Meditation meaning and Importance

The word meditation is derived from the Latin word Meditari, meaning “to think, “contemplate”, “devise”, or “ponder”. Today, meditation has become extremely popular all over the world. In general, most of the time it has been used to reduce stress, to promote wellness and healing. There are more than 2500 research studies available on meditation. In the last 200 years, different meditation techniques are derived from the traditional Yoga texts and promoted by the Yoga masters and spiritual leaders.

Although the ultimate goal of meditation is same (calming the mind) the paths are different. However, in the west, meditation is considered as a relaxation technique to promote wellness and healing. The Upanisads emphasis on selfanalysis through intellect and establish the mind on self. Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Geeta says, ‘meditate on the Supreme Self by directing all the senses towards inside using the intellect’. Perhaps, the most profound description of meditation is found in Patanjali Yoga Sutra. Sage Patanjali describes Añöäìga Yoga (eight limbs of Yoga) to realize the ultimate. The sixth and the seventh limb of añöäìga Yoga are pertaining to meditation.

Dharana and Dhyana may be considered as the last two of four stages, which form a continuum in the process and practice of meditation. Hatha Yoga gives the description of the practice of meditation and its benefits. Tantra presents 112 of meditation techniques to realize the ultimate.

Meditation is a distinct practice in Indian philosophy and it is mentioned in many Indian traditional texts. The first description of meditation occurs in Vedas which is one of the oldest scriptures of Hindu culture. Meditation was a part of daily life and known to everyone during Vedic age. Recently, the archaeologists have discovered the sculptures in meditative pose in the ancient civilization, Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. Specific meditation techniques have been developed for the convenience in the later period.

A restless mind is like a lake, constantly agitated by the winds of desires, creating thought-waves of diverse nature. Because of this constant agitation, our true Self at the bottom of the lake cannot be perceived. To subside all thought-waves, a single thought is consciously cultivated by the repeated and uninterrupted practice of meditation. Then, the lake (mind) becomes calm and bottom of lake (ätman) becomes visible.

Meditation is keeping the mind focused uninterruptedly on a subject for a certain length of time. It is a mental process by which meditator becomes one with the object of meditation. Meditation is the seventh stage in Astanga Yoga of Patanjali.

Meditation is an antidote to stress

• The Neuro chemistry and Neuro physiology of meditation is just the reverse of stress. Stress: Over activity of Sympathetic system.
• Meditation: Over activity of Parasympathetic system.

Caution

• However, it is not a push button system, one need patience. Hence there is a 90 to 95% -drop out rate. One needs to have right guide, right method, correct understanding, appropriate place, constant practice, extreme faith and full conviction.
• Please do not sleep.
• Meditation industry is at height, because of commercialization, so one should be careful.
• Not to make comparisons, all systems are great

It means Meditation is the art of living in the present. Human beings normally choose to recollect past or predict future rather than think about present. This attitude leads to the vicious circle of hopes, failures, regrets and tensions. Meditation leads us to stay with the time thereby keeping us away from past or future.