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Essay / The History of Meditation - 672
Meditation is a technique practiced for thousands of years by different cultures around the world. Meditation is believed to help drive away our negative mental attitudes and feelings that create tension and unnecessary stress in our lives. It also aims to purify the mind while allowing a phase of reflection and awareness of the present time. According to Manosha, if practiced regularly, meditation helps develop habitual unconscious behaviors that produce positive effects both physical and psychological (1138). Western societies have adopted meditation into their daily lives to help reduce stress, improve concentration, memory and general physical well-being. Studies have proven that meditation helps reduce frequent visits to the doctor and, therefore, reduce some unnecessary medical expenses. Stevens describes two stages of meditation, passive and active, as well as four different stages of meditation: Pratyahara; Dharana; Dhyana; and Samadi (16-18). A positive aspect of meditation is the ability to neutralize negative thoughts related to the daily stress we experience from past events in our lives or excessive worry about future events. According to many practitioners, meditation involves achieving a state of “mindless awareness.” There are two general categories of meditation, mantra and open mindfulness. The word mantra has two parts: man, which is the root of the Sanskrit word meaning spirit; and tra, which is the root of the word instrument. Mantra meditation requires the use of a selected instrument on which to focus your concentration and attention. Repeating this selected mantra will help you enter a deep state of meditation and disconnect from the negative thoughts that fill your middle...... middle of paper...... at first it does not not helped at all! At first, I needed more time to meditate. I had to put in the conscious time and effort and get out into my backyard by my pool and away from distractions to meditate. After the second day and a good rest, meditation, if I do it correctly, relaxed me, gave me answers to some problems that distracted me in my work and I literally enjoyed this moment of calm by me -even. I heard my pulse and heart beating with my labored breathing. I made it a point to get rid of my wristwatch during this time because I'm on the clock and it was distracting. On the third day, I was listening to specific bird and insect sounds behind my property. Now I think I enjoy my quiet time and the calm of meditation, although I'm not entirely sure if my experience during this very short time is true meditation. Only time will tell.