About Meditation
Meditation is a technique which gives a unique quality of rest to mind and body. It allows stress and tiredness to be released in a natural way, resulting in greater energy, clarity and enjoyment of life.
There are many definitions of meditation, but the truth is that any attempt to define meditation with words falls short of truly explaining the practice. Harold Bloomfield M.D. has a short, simple definition that is useful to start with. He writes “Meditation quiets our usually busy consciousness. Through physically and mentally stilling the mind, we achieve heightened mental clarity”.
In the end, it’s only by meditating yourself that you really understand what it means to meditate.
What is the purpose of meditation?
Traditionally, meditation was (and still is) used for spiritual growth. Meditation can bring on increased awareness, greater ability to live in the moment, freedom from the ego, union with God or the universe, inner peace and many other spiritual benefits.
More recently, meditation has become a valuable tool for finding a peaceful oasis of relaxation and stress relief in a demanding, fast-paced world. After meditating, you will feel more relaxed, calmer and have a greater sense of well-being. You will notice that your reaction to stressful events changes and that you act with greater control and in more constructive ways. Meditation has a cumulative effect; after a time you will find that the qualities of calmness,
inner-peace and tranquility will integrate with all aspects of your life.
Thousands of research studies indicate that meditating for as little as fifteen or twenty minutes a day promotes improved mental and physical health and well-being.
Psychological Benefits
- Improved mental health
- Less stress
- Increased creativity
- Less anxiety and depression
- Improved memory
- Greater emotional stability
- Increased learning ability
- Better concentration and focus
- A sense of fulfilment and purpose
- Improved self-confidence
- Increased spirituality
- Greater awareness and intuition
Physical Benefits
- More energy
- Reduction of stress-related illnesses
- Lower blood pressure
- Boosted immune system
- Better sleep patterns
- Faster recovery
- Improved co-ordination
- Increased stamina
- Reduced pain
- Improvement in heart and artery health
- Better motor skills
- Increased brain function
How long does it take to learn to meditate?
The Ancients had no problem in saying that learning to meditate was a long and arduous process. Using traditional techniques, it can take many years of difficult practice before you gain control of your mind and attain meditative states.
It is unfortunate that most modern materials concerning meditation still put forward traditional methods, but portray them as easy and quick to master. This accounts for the high proportion of failures among people trying meditation – either in terms of those who get little out of their efforts or those who abandon meditation completely.
Krishnamurti said that “The greatest advance in spiritual advancement will come about with the integration of Eastern and Western knowledge”. Meditation Machines represent one aspect of this integration by using Western technology to enable people to meditate quickly and easily.
With a Meditation Machine, you can start to achieve the same deep, mental state as a Zen monk. But instead of taking years of practice, this will happen in your first session – automatically and effortlessly.
How long do you need to spend meditating?
You do not need to spend a great deal of time in meditation for it to start having positive effects in your life. Just meditating for 15 or 20 minutes, three or four times a week will give you the benefits of meditation. If you are able to devote more time to your meditation practices, then obviously, you will derive even greater benefits. Before long, you might find yourself enjoying meditation so much that you will make the effort to sit longer in meditation or to meditate more often.
There is no ‘best’ amount of time to be spent in meditation. Everyone is different and you will soon find the pattern that is best for you. Some people might like to have a single 30 minute session either in the morning or the evening. Other people may find that two shorter sessions, say 15 minutes each, at the start and end of the day suits their routine and circumstances. You’re the one who knows what will fit with your schedule and what will work best for you.
Whatever you decide, if you begin to meditate and stick with it, you will soon feel a reduction in stress, an improvement in your ability to relax, a general overall feeling of better health and well-being, and many other physical and psychological benefits.
What does it feel like to meditate?
There is no way to know in advance what meditation will feel like for you – only that it will be a positive experience.
Meditation is as individual as you are. It feels different to individual people and sensations range across a broad spectrum of reactions and feelings. Amongst the reactions often reported by people starting out with meditation are:
- peaceful and relaxed
- quietly positive and energised
- ecstatic and tingling
- surging mental and physical energy
- timelessness
- gently floating
- connection to a higher source
- a feeling of oneness
One thing with which just about everyone agrees is that after meditating you will feel more relaxed, calmer and have a greater sense of well-being.
Find out about what meditation can help with >