Meditation.Mind and Thoughts?

Question

What are the benefits of meditation, i understand the goal is to free your mind of thoughts but how exactly does this become an advantage.....theoretically speaking people say that it strengthens your mind which can make you do things that you've never even thought of doing. (example/true story) An old lady's grandson was trapped under a car and she was so focused on saving him that she physically pushed the car right off of him, and she explained that she was so focused of saving her grandson that she didnt even realize what she had done until after it happend....in your opinion was this caused by the strenght of a persons mind, how can you condition/strenghthen your mind and finally does meditation help with this?

Answer 1

Effects on physical body
(1) Healthier: One's resistance to disease is increased. That means when colleagues fall sick, one can destroy the same germs or viruses in one's own body due to the increased immunity developed from our daily meditation. Similarly, as cancer cells are popping up in our bodies everyday the meditators can also eradicate these malignant cells as they arise. Conversely, stress reduces our immunity and it may be so reduced that the cancer cells takeover, and start to form a primary colony in the body. The danger of cancer is that it is wild and unruly, and will grow incessantly to the detriment of the healthy body.
(2) Memory and Concentration: The meditator having achieved good concentration, has also a much better memory. He is now less tense and has an increased capacity to handle stress. He appears also to have increased energy with greater physical agility. He is able to sleep better, and the incidence of insomnia is greatly reduced. There is less tension headaches, and irritability. Aches and pains of the body begin to diminish. As mind-body co-ordination greatly improves, the meditator works more efficiently.
(3) Personality: He is now friendlier, and has a more attractive personality. He has more time for others, and is more tolerant of other religions. He is now able to deal with emergency situations without panic. Although he is more patient, he is more charismatic. He is also more sensitive to other people's moods and feelings. Additionally, he is able to take losses and bereavement much better. This adds up to an increased ability to let go: to be less greedy and more charitable.
(4) Psychosomatic illnesses: Conditions such as asthma, neurodermatitis and gastrointestinal problems (e.g. irritable bowel syndrome) begin to disappear as one continues to meditate. Weight is normalised. High blood pressure is also reduced.

Mental-emotional effects
After at least six months, one would notice that there is a reduction of anxiety neurosis and nervousness. Depression disappears completely. There are no longer feelings of inadequacy. Being much calmer than before, irritability has also more or less disappeared. On the positive side there is more self-esteem. The meditator can now solve problems better, because his mind is not cluttered with anxiety and unnecessary information. As one's thoughts become more orderly, one's thinking is much more organised, thus increasing one's creativity and productivity.

Spiritual well-being
Meditation tends to make us a better Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist. Our affiliations to our religions are strengthened. It also tends to foster trust with a greater capacity for intimate contact. One develops more compassion for our fellow human beings, and there is also a greater capacity for unconditional love, which means that the meditator does not expect any gratitude or thanks. There is an increased satisfaction at work and at home, and consequently we develop inner wholeness. We now know that life is meaningful. Of course, the greatest achievement would be our ability to let go: to have less greed, hatred, pride and selfishness. These four foibles when considerably reduced will affect our spiritual well-being tremendously.

Answer 2

It is not possible to free your mind of thoughts, but you can release yourself from their grasp. Meditation is not unique to Buddhism. Calm abiding (shamatha) and insight meditation (vipasyana) are, likewise, not unique to Buddhism. You can find these posited in many wisdom traditions. I think fear for her grandson's life and adrenalin were principal causes in this woman's ability to move a car. Heightened perception and special powers should never be the goal of any practitioner.

Answer 3

Truly a person meditates to be more alert and aware, to be alone and enjoy being alone.

Love is a natural consequence. Powers are obstacles, not benefits.

Answer 4

well think about it, your body doesnt stop untill your mind tells it to or it gives out but how often do we push ourselves to that limit? there is no telling how far our bodys can go with our mind unable to stop it. meditation can help very much it can help work out things in your life intern strengthining you as a person making you able to do any thing that you want. try it.

Answer 5

The type of Meditation what I'll briefly discuss has its origins in Buddhism.

