Develop Your Own Meditation Style
The word meditation is used by a lot of people to mean many different things
. Everyone seems to be meditating on something. Various religions teach some form of meditation, teachers want students to meditate on their lessons, hypnotists tell people to meditate to achieve specific goals, and there are also New Age forms of mediation. So when people talk about meditating, exactly what are they talking about?
Meditation Defined
One definition of meditation is sustained thought, reflection or contemplation. This description gives you a pretty wide open boundary as to what is essentially considered meditation. There appears to be no limitations as to what you are allowed to reflect on, think about, or contemplate for it to be considered meditation.
Some people define meditation as "devout religious thought or spiritual introspection". However, this particular definition appears to limit your thoughts to spiritual ideas only.
Still one priest defined meditation as continuous pondering over of a particular scripture, verse, or idea in much the same manner that a cow chews its cud over and over again. While the analogy is less than tasteful, the point is understood.
There are others who believe that day dreaming is a kind of meditation. Most experts do not believe that day dreaming is meditation for a couple of reasons. The primary reason is that day dreaming does not give the same benefit as meditation. Moreover it is not something that one does consciously.
The general understanding people have of meditation is that the the result of this activity should be reduction in stress and anxiety. This ideal seems to put more limitations on what thoughts can be concentrated on than any of the official definitions.
Methods of Meditation
Methods of meditation appear to vary as much as the definition for that topic. What people choose to do when they meditate differs from subtle and nearly unnoticeable to radical and strange. Some of those methods include:
*Quiet - Some people just sit calmly to think about a certain topic which they choose to make them feel relaxed. This is one of those subtle methods such that a stranger passing by will be completely unaware of the meditation taking place.
*Humming - Some people choose to hum while they meditate. This is considered by some to help clear the mind.
*Mantra - Other people choose to practice mantra, a form of reciting a particular word or phrase, as a way of focusing their thoughts into a useful direction.
*Visual Focusing - Another widespread practice is to focus on an object such as a candle. This has been considered by some as a form of hypnotism.
Although some people consider meditation as a way to clear the mind, it is just the first step. This is because by every form of the definition meditation appears to require thought or reflection. As a matter of fact, it is even implied that it involves deep thought. So, clearing all other thoughts from your mind before focusing your thoughts on the predetermined subject matter will result in better focus.
Benefits of Meditation
There are a number of benefits that come with meditation. One of the main goals is to reduce stress. This reduction impacts the person's heath in many positive ways. This includes blood pressure, improving heart health, mental clarity and improving sleep. Since most health issues can be linked to stress therefore a reduction in stress definitely improves your well being in a number of ways.
Figuring out the most useful methods of meditation that are most useful to you may take some trial and error. Deciding what works, what you are comfortable with and what your focus should be will be the process that decides your personal meditation style. It is natural for your meditation style to change over time - just like your lifestyle. Whatever method you choose, the long term benefits to your physical and mental health are sure to be positive and well-worth the time it takes to develop your meditation style.
by: Michael Molloy
Vishnu Mantra Uncovered