Origins and method of meditation
Meditation has many different forms, types and adaptations and these forms have developed over thousands of years in many different parts of the world. As meditation is such an old concept the origins are yet unknown, but it is believed to have originated in India [1]. The way in which people meditate differs between cultures but the basis is to relax the body by either sitting or lying down in a comfortable familiar place and trying to clear your mind. This is done to stop the person from worrying about everyday anxieties and gain a better understanding of their sense of self and spirituality. Some meditate using different methods. One of those methods involves the counting of each breath as they leave and enter the body. Another method is the chanting of sounds or mantras as they are called in religious contexts. These are all done to focus the mind further and refine the technique to achieve more effective results.
Meditation pose hands open, [6]
Meditations use in religion.
Many of the world’s leading religions incorporate some form of meditation into their practices sometimes in the form of prayer. Buddhism is the religion most known for its meditational practices but Judaism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity and even Islam have central meditative aspects to their religions. Some of these religions simply refer to the practice as prayer but there is no real discernible difference between their prayer techniques and the practices of meditation. As they all involve clearing the mind, self-reflection and focusing the mind, the only added aspect when religion is considered with meditation is the reflection on god and their respected religious core values and teachings[2]. Other than that, the difference is minimal between prayer and meditation with prayer often being considered as religious meditation.
The benefits
There have been scientific studies conducted by Harvard university on the benefits of meditation. These studies have shown to have significantly improved the mental health of people suffering from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder. Meditation has been seen to help those afflicted with these conditions as much as other established treatments like medication and therapy. Meditation has also been seen to be a valid treatment for some physical health problems including irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pain, and psoriasis [3]. The specific type of meditation used in this study was mindfulness meditation. This is a refined meditation method endorsed by the NHS and even the world health organization [4].
Popularity and media
In recent years meditation has been more and more popular due to the rise in mental health awareness. Making meditation and it is benefits more available to people. With this rise in popularity and awareness meditation has found its way to many media platforms. For example, there is a smart phone app for pretty much every type of meditation imaginable. These apps guide the user through meditating making it more straight forward and bringing the benefits of meditation to a new generation. These apps have led to a new type of meditation called guided meditation in which they have an audio recording on the app guide them through the process of meditation. One of the biggest in these apps is mindfulness meditation this was the one used in the study mentioned above. There have also been many books published on meditation. Here are two helpful recommendations: The Chimp Paradox by Professor Steve Peters. And Why Buddhism Is True by Robert Wright.
Types of meditation
As technology integrates with meditation there has been numerous new types of meditation being created. These include focused attention, body scan, loving kindness, visualization, noting, skillful compassion, resting awareness and reflection. These are the newer forms of meditation that have been created in the wake of the smartphone applications. They consist of a lot of the same ideas but with a slightly shifted focus to allow for more specialized experience to cater to the individuals needs in a more effective way. These types of meditation typically offer an option for a guided meditation session. Which involve an audio recording guiding the user through the specific thought, breathing and focus exercises involved in their respected type of meditation. As for ancient meditation techniques Buddhist meditation involves clearing the mind and reciting a “mantra” this is typically a one or two syllable sound [5]. Meditation being the central aspect of Buddhist faith. There have been countless studies on its specific meditation technique and its benefits are undeniable.
Buddhist meditation, [7]
Bibliography:
The History and Origin of Meditation. (2019). Retrieved 2 March 2021, from https://positivepsychology.com/history-of-meditation/
[1] What are all the types of meditation & which one is best? (2021). Available at: https://www.headspace.com/meditation/techniques (Accessed: 2 March 2021).
[2] Susan Chow, P. (2010) Meditation Spirituality and Religion, News-Medical.net. Available at: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Meditation-Spirituality-and-Religion.aspx#:~:text=Many%20mediation%20techniques%20commonly%20practiced%20today%20originate%20from,help%20reach%20a%20state%20of%20serenity%20and%20insight. (Accessed: 2nd March 2021).
[3] (2021) Sahajayogaportal.org. Available at: http://www.sahajayogaportal.org/papers/whymeditation.pdf (Accessed: 2 March 2021).
[4] Harvard researchers study how mindfulness may change the brain in depressed patients (2018). Available at: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/04/harvard-researchers-study-how-mindfulness-may-change-the-brain-in-depressed-patients/ (Accessed: 2 March 2021).
[5] meditation | Definition, History, & Facts (2021). Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/meditation-mental-exercise (Accessed: 11 March 2021).
[6] Mingorance, J. (2021), meditation pose hands open, available at https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-meditation-2795927 (accessed 16th March 2021).
[7] The Spruce, (2021), Buddhist meditation, available at https://www.thespruce.com/buddha-hand-gestures-1275278 (accessed 16th March 2021).
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