What is meditation and what will it give to the common man?

What does meditation give? What is the benefit? I realized this very clearly just when I stopped meditating.

It so happened that I did not meditate for a long time. At all. Well, what do you mean it happened, nothing happens on its own. I let it happen.

Except that I didn’t expect that this period would drag on. It all started with a series of events that affected my plans and daily routine, and for some time I gave up meditation both in the mornings and in the evenings.

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It doesn't matter what influenced it. What matters is that I, so to speak, plunged into the flow of life events. A whirlwind, a whirlwind, a hurricane of life’s bustle, plans, tasks, deeds, words and conversations.

And now, after the passage of time, looking at myself from the outside, I can compare it to the fact that I was walking along the road and suddenly the ground fell under my feet and I flew down at breakneck speed. You are flying and cannot stop, think, calm down, comprehend.

You just fly with the flow.

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Briefly about meditation

To understand what it is, I will briefly talk about the process itself. In a comfortable position, you need to try to clear your mind of all thoughts in order to concentrate on one task. By the way, the common belief that only the lotus position is suitable is incorrect. It is quite possible to sit on a chair or even a bed, the main thing is not to lose control and fall asleep. And for those who do not like to sit in one place, there are techniques that allow you to meditate while walking in nature. But in any case, each of them consists of several stages and has several types.

Mental changes

Memory, clarity of perception and thinking improves. A person who practices meditation begins to think better and faster, one might say becomes smarter. After all, a smart person, first of all, is not the one who knows a lot, but the one who thinks better. And these are not fairy tales. Scientists have proven that meditation directly affects the practitioner’s brain. The amount of gray matter increases. The level of beta waves decreases during meditation. Gray matter loss decreases with age.

But what’s most interesting is that the mental chatter, when we constantly think about something, recedes, and decisions come from the depths of the soul in the form of intuition. Now we don’t rush around in doubt, but clearly and soberly make a decision with the understanding that this is the only way it should be. And when intuition increases, we stop making mistakes in life. It's like the parable of the Zen teacher, when he went hunting with only one arrow, knowing that he would never miss.

Main types

1. Unidirectional . That is, you need to concentrate your attention on something, say something or listen. There are a large number of techniques, I will introduce you to them in the next article (concentration on breathing, on creation, auditory, active, passive group, revealing, deep, etc.). Usually one-pointed concentration is used to prepare for the next event.
2. On emptiness . Sometimes it is difficult to achieve it, due to the fact that there should not be a single thought in your head, not a single emotion should distract you, only relaxation and concentration on emptiness.

Well, let's get down to the most important thing - why do we need it? Scientists have conducted more than three thousand studies on the effects of meditation on the human body. The results may surprise you, but even skeptical experts recognized the enormous changes in the health and psychological state of the meditator. Even if a person practiced for only four days, there was an immediate tangible benefit.

How to perform

In treatises on meditation techniques and lectures by gurus, many rules are given for performing the simplest exercises; each one promotes his own vision of performing the exercises. In fact, they all have a similar mechanism. The image, the word, the breath - this is what a person should concentrate on when performing meditation. One image is selected on which attention is focused - while consciousness is disconnected from other objects. This is not difficult to do: imagine a blue ball. Make it the dominant feature of your imagination. In a few moments you will realize that there is nothing in the world except a colored ball. Make the exercise more difficult: evoke a whole image, concentrate on it, displacing other objects from your consciousness. Desires can also be expressed in various symbols, abstract or with a coherent basis.

Meditation techniques are based on the following principles:

1. Object-shaped meditation. It is carried out on a yantra - a geometric pattern with a hidden meaning or symbol.
2. Meditation on a personal idea. For example, you want to become a strong person. While relaxing, fill the postulate “I am strong” with colorful images on which you fix your imagination. You watch how the image is formed, improved, experience certain feelings, and remember them.
3. Meditation on sound. You can choose Indian mantras or come up with your own, which you will recite. You can use a rosary for control. There is special music for lonely thoughts: pleasant sounds of nature, birdsong.
4. Breathing meditation is based on deep free breathing according to the formula “one – four – two”: 1 second – inhale, 4 seconds – holding the breath, 2 seconds – extended exhalation.

