change ourselves.”-
I have now come to the understanding that worrying won’t lead to improvements. This phase of my life provides a valuable opportunity to study both myself and the Supreme Soul.
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