In its simplest description, meditation can be described as a process of quieting your mind so that you can come in contact with the peace and quiet that is available to you inside, underneath everyday thinking and regular mind chatter. This peace and quiet is always there and meditation helps us find it.

A metaphor often used to describe meditation is the ocean. You can think of your habitual everyday thoughts like the waves and your greater consciousness like the ocean. When you meditate it is as if the waves are experiencing the ocean. Here you can experience yourself in a different way and have the opportunity to connect with a sense of peace and the underlying truth of who you really are.

Meditation is primarily an experience – you can talk about it, but to really get it, to really understand it, you have to practice it. Because once you practice meditation you are led to a place inside where you experience something other than your everyday thoughts. This is why, when you open your eyes after meditation, it is very common for everything to look fresh and new, at least for a moment or two.

The Yoga sutras. which are the seminal text of yoga tell us the following

“Yogas chitta vritti narodha” which means Yoga is the cessation of thought waves. This is not to say that you stop thinking or become unconscious, it means that the mind chatter stops and you connect with something deeper inside.

And then the sutras go on to say: “Tada drastuh swarupe’ vasthanam” which translates to: Then the seer abides in their own true consciousnesss – in their own true nature.

This is important to know because ultimately this is where meditation takes you – into peace and your own true nature.

The word meditation itself, is derived from two Latin words: meditari which means to think, to dwell upon, to exercise the mind, and mederi, to heal. Its Sanskrit derivation ‘medha’ means wisdom.

A common method of meditation involves a mantra or point of focus. It is interesting to note that the word mantra, means to protect, as in protect the mind.

As you might imagine there are many benefits that come from meditating including:

Enhanced creativity

Reduced symptoms of stress – life becomes a little easier – we don’t sweat the small stuff so much

Lowered respiratory rate

Blood flow is increased and the heart rate slows

Leads to a deeper level of relaxation

Lowered blood pressure

Reduced anxiety

Decreased muscle tension (any pain due to tension) and headaches.

Enhanced self-confidence.

Helps in chronic diseases like allergies, arthritis, etc. and reduces pain overall.

Enhanced immune system.

Research shows that meditation increases the activity of natural-killer cells, which destroy bacteria and cancer cells.

Connects us to our spirit and the larger whole

This article is the first of a series of articles on meditation. You may be interested in the others as well:

Preparing for meditation
How to meditate
How to deepen your experience of meditation
Bringing meditation into your everyday life

To learn more about meditation and experience the many benefits for yourself check out our audio program Meditation, Finding Peace & Quiet Inside at http://letsdoyoga.com/yoga/meditation.html

Author Bio: For over 19 yrs., Howard VanEs has been a dedicated practitioner of hatha yoga & teaching yoga/meditation for the last 14 yrs.in CA. Hi is the primary author of the “http://www.Letsdoyoga.com” wellness book & series. Howard offers public classes & retreats world wide. He is also a former psychotherapist.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: Meditation, Meditation instruction, What is meditation, spiritual practice, How to meditate