Health effects

1. Lowers blood pressure and lactic acid (lactate) levels, thereby reducing post-workout pain and fatigue.
2. Helps strengthen the immune system, thereby increasing the level of protection against adverse environmental conditions.
3. Those who practice relaxation techniques are less likely to develop heart disease.
4. Reduces pain and helps with headaches.
5. Asthmatic attacks occur less frequently
6. Most readers will probably be delighted, because meditation keeps the body young and also increases life expectancy.
7. By engaging in practices, especially breathing ones, there is a high probability that the need for smoking or alcohol will disappear.
8. The quality of sleep improves, depression and nightmares go away.
9. Even children benefit, because the techniques help reduce the child’s hyperactivity, calming the nervous system and increasing concentration.
10. Your mind and body will always be in good shape, no matter what type of meditation you prefer.
11. Increases the production of the hormone serotonin, thanks to which we experience joy, happiness and interest in life.

Benefits and effects of meditation:

• Improves brain function, alertness, self-awareness and self-control.
• Reduces the production of cortisol, a stress hormone that suppresses the immune system and makes you feel restless and unsettled for no real reason.
• Reduces blood pressure and heart rate, which relieves excess pressure on the heart and arteries.
• Increases the production of good neurotransmitters including serotonin and dopamine, which play a huge role in controlling our mood.
• Activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which allows us to recover faster from stress.
• Reduces stress, resulting in increased immunity and overall well-being.
• Promotes muscle relaxation. Muscle tension is usually caused by stress and, if further aggravated, can lead to problems such as misaligned vertebrae, spinal problems and lack of mobility.
• Slows down the aging process. Meditation significantly increases melatonin and decreases cortisol, which has a significant effect on slowing down the aging process.
• Reduces stress, depression and anxiety. Increases stress resistance.
• Gives you an understanding of the meaning of life and your purpose.

I hope that now that you have learned about meditation and its benefits and effects, you will be inspired to practice regularly!

Impact on thinking

1. Brain function and thought processes improve, resulting in increased performance over time.
2. Memory is strengthened, and accordingly absent-mindedness disappears. It is also an excellent method for preventing Alzheimer’s disease, when over time a person loses the ability to remember events that happened 5 minutes ago, thinking decreases to the level of a two-year-old baby. By the way, if you want to increase your level of attentiveness, you can read a previously published article on the blog: “How to deal with inattention using a method that helps everyone.”
3. The process of information processing is accelerated, which significantly saves time and improves the quality of work.
4. A meditating person is able to discover and develop intuitive abilities.
5. Creativity and creative thinking develops.
6. Clarity of mind arises, making it easier to perceive difficult situations and obstacles to achieving your goal.
7. The ability to learn and perceive new information increases.

Myths and prejudices

Psychoneurologists “lure” people with promises to teach meditation in 2-3 sessions: “they say” they have access to super techniques for immersing the individual in the “cosmic emptiness.” Others use the principles of transcendental meditation, which are based on Buddhist practices - Zen, Chan, Bhoagavan Sri, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This is the highest level of meditation, which is not needed in solving the everyday problems of an ordinary person.

Psychics and sorcerers preach meditation on wealth and love. Supposedly, through meditation you can get big money, win love, and get your lover back. It is a myth. If you practice meditation, over time you will become a confident person, independent of external circumstances, many knowledge will be revealed to you - you will become closer to your goal, but meditation alone will not achieve money and love.

Another mistake is to abandon everything and spend hours meditating, trying to achieve “nirvana” or ecstasy. Don’t be like Buddhist monks who engage in similar practices all their lives - they set other goals in life, looking for their own spiritual path.

Meditation is not a way to “beg” some good from an unknown “higher mind.” This is a method of personal self-development, the formation of moral qualities, and the ability to control one’s body and mind. Contemplation is not a magic key that will open a chest of untold riches. You build a life of prosperity or poverty, love or hatred yourself. Meditation is an opportunity to change your life for the better, to become spiritually richer, and more tolerant of the shortcomings of others.

