What is meditation?



 Meditation is the practice of focusing your attention in order to feel calm and gain clarity about your life. For thousands of years, Eastern philosophies have recognized the health benefits of meditation. Meditation is now widely practiced in the Western world, with the belief that it has health benefits.


Concentrative and mindful meditation are the two most common types of meditation.



Concentrative meditation, such as transcendental meditation (TM), focuses on a single image, sound, or mantra (a pattern of words spoken or sung), or on your own breathing.


Mindfulness meditation, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), does not have a single goal in mind. Instead, you are conscious of all thoughts, feelings, sounds, and images that pass through your mind.


Slow, regular breathing and sitting quietly for at least 15 to 20 minutes are typical meditation practices.


Meditation History



Reflection is an old practice that is accepted to have begun in India a few thousand years prior. All through early history, the training was embraced by adjoining nations rapidly and framed a piece of numerous religions all through the world. 


The phrasing utilized today to "contemplate" was not presented until the twelfth century AD, coming from the Latin word meditatum.


Ancient history





Around 1500 BCE, the earliest documented records that mentioned meditation involved Vedantism, a Hindu tradition in India. Historians believe that meditation was practiced prior to this time, possibly as early as 3000 BCE.


Other meditation forms were developed in Taoist China and Buddhist India between 600 and 500 BCE, though the exact origins of these practices, particularly Buddhist meditation, are still debated among historians. Meditation was thought to be a key component in the formula for moral salvation, contemplative concentration, knowledge, and liberation.


Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, which outline the eight limbs of yoga, were compiled between 400 and 100 BCE. The Bhagavad Gita, which discusses the philosophy of yoga, meditation, and the practice of living a spiritual life, was also written during this time period.


Meditation practice spread to other cultures in the West via the Silk Road, influencing religions such as Judaism. Plotinus later developed meditative techniques in the third century AD, but they were not easily integrated into the Christian faith.


Early history





Dosho, a Japanese monk, discovered Zen during a visit to China in 653 and introduced the practice of meditation to Japan upon his return, establishing the first meditation hall. From the 8th century AD onwards, the practice grew significantly in Japan, bringing with it the practice of meditation.


The term "mediate" comes from the Latin word meditatum, which means "to ponder." Monk Guigo II popularised this terminology in the 12th century AD.


Modern history and the Middle Ages







Throughout the Middle Ages, meditation became popular as a form of prayer in many religious traditions, including Jewish meditation.


The ancient teachings of meditation began to gain popularity among Western cultures' populations in the 18th century.


The book "Tibetan Book of the Dead," published in 1927, drew significant attention from Westerners and sparked interest in the practice. The Vipassana movement, also known as insight meditation, began in Burma in the 1950s. The publication of “The Dharma Bums” in 1958 drew more attention to meditation at the time.


The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, which used meditative techniques in the treatment plans for patients with chronic diseases, was founded in the United States in 1979.


Meditation has become increasingly popular since this time, with a 2007 survey finding that nearly one in every ten Americans has meditated. It is important in many religious traditions and rituals, as well as in helping people manage stress and improve their overall well-being.


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