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Art & Science of Meditation
Introduction
1 INTRODUCTION
Meditation is a practice in which an individual trains his mind and induces a mode of consciousness either to realize some benefit or as an end in itself.
The term meditation refers to a broad variety of practices, including techniques designed to promote relaxation, build internal energy of life force (qi, ki, prana, etc.) and develop compassion, love, patience, generosity and forgiveness. A particularly ambitious form of meditation aims at effortlessly sustained single pointed concentration meant to enable its practitioner to enjoy an indestructible sense of well-being while engaging in any life activity.
The word meditation carries different meanings in different contexts. Meditation has been practised since antiquity as a component of numerous religionstraditions and beliefs. Meditation often involves an internal effort to self-regulate the mind in some way. Meditation is often used to clear the mind and ease many health issues such as high blood pressure, mild depression and anxiety. It may be done sitting or in an active way – for instance, Buddhist monks involve awareness in their day-to-day activities as a form of mind-training. Prayer beads or other ritual objects are commonly used during meditation in order to keep track of or remind the practitioner about some aspect of the training.
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