What are the benefits of meditation?

Question

and what is a basic definition of it?

Answer 1

Let's begin with some of the important benefits of Insight Meditation.
According to Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn Ph.D. and all the research he has done {He also has a meditation clinic in Mass. USA) he states that Insight [mindfulness] meditation, stimulates and enhances the Cognitive areas of the brain, improving the intellect, and one's memory, concentration and focus in life. He states that it also helps us to perceive and see into the true nature of things [meaning]:
helps us to see things, people, situations clearly as they really are - to help us to accurately think, speak, act, and re-act in ways which are wholesome and beneficial to others and also to ourselves. Insight meditation, as most everyone already knows, also calm our mind down (for the human mind is often driven by anxiety), giving us peace of mind, and is a great antidote (cure) for worry, depression, fear, stress, anxiety {including social anxiey disorders {says Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn), etc

Let's briefly discuss what Insight Meditation is. *Please Patiently read this. Thank You.

"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 person practices Vipassana Bhavana [insight meditation] 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 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.

Insight meditation has provided me with a
stable peace of mind, and Happiness.
To share something personal with you, the reason, at the beginning I learned [in order to practice] insight meditation was that I had a big problem with impatience & anger.
And a loved one said to me, "You will never have peace of mind, or happiness until you learn to control your impatience and anger."
The first book I read, which helped me deal with anger constuctively was "Working With
Anger" By: Thubten Chodron. Taught me how to develop & cultivate Patience. Also
Insight meditation produces Patience within us , which is defined as the ability to remain internally calm, peaceful, and undisturbed in the face of harm and difficulties in life.

Another benefit of Insight Meditation is it also helps us cultivate wholesome communicative skill with others, so as a result it improves our relationships.

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

*If you ever become really interested in learning Insight Meditation, "with the intent" of daily practicing it, I would highly advice you to read the book: "Mindfulness in
Plain English"
By: Bhavana Henepola Gunaratana.
He has an excellent sequal to this book, called "Eight Steps to Happiness"
which I have also read, it is quite excellent.
But if your interested in Insight{Mindfulness)
Meditation, please definately start out with
"Mindfulness in Plain English"

Answer 2

Meditation usually has to do with concentrating on a particular thing like a word or image, and deep breathing. It helps to calm the mind. It can slow down brain waves to a relaxed state, and some people can even slow down their heart rates and so on. The most well known types of meditation practices are derived from Hindu and Buddhist ritual, but it can be applied to other religions, or no religion at all. It might be associated with some kind of ritualized chanting or body movement (such as chanting Hare Krishna, Yoga, or Sufi dancing). I can testify that I lost the desire to drink alcohol or smoke pot through Zen meditation that I learned from a book "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" by Shunriyu Suzuki. I wasn't necessarily trying to give up anything at the time, but that's the effect it had on me; I haven't wanted to drink or smoke since 1983 and I honestly believe it was due to meditation. Alan Watts' books on meditation are pretty good, I haven't read any of them for a long time, but I enjoyed them a lot.

Answer 3

The benefits of meditation are increased concentration, relaxed and pliable mind and well-being. You will also deal with stress a lot better, be more patient and kind and able to relax much more quickly in every situation. A basic definition of meditation is "familiarization." At first, there is the physical attributes of sitting - but this is no reason not to constantly attempt the familiarization of the mind with various topics of meditation. The precious human life, for example.

Answer 4

From my experience, meditation helps you keep a calm state of mind, improves reflexes, and helps you create a positive outlook on life. Moreover, studies have shown that if all teenagers meditated for at least 10 minutes a day, then grades would improve.

Answer 5

Learning how to find a happy place, your center, stress relief, relaxation, lower blood pressure.

OOOOOHHHHHMMMMMM!!! :)

Answer 6

there is no way to let you know when there is not a specific med stated here

Answer 7

go here

http://www.11meditation.co.nr

this may have the answers you want.