What is Meditation?

Meditation can be defined in multiple ways, in terms of both its philosophical and operational aspects. In general, meditation is the regular and systematic practice of focusing the mind on one thought, to the exclusion of others (Stone, 1977). The practice of meditation can be divided into two major classifications, namely transcendental meditation and mindfulness meditation.

Transcendental meditation, also referred to as shamantha or samadhi practice, is an exercise primarily in concentration (Kabat-Zinn, 1993). The meditator focuses on a single sensation, usually the passage of breath in and out through the nostrils, or silently repeats a word or phrase called a mantra. As other thoughts pass through the mind, the meditator learns to disregard them and return to the breath or mantra. According Maharishi (1969) this process of concentration is considered to be "one-pointed" because it involves "turning the attention inward towards the subtler levels of thought until the mind transcends the experience of the subtlest state of the thought and arrives at the source of thought." This transcendence is what leads to the deep state of relaxation valued in meditation.

Mindfulness meditation can also be called insight meditation, or vipassana (Kabat-Zinn, 1993). Similar to transcendental meditation, mindfulness meditation involves using the one-pointed process to concentrate on a specific thing. Once a state of calmness and stability is reached, however, the meditator is encouraged to stop suppressing and start observing the thoughts and feelings he or she may be experiencing. The meditator is to be aware of the sensations, but not to make judgements about them. The purpose of mindfulness meditation is for the meditator to be more in touch with his or her present state of mind and body.

Meditation may resemble other self-regulation practices, such as hypnotic trance, daydreaming, and cardiovascular and neurovascular feedback. Meditation, however, is unique in comparison to these other techniques because it involves being alert while the mind and body become integrated (Snaith, 1998). Meditation's emphasis on alertness and its ability to calm the meditator are what contribute to its health benefits.

Psychology of Meditation

Altenative Medicine | Meditation | What is Meditation? | Psychology of Meditation

Physiology of Meditation | Conclusion | References