Meditation

This article is about the induction of specific modes or states of consciousness. For other uses, see Meditation (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with mediation or medication.

Swami Vivekananda
Hsuan Hua
kirti qigong
Narayana Guru
Sufis
St Francis
Various depictions of meditation (clockwise starting at the top left): the Hindu Swami Vivekananda, the Buddhist monk Hsuan Hua, Taoist Baduanjin Qigong, the Christian St Francis, Muslim Sufis in Dhikr, and social reformer Narayana Guru

Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a 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 and emotionally calm and stable state.[1][2][3][4][web 1][web 2]

Defining meditation has proven difficult due to its wide range of practices across different traditions and cultures. In popular usage, "meditation" is often used imprecisely to designate practices aimed at training attention, calmness, or compassion. There is no universally accepted definition. Theories and practices differ within traditions, with some emphasizing the inseparability of meditation from their cultural and religious contexts, while others focus on its role in achieving a relaxed or devout state. Psychological research has offered various definitions, often emphasizing attention and the aim to transcend discursive thinking or logical mind to reach deeper states. Definitions by scholars highlight the self-regulation, attentional focus, and subjective experiences of meditation.

Meditation is practiced in numerous religious traditions. The earliest records of meditation (dhyana) are found in the Upanishads, and meditation plays a salient role in the contemplative repertoire of Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism.[5] Asian meditative techniques have spread to other cultures where they have found application in non-spiritual contexts, such as business and health. Techniques are broadly classified into focused (or concentrative) and open monitoring methods. Focused methods involve attention to specific objects like breath or mantras, while open monitoring includes mindfulness and awareness of mental events. These classifications reflect the diverse methods and goals within meditation practices, from calming the mind to gaining insight into the nature of reality.

Meditation may significantly reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and pain,[6] and enhance peace, perception,[7] self-concept, and well-being.[8][9][10] Research is ongoing to better understand the effects of meditation on health (psychological, neurological, and cardiovascular) and other areas.

  1. ^ Walsh & Shapiro 2006, pp. 228–229.
  2. ^ Cahn & Polich 2006, p. 180.
  3. ^ Jevning, Wallace & Beidebach 1992, p. 415.
  4. ^ Goleman 1988, p. 107.
  5. ^ Dhavamony, Mariasusai (1982). Classical Hinduism. Università Gregoriana Editrice. p. 243. ISBN 978-88-7652-482-0. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  6. ^ Hölzel, Britta K.; Lazar, Sara W.; Gard, Tim; Schuman-Olivier, Zev; Vago, David R.; Ott, Ulrich (November 2011). "How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective". Perspectives on Psychological Science: A Journal of the Association for Psychological Science. 6 (6): 537–559. doi:10.1177/1745691611419671. ISSN 1745-6916. PMID 26168376. S2CID 2218023. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  7. ^ "The Dalai Lama explains how to practice meditation properly". 3 May 2017. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Meditation: In Depth". NCCIH. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  9. ^ Goyal, M.; Singh, S.; Sibinga, E. M.; Gould, N. F.; Rowland-Seymour, A.; Sharma, R.; Berger, Z.; Sleicher, D.; Maron, D. D.; Shihab, H. M.; Ranasinghe, P. D.; Linn, S.; Saha, S.; Bass, E. B.; Haythornthwaite, J. A. (2014). "Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis". JAMA Internal Medicine. 174 (3): 357–368. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018. PMC 4142584. PMID 24395196.
  10. ^ Shaner, Lynne; Kelly, Lisa; Rockwell, Donna; Curtis, Devorah (2016). "Calm Abiding". Journal of Humanistic Psychology. 57: 98. doi:10.1177/0022167815594556. S2CID 148410605.


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