MEDITATION

GROUP 4
 ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF
MEDITATION
Meditation

 It is the intentional self-regulation of consciousness, a systematic focus on particular aspects

of inner or outer experience.
 Considered as a type of mind-body complementary medicine.
 Broadly divided into two groups:
1. Concentration - meditators concentrate on their breath or a sound (mantra) that they repeat
to themselves
2. Mindfulness - involve attention to all emotions, perceptions and sensations rather than
focusing on one particular aspect of life.
HISTORY

 In the Indus Valley, archaeologists discovered evidence of meditation in wall art dating from
approximately 5,000 to 3,500 BCE.
 The practice of meditation has religious ties in ancient Egypt and China, Judaism, Hinduism, Jainism,
Sikhism and, Buddhism.

They have incorporated various forms of meditation:

 In Judaism, Kabbalah - a meditative field of study. The best known meditative practices in modern
Judaism is “hitbodedut” (hit-ba-dee-doot).
 Islam has two forms:
1. “Tafakkur” (taa-faak-kur) - contemplative meditation and reflection upon the universe.
2. Sufism - less accepted and more mystical form
 Buddhism include: Zen, Tibetan, and Theravadan.
 Christian practices that are considered forms of meditation: counting rosary beads and adoration.
 Transcendental meditation (TM) was introduced to the west from the vedic
traditions of India by maharishi Mahest Yogi and was popularised by the Beatles in
the 1960s.
 Meditation began to be seriously studied for its medical benefits in the 1960s, when
a researcher in India named B.K. Anand “found that yogis could meditate
themselves into trances so deep that they didn’t react when hot test tubes were
pressed against their arms.”
 In 1967, Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Herbert Benson waited until late at
night to moderate a study on meditation, at which point he found that people
meditating used 17% less oxygen, lowered heart rates and produced increased brain
waves that could help with sleep.
 Yoga and meditation were introduced to the United States early in the 20th century
by Swami Vivekananda and popularized by Paramahansa Yogananda. .
 Elements of Meditation
• Focused attention
• Relaxed breathing
Types of Meditation • A quiet setting
• Guided meditation • A comfortable position
• Mantra meditation • Open attitude
• Mindfulness meditation
• Qi gong (CHEE-gung)
• Tai chi
• Transcendental Meditation
• Yoga
Ways to Practice Meditation

• Breathe deeply
• Scan your body
• Repeat a mantra
• Walk and meditate
• Engage in prayer
• Read and reflect
• Focus your love and gratitude
 Benefits of
Meditation include:
• Gaining a new perspective on stressful
situations
• Building skills to manage your stress
• Increasing self-awareness
• Focusing on the present
• Reducing negative emotions
• Increasing imagination and creativity
• Increasing patience and tolerance
 Some research suggests that meditation
may also help people manage
symptoms of conditions such as:
• Anxiety
• Asthma • High blood pressure
• Cancer • Irritable bowel
• Chronic pain syndrome
• Depression • Sleep problems and
• Heart disease • Tension headaches

Note: Meditation isn't a replacement for traditional medical treatment. But it may be a useful
addition to your other treatment.
Disadvantages of Meditation
• Increased dissociation of the world
• Might experience sleep problems
• Might lack motivation
• Physical symptoms to watch out for
• Might become more prone to anxiety
Thank
you!