A noun to the action or practice of meditation.
meditation
is a mental exercise that involves relaxation, concentration and awareness. Meditation is for the mind what physical exercise is for the body. The practice is usually done individually, in a position still seated and with the eyes closed.To learn how to follow these steps for yourself and how to deal with the obstacles that normally arise, check out my Meditation for Beginners post. In general, meditation involves establishing a focal point to free yourself from distractions, while finding stillness in a firm and stable posture. In Christianity, meditation is a type of contemplative prayer that creates a sense of union with God, or contemplation of religious subjects. In Buddhism, meditation is one of the three fundamental practices for purifying the mind and achieving nirvana.
Today, meditation has more the meaning of this exercise of focusing attention than of deep reflection. Meditation and mindfulness have become very popular in recent years, but most people can't really define meditation, understand its purpose, or appreciate what meditation is for. For a more structured, step-by-step approach, or for a beginner's meditation guide, see my book Practical Meditation and the Master Your Mind meditation course. The approach I recommend is to experiment with different meditation techniques for a short period of time each (for example, a week) and keep a diary of your experiences.
If you want to follow a step-by-step online program that will guide you in developing the habit of meditation and choosing the best practice for you, check out my meditation course. Meditation cultivates self-awareness and provides the optimal conditions for practicing the skill of mindfulness. All of these practices are also good and useful, but they are different from meditation (although some meditation techniques may make use of some of these elements). These example sentences are automatically selected from various online news sources to reflect the current use of the word “meditate”.
It takes years of practice, dedication and discipline to achieve the truly meditative state known as dhyana, in which it is no longer possible to perceive the act of meditation or separate a sense of self from it. While some traditions, such as Zen and Yoga, teach the state of no mind as an ultimate goal, it is widely recognized that the practice of meditation itself involves thoughts as a cornerstone.
