Meditation is the practice of centering your presence on the present moment, and bringing both body and mind to stillness. It is an attempt to temporarily free yourself of thoughts or concerns over both the past and the future. There are many techniques for achieving this. Commonly practitioners are instructed to focus on one thought, feeling, or image in an attempt to facilitate concentration, since the mind tends to wander during meditation--especially when one is just beginning. Techniques may suggest focusing on a word, sentence, or prayer, which may either be spoken out loud or silently to one self; or on a mental image (as in visualization), a part of the body such as the crown of the head or "third eye," which is the point between the eyebrows, or simply on the sensation of your breath entering and exiting your body. In any case, the idea is to quiet the mind and turn inward, away from the physical.
Generally the experiences felt during meditation are mild and peaceful, although it can also produce states of heady intoxication, bliss, and ecstasy. In some, it may also arouse mild anxiety, although symptoms are not typically severe enough to cause more than a mild, and very temporary, upset.
The practice is commonly associated with Hinduism and Buddhism, but one need not be spiritual in order to receive the many psychological and health benefits associated with regular meditation.
Try meditation now.
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