Meditation

A practice where individuals use techniques to focus their attention and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state.

What is 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."

How is meditation practiced?

- "Meditation is practiced in numerous religious traditions." - "The earliest records of meditation (dhyana) are found in the Upanishads..." - "Meditation plays a salient role in the contemplative repertoire of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism."

In what non-spiritual contexts has meditation found application?

- "Asian meditative techniques have spread to other cultures where they have also found application in non-spiritual contexts, such as business and health."

What are some potential benefits of meditation?

- "Meditation may significantly reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, and enhance peace, perception, self-concept, and well-being."

What is the ongoing research focused on regarding meditation?

- "Research is ongoing to better understand the effects of meditation on health (psychological, neurological, and cardiovascular) and other areas."

Where are the earliest records of meditation found?

- "The earliest records of meditation (dhyana) are found in the Upanishads..."

Name some religious traditions in which meditation is practiced.

- "Meditation plays a salient role in the contemplative repertoire of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism."

What are some potential effects of meditation on health?

- "Meditation may significantly reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and pain..."

How does meditation train attention and awareness?

- "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..."

What are the possible impacts of meditation on perception and self-concept?

- "Meditation may significantly reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, and enhance... perception, self-concept, and well-being."

In what areas is research being conducted on the effects of meditation?

- "Research is ongoing to better understand the effects of meditation on health (psychological, neurological, and cardiovascular) and other areas."

How has meditation spread to other cultures?

- "Asian meditative techniques have spread to other cultures..."

What are the potential benefits of meditation on well-being?

- "Meditation may significantly reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, and enhance peace, perception, self-concept, and well-being."

What is the focus of meditation in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism?

- "Meditation plays a salient role in the contemplative repertoire of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism."

How does meditation contribute to achieving a mentally clear state?

- "Meditation is a practice... to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state."

What are some applications of meditation outside of spirituality?

- "Asian meditative techniques have spread to other cultures where they have also found application in non-spiritual contexts, such as business and health."

What is the historical significance of meditation in religious traditions?

- "The earliest records of meditation (dhyana) are found in the Upanishads..."

What is the goal of meditation?

- "to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state"

How does meditation impact pain perception?

- "Meditation may significantly... reduce pain..."

How does meditation affect anxiety levels?

- "Meditation may significantly reduce... anxiety..."