What is Meditation

In today’s scenario, its become common for people to be mentally disturbed due to unfulfilled wishes/desires in their life. This condition causes unhappiness and unrest in a person's life and derails the progress in one's life. It is true that one need to have a purpose and desire to achieve a goal in life.  There however is a myth that only success can bring happiness in life, which is not true. True happiness is keeping one's mind, soul and emotions under control, no matter what comes. Any uncontrolled mental state is harmful. 

Stress at workplace due to increased workload, interpersonal relationship, expectations, dissatisfaction with work etc. can lead to psychosocial stress and stress related health disorders if not tackled in the long run. Anxiety, Depression, repetitive stress injuries like neck pain, back pain, headaches, sickness absenteeism are some of the consequences of maladaptive response to stress. Unhealthy food habits, physical inactivity, wrong body posture, disturbed biological clock, signs of stress, and anxiety all play an important role in affecting our health.

Meditation is one of the ways through which a person can maintain a calm state of mind and achieve the life’s purpose. 

What is Meditation

Meditation, which is called Dhyan in the Hindi language, can mean different to different people. In simple words, meditation is a process that teaches you to control your dynamic mind and desires and help recognize the inner infinite potential in you. 

Meditation is a training in awareness and attention by focusing or just becoming aware of an object, thought or activity. To simply put it Meditation is a “Restful sleep with awareness”. I.e. Meditation leads to a calm state of mind.

Types of meditation

Based on how we go into meditation there are two main types “Focusing meditation” and “Open monitoring” meditation.

Vipassana, Zen, and Qigong are examples of focusing meditation while mindfulness and kriya yoga meditation are examples of open monitoring. Transcending in between these two is Transcendental meditation.

Meditation, perfected through practice, provides countless benefits to the body. 

Benefits of meditation

Numerous research studies have proven various health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, and depression, reduction in pain, improved memory, reduced sickness absenteeism and increased productivity at workplace.Thus, practicing meditation can contribute to overall health and well-being and increased work efficiency.

A few simple tips for an effective meditation

• Dhyāna or meditation is an act of continuous contemplation.
• Sit in any comfortable posture. Preferably keep your spine straight.
• Technique:
• Touch the tip of the thumb to the tip of the index finger, forming a circle.
• The other three fingers are straight and relaxed.
• Ensure all three fingers are side-by side and touching.
• Keep your palms facing upwards upon the thighs.
• Arms and shoulders should be loose and relaxed. Close your eyes and sit with a slightly upturned face.
• You need not concentrate.
• Just maintain a mild focus between the eyebrows and be conscious of your breath.
• Dissolve your thoughts and try to attain single and pure thought. Meditate.

Note: 

• For beginners, soothing music may be played in the background during meditation.
• Stay as long as you can.
• Five minutes of meditation done at a quiet place is enough to start within the house or outdoor where there are no people passing by and should be ventilated.

It is healthy to meditate early in the morning or late at night as the atmosphere is more peaceful at these times. It’s important to always meditate at the same time every day. This generates balance and helps to incorporate meditation as part of your life.

Do not let thoughts come to your mind, thought emptiness is the main condition of meditation. Do not think about anything while meditating. Although it is a bit difficult to do this, with strong willpower, you can stop the flow of thoughts in the mind.