Effect on emotional state

1. Meditation techniques help increase self-confidence, give internal strength to implement your plans and, accordingly, increase self-esteem.
2. Feelings of anger or malice arise much less often, irritability and dissatisfaction with life are reduced to a minimum.
3. It becomes possible to control your emotions, which significantly helps to achieve success when doing business and important negotiations.
4. Depression and depression disappear, vital energy increases, arousing desires and interest in every day.
5. For those who are actively involved in self-development, I would like to say that thanks to meditation, not only the quality of thinking increases, but also emotional intelligence. That is, awareness of your feelings, actions, desires and intentions. After all, when achieving success, it is this type of intelligence that plays a decisive role, and not
6. A meditating person achieves internal balance, his anxieties, doubts and worries disappear. He is more decisive, stable and in harmony not only with himself, but also with the world.
7. Resistance to stress increases, which means it is possible to maintain warm and close relationships with others. It also reduces the risk of many diseases that arise when trying to cope with stress, such as stomach ulcers, headaches, heart disease, back problems, throat problems and many others.
8. A great way to deal with your phobias. Over time, the frequency and depth of fear decreases significantly, which causes a feeling of calm in previously traumatic and frightening situations.

In general, why meditation is needed is to improve the quality of your life. After all, over time, people who practice it reduce the desire to enter into conflicts, they are more efficient and achieve a high level of self-regulation.

During difficult life situations, they can rely on their internal resources without losing composure and control. In addition, the confidence that everything in your life depends only on you, and you can become whatever you want, is very motivating for achievements, causing interest and excitement for life.

Training process

Meditation as a training process includes an athlete (student), a coach (guru), and a meditation session program. The relationship between coach and athlete must be trusting; there is no room for doubt. The guru must have worldly experience, intelligence, and the practice of psychological influence. This role can be played by professional psychologists, coaches, and physical education teachers. The main requirement for successful meditation is the absolute faith of the student, community, close unity between the coach and the athlete. Without this, there is no sport of the highest achievements.

Experts recommend a creative approach to the process of mastering self-improvement skills. Adviсe:

1. Progressively develop observations of your own psyche, avoiding biased assessments of “good or bad.” Adhere to the rule, “whatever the state is, that’s the way it should be.”
2. Fix images in the mind, making “mental” notches.
3. During the exercises, perform conscious rhythmic breathing in a count: inhale – pause – exhale. The meditator's attention is drawn to the movement of the anterior abdominal wall of the abdomen during the three phases of breathing.
4. Go into a state of complete relaxation and focus on any object, idea, sound.
5. Narrowing of the field of consciousness: unnecessary sounds, objects, ideas go beyond the limits of consciousness. This state is called “emptiness”. The ability to call it helps athletes in extreme conditions, where they need to make a lightning-fast decision.

Common characteristics of people who meditate

When performing techniques, a wide range of emotions and experiences arise, which can sometimes alternate, replacing each other, but in the end leaving joy and peace. For example, a feeling of intense love may appear, which will be replaced by anger, and then a feeling of peace will come. This is a very interesting living experience, during which a person becomes more conscious, responsible and developed. The action is so effective and inevitable that there are even common characteristics of people that distinguish them from others who do not practice this method of self-development:

• Openness to learning something new;
• Interest in your inner world, experience and sensations;
• Increased ability to concentrate your attention on necessary things and processes;
• A very significant ability for a person is to accept others as they are, and, accordingly, themselves too. With all the shortcomings and negative personality traits. After all, changes for the better occur when we realize the present and recognize what we have and have, even if we don’t like it.
• A high level of self-control, a meditating person will not allow himself to be led by feelings, allowing himself outbursts of rage or scandals. If only because he has a simpler attitude towards life, is not prone to neuroses, and simply practically does not feel such charged emotions as rage.

Meditations in the aspect of wish fulfillment

Meditation gives you the energy and strength to create the future of your dreams!

As a rule, many people want quick results from meditation. However, it takes more time for your wish to come true. Internal and external transformations are inextricably linked. According to experts, the process itself can and should bring pleasure. And the manifestation of results in reality is just a pleasant bonus from the practices. Meditation in this case gives you the energy and strength to build the future of your dreams!

Reviews for certain types of meditation are completely different. We recommend trying each of the options found in order to weed out unnecessary practices that are not suitable for you.

What does meditation bring to a person? The main request of people at seminars and on the Internet. However, we should not forget about the primary needs of each person. Getting rid of stress is an important point that every person needs. Overload at work, soured relationships with relatives or problems in your personal life - meditation. This is an absolutely safe mixture for your health and mental state. The effects of practices, as a rule, are much greater than just unloading the consciousness.

By reaching a new, more harmonious level of life, you become more indifferent to stress and nervous shocks!