If you are inclined towards practicing meditation or just learned how to meditate and can't help but keep thinking about the concept of meditation and whether it has a specific purpose. In that case, this article will help clear everything up for you.
Learning more about the goal of meditation, what it means, and whether it has a particular purpose will help make the practice much more straightforward and fun to do, and you'll keep seeing positive results much faster. So, what exactly is meditation for? The primary objective of meditation is to help gradually improve your willpower, acquire a degree of mental energy, and reduce stress. This will help strengthen your ability to tap into your conscious mind.
Meditation will help you discover yourself in the truest sense. It will allow you to understand your existence, help declutter your mind, eliminate negative feelings, and become mentally strong enough not to be ruled by your emotions, no matter your situation.
Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, sums up the concept of meditation well. He aptly stated that the journey to acquiring true wisdom begins with first understanding yourself. It would be best if you were in harmony with the 'self'. You need to be more conscious of the things around you; this is what guided meditation, and a good breathing practice can help you with.
There are numerous benefits of meditation. For example, it keeps you level-headed, helps you relax, and keeps your body free of stress. According to meta-analysis, most forms of meditation (including yoga) can help lower symptoms associated with numerous health conditions such as heart disease, anxiety, and hypertension.
A Brief Look into the History of Meditation
Meditation has existed for thousands of years. It primarily originated from Buddhist practices. But while there are different types of meditation practices and the schools of thought surrounding it, experts say that the ancient Hindu civilization practiced meditation more than 2,000 years ago.
The art and practice of breathing and focusing on the inner self is still a powerful part of many different types of cultures and religions throughout the world. And while the term meditation is relatively modern, the practice is only sometimes known by this term in Eastern religions. The word "meditation" is derived from ancient Latin and translates to "to reflect" or "to contemplate". However, there are plenty of benefits of meditation.
Defining Meditation
Many people picture a random, Eastern man sitting at the corner of a cliff or a temple with his eyes shut and legs crossed to meditate when they hear the term meditation. And while they're not entirely wrong, it is essential to understand that there are many types of meditation techniques and forms, such as (mindfulness meditation and transcendental meditation), found in different cultures in the world.
It's all about finding the type of meditation that suits you and your lifestyle. Moreover, outer circumstances have led the west to make meditation a powerful part of Christian tradition. Although most forms of mediation are similar, the ultimate goal of the practice remains the same.
Simply put, the primary definition of meditation is the art of synchronizing your mind and body through breathing exercises. Its goal is to enable you to find a sense of calm and peace mentally and physically, expanding your conscious awareness. It helps you live your life with a powerful sense of contentment and appreciation.
This is the true goal of meditation and learning the practice of focused breathing. In addition, studies suggest that meditation can also help lower cortisol, which is a stress hormone. And the best part is you don't need special equipment to practice breath control or perform different meditation techniques.