what is meditation really?

Question

Thinking? concentrating?, or just escaping into your own bubble?, or a mixture of something I cant understand?

Answer 1

An ordinary person may consider meditation as a worship or prayer. But it is not so. Meditation means awareness. Whatever you do with awareness is meditation. "Watching your breath" is meditation; listening to the birds is meditation. As long as these activities are free from any other distraction to the mind, it is effective meditation.

Meditation is not a technique but a way of life. Meditation means 'to join together or to yoke' . It describes a state of consciousness, when the mind is free of scattered thoughts and various patterns . The observer (one who is doing meditation) realizes that all the activity of the mind is reduced to one.

A Tibetan Lama was being monitored on a brain scan machine by a scientist wishing to test physiological functions during deep meditation. The scientist said - "Very good Sir. The machine shows that you are able to go very deep in brain relaxation, and that validates your meditation". "No", said the Lama, "This (pointing to his brain) validates the machine!".

These days it is commonly understood to mean some form of spiritual practice where one sits down with eyes closed and empties the mind to attain inner peace, relaxation or even an experience of God. Some people use the term as "my gardening is my meditation" or for jogging or art or music, hence creating confusion or misunderstanding.

The word meditation, is derived from two Latin words : meditari(to think, to dwell upon, to exercise the mind) and mederi (to heal). Its Sanskrit derivation 'medha' means wisdom.

Many years ago meditation was considered something just not meant for modern people, but now it has become very popular with all types of people. Published scientific and medical evidence has proved its benefits, but it still needs to be much understood.

Traditionally, the classical yoga texts, describe that to attain true states of meditation one must go through several stages. After the necessary preparation of personal and social code, physical position, breath control, and relaxation come the more advanced stages of concentration, contemplation, and then ultimately absorption. But that does not mean that one must perfect any one stage before moving onto the next. The Integral yoga approach is simultaneous application of a little of all stages together.

Commonly today, people can mean any one of these stages when they refer to the term meditation. Some schools only teach concentration techniques, some relaxation, and others teach free form contemplative activities like just sitting and awaiting absorption. Some call it meditation without giving credence to yoga for fear of being branded 'eastern'. But yoga is not something eastern or western as it is universal in its approach and application.

With regular practice of a balanced series of techniques, the energy of the body and mind can be liberated and the quality of consciousness can be expanded. This is not a subjective claim but is now being investigated by the scientists and being shown by an empirical fact.

Answer 2

There are two types of meditation. The first type is intense concentration on something to learn as much as possible about it. Some Christians use this to study Bible verses in order to obtain the most out of them. Another type of meditation is where you completely clear your mind of all thoughts through the repetition of a certain phrase. Personally I believe this method can be a bit dangerous (what happens when you empty your mind of all thoughts?)

Answer 3

The first concept and theoratical basis of meditation was developed by Sankhya's.They termed meditation as "discovering brahma i.e.self"
its not escaping from reality or making mind empty.its awareness.Its understanding our own nature through ourself.Meditation is not exactly sleep but relaxation.Its futile to define in words.You start doing it after some 6 months when you will practice well,you will understand true meaning.

Answer 4

"Meditation," said his teacher, "hasn't got a damn thing to do with anything, 'cause all it has to do with is nothing. Nothingness. Okay? It doesn't develop the mind, it dissolves the mind. Self-improvement? Forget it, baby. It erases the self. Throws the ego out on its big brittle ass. What good is it? Good for nothing. Excellent for nothing. Yes, Lord, but when you get down to nothing, you get down to ultimate reality. It's then and exactly then that you're linked up with the absolute Absolute, son, and unless you're content with blowing smoke up your butt all your life, that there's the only place to be."

Answer 5

Clearing the mind. Although the mind can not be completely void of thought, the basic idea is to focus on one thing completely ie breathing, or the repetition of a word, a phrase or a sound etc. ignoring all other thoughts. It increases self-awareness, and has many health benifits.

Answer 6

I think the word "feeling" accurately describes meditation. Some people have a religious perspective to it and some don't. Either way, the person who is meditating is definitely "feeling" something

Answer 7

I guess it's relaxation of the mind

Answer 8

almost falling asleep, but supposedly not... and with quiet music and incense

Answer 9

putting your mind at peace =)