Meditation
Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.[1][2][3][4][web 1][web 2]
This article is about the induction of specific modes or states of consciousness. For other uses, see Meditation (disambiguation).
Defining meditation has proven difficult due to its wide range of practices across different traditions. In popular usage, "meditation" is often used imprecisely to designate practices aimed at training attention, calmness, or compassion. There is no universally accepted definition. Theories and practices differ within traditions, with some emphasizing the inseparability of meditation from their cultural and religious contexts, while others focus on its role in achieving a relaxed or devout state. Psychological research has offered various definitions, often emphasizing attention and the aim to transcend discursive thinking or logical mind to reach deeper states. Definitions by scholars highlight the self-regulation, attentional focus, and subjective experiences of meditation.
Meditation is practiced in numerous religious traditions. The earliest records of meditation (dhyana) are found in the Upanishads, and meditation plays a salient role in the contemplative repertoire of Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism.[5] Asian meditative techniques have spread to other cultures where they have found application in non-spiritual contexts, such as business and health. Techniques are broadly classified into focused (or concentrative) and open monitoring methods. Focused methods involve attention to specific objects like breath or mantras, while open monitoring includes mindfulness and awareness of mental events. These classifications reflect the diverse methods and goals within meditation practices, from calming the mind to gaining insight into the nature of reality.
Meditation may significantly reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and pain,[6] and enhance peace, perception,[7] self-concept, and well-being.[8][9][10] Research is ongoing to better understand the effects of meditation on health (psychological, neurological, and cardiovascular) and other areas.
Etymology[edit]
The English meditation is derived from Old French meditacioun, in turn from Latin meditatio from a verb meditari, meaning "to think, contemplate, devise, ponder".[11][12] In the Catholic tradition, the use of the term meditatio as part of a formal, stepwise process of meditation goes back to at least the 12th-century monk Guigo II,[12][13] before which the Greek word theoria was used for the same purpose.
Apart from its historical usage, the term meditation was introduced as a translation for Eastern spiritual practices, referred to as dhyāna in Hinduism and Buddhism and which comes from the Sanskrit root dhyai, meaning to contemplate or meditate.[14][15][16]
The term "meditation" in English may also refer to practices from Islamic Sufism,[17] or other traditions such as Jewish Kabbalah and Christian Hesychasm.[18]