What is Meditation?

Question

What are the benefits of Meditation and what is the best time to perform the meditation.

Answer 1

True meditation is reflection upon the Word of God. The benefit of meditation is peace (see Philippians 4:4-9). Any time where you can find a quiet place to be alone is good. A person who is experienced at meditation can practice anywhere at anytime and under any conditions. Never meditate by blanking out your mind and leaving yourself open for anything to come in---this is asking for trouble from the devil. Always have a purpose to your meditation. Meditating on Scripture will keep your mind focused on the Lord and will help you in your fellowship with him. Always ask forgiveness for your sins prior to meditation in order to set the proper stage. Meditate as often as you can. The peace of God is the goal.

Answer 2

Meditation usually refers to a state in which the body is consciously relaxed and the mind is allowed to become calm and focused. Several major religions include ritual meditation; however, meditation itself need not be a religious or spiritual activity. Most of the more popular systems of meditation are of Eastern origin, though there exists also various forms of Christian, Jewish and Muslim meditation.

Answer 3

Depends on what kind of meditation you choose to do. Buddhist meditation teaches one how to calm the mind in order to learn how to do analytical meditation and so forth to practice the Dharma. Best time depends on the person, what your lama tells you to do, or not and how often you're meditating through the day.

In Buddhism the benefits are a calmer mind that sees the nature of things more clearly, can see the fact that thoughts and emotions are as fleeting as clouds in the sky, and can learn the Buddha's teachings as you progress in learning.

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Answer 4

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 5

There are several ways to meditate.
One simple way that i know is just sit in a quiet, serene place(preferably) in any comfortable posture and close your eyes gently. Just try to still your body and concentrate at your third eye(the place between the two eye brows)

As you focus there keep viewing the lights that flash in front of you and concentrate in the middle of whatever comes. you'll grow gradualy, feel lighter after a while.
In case your thoughts disturb you in focussing, repeat any name of God in your thought, at a regular slow pace, remeber in your thought, not out loud.

This meditation can be done any time during the day when we are least likelky to fall asleep... and at any place. ...though the early morning time is considered the best time. and prefered is a serene and quiet place without any sensory disturbances .

Benefits..? you experience yourself. Do tell me how do u feel after trying once. [e-mail]

What i would say is it helps develop concentration skills and feel better mentally, emotionally and physically. Peace of mind ensures a healthy body.

Answer 6

Meditation is mind with out agitation -- deconcentration ---

more than understadning it through words experience it !

take the Art of Living's Sahaj Samadhi course to expecrience meditation

Answer 7

meditation is about seeking your inner self , in the quiet of your own thoughts without distraction...
there are many benefits
peace of mind , and healthy mind makes a healthy body ( fact )
the best time i would say is in the morning when you are less likely to fall asleep ... and also what better way to start the day xx

Answer 8

meditation is to remember god 2 be healthy
meditaions keeps us fresh in all the work we do
the best time 2 perform meditation is morning time i.e. brahma muhurat 5.00,6.00 or7.00

Answer 9

I try and practise being as I am throughout the day, and at nite before bed I sit and try to be still for 20 min. Peace & bliss are the benefits.

Answer 10

There are different kinds of meditation.

(Please view sources at the end, Thxs).

Mindfulness Meditation {or Mindfulness of Breathing) - helps calm our mind down, producing peace of mind, relaxation, contentment. It increases and enhances the Cognitive areas of our brain. Improves memory, concentration and focus as well.
Excellent means for dealing with stress, worry, anxieties, mild depression, and anger.

Loving-kindness Meditation: helps us to be more patient with ourselves and others, helps us to love ourselves and others unconditionally,
produces a more kind-hearted and generous attitude in us, and helps us not to be so easily offended, helps to easily forgive ourselves and others in life. Produces Peace of Mind and Happiness.

Insight Meditation: tears down the cataracts from our minds, to clearly see things, people, situations clearly, as they really are. Helps us to see into the true nature of things. Helps us to successfully solve challenges in life in a very optimistic, productive manner, which does no harm to anyone else. Their are many other benefits of Insight Meditation as well.

Meditation not only brings the meditator a calm, content, stable peace of mind, it also helps us to see things, situations, people clearly and accurately so that we are able to think, speak, act and re-act in a healthy, non harming manner toward others - in order to love others, unconditionally. We do our best to bring to others, what meditation has brought to us, namely - peace of mind, and happiness.

We, do however, always respect the methods others choose to use to bring themselves peace of mind, and happiness. Even if those methods are different than our own.

Thanks for your Question, and Happy Valentine's Day to you, and your family.

P.S - you will receive Much better answers than this one, "and that is great, even better for you." My wife, children and myself have only been practicing Buddhists for only a year now.

Sources: "Coming to Our Senses" by: Dr. Jon
Kabat-Zinn PhD. {On Mindfulness Meditation).

Sources: "Loving-Kindness Meditations" From
BuddhaNet CD, by: Venerable Pannyavaro.

Sources: "The Beginner's Guide to Insight Meditation" by: Arinna Weisman and Jean Smith, AND "Open Heart, Clear Mind" {a beginner's guide to meditation) by: Thubten Chodron. Excellent Books.

With Metta {Loving-kindness & Friendship).