Buddhism is not something one chooses to learn about on a whim, but for a Buddhist, or a student of Buddhism, such as myself,
it is something that can only really be understood fully, through applying it, as you learn. In Buddhism, one learns, and at the same time practices The Four Noble Truths and The Noble Eightfold Path. Most people have only a fair understanding of Buddhism,
as being a philosophy of life {not really a religion - for their is no creator god) that practices No Harm toward others, and a philosophy which practices meditation
a lot. While this is true, there is so much more to Buddhism. Reading about Siddhartha Gautama's {The first Buddha) life is where most people start, and that is good. I personally started by learning about meditation, in order to practice it daily in life.
So I'll briefly share from this perspective.
In Mindfulness (Insight/Vipassana) Meditation we learn to attentively listen to our own Thoughts, non-judgmentally, without being caught up in them.
*The object of Vipassana practice is to learn to see the Truths of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and the selflessness of
phenomena.
*The Pali term for Insight Meditation is Vipassana Bhavana. Bhavana comes from the root bhu, meaning to grow or to become
Bhavana means to cultivate the mind;
mental cultivation.
*Vipassana is derived from two roots being
Passana meaning seeing or perceiving, and
Vi, which is a prefix with a complex set of connotations that can be roughly translated as "in a special way" and also into and through "a special way."
*The whole meaning of the word Vipassana
is looking into something with clarity and
precision, seeing each component as distinct, and piercing all the way through to
perceive the most fundamental reality of that
thing.
**This process leads to insight into the basic reality of whatever is being examined.
Put these words together and Vipassana
Bhavana means the cultivation of the mind toward the aim of seeing in a special way that leads to insight and Full understanding.
As a Buddhist, or a student of Buddhism practices Vipassana Bhavana he or she clearly sees things, people, situations as they really are. It enables us to see into the true nature of things, without [what I call, as an R.N.] mental, emotional or spiritual cataracts. Vipassana Bhavana is the Buddhist means of erradicating all mental, emotional, and spiritual unwholesome, unproductive faculties. Then replacing them with wholesome, productive faculties, which we learn to cultivate on a daily basis.
Loving-kindness Meditation helps us to cultivate wholesome factors, but the benefits of Loving-kindness meditations are not permanent. The benefits of Insight (Vispassana Bhavana) meditation are permanent. Both forms of Meditation:
Vispassana Bhavana, and Samatha {loving-kindness) Meditation must be practiced daily. The more time a person can put into this practice, the more effective it is/the more benefits will be acquired.
Practicing the entire Eightfold Path daily is necessary in a Buddhists daily life.
There is so much to explain, but time does not permit me to share any longer.

*"Always remember though, that studying Buddhism does not give a person a clear understanding of what Buddhism is all about, 'one has to practice it, as they learn.'"
Buddhism helps lessen, then eventually ends the dissatisfactions/sufferings in life, helps us greatly acquire a stable peace of mind, and brings Happiness into a person's life.

Thank You for giving me the opportunity to provide an answer to your question. Hope this has helped a little.

Two excellent books to start out for one interested in studying AND "practicing" Meditation and/or Buddhism are (1) Mindfulness in Plain English - [on Meditation, *"it is a How to book]*" (2) Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness.
Both book by: Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
The first teaches Insight [Mindfulness] meditation, the second teaches how to Mindfully learn and practice the Eightfold Path of Buddhism.

The daily Practice of Insight [Mindfulness]
Meditation and Loving-kindness meditation helps a person to think, speak, act, and
re-act in a wholesome way, to acquire peace of mind, and happiness.
And it most definately enables a person to
control his own mind, and not be controlled by their unstable emotions.
I, personally became interested in meditation and buddhism, because I had a bad problem with anger, and impatience.
The first book I ever read on the subject was called: "Working with Anger"
By: Thubten Chodron. Many, many people who are not buddhists have benefited much from this book. A person does not have to be a Buddhist to practice Buddhist meditation either.
An excellent beginner's book on Meditation is called: "Mindfulness in Plain English."
By: Bhante Henepola Gunaratana.
If you wish to learn how to meditate.
This book is a "How to Meditate Manuel"

Hope this has helped you some.

Thank You for giving me the opportunity to give an answer to your excellent question.
Have an excellent week,and coming wkend.