Meditation :: essays research papers

     Websters dictionary defines meditation as "to reflect on ponder, to engage incontemplation," which it really is, although, many quite a little be populateve that meditation is ameans of developing a more spiritual or religious life. Meditation does not necessarilyhave to be religious. Many people just meditate to relax or organize their thoughts. Meditation is a very broad subject since there are many ways in which to performmeditation. non only are there many ways but, there are also many different religionsassociated with meditation. Not only is meditation good for the soul but, it is also goodfor the mind. I myself have experimented with meditation and have found it to be veryrelaxing and at the same time stimulating.     One way to perform meditation is to first find a comfortable place to sit or liedown. thence you must have a precise, intense focus on one object. Follow and controlyour breath and note all of your body se nse impressions or impression the sequence of your thoughts. Second, be allowing to any thoughts that may enter your head. Be spacious and open-hearted. This is excellent for the mind.      Another form that is good for the body is body relaxation. First lie on your backon the floor, a supportive bed or a couch. Close your eyes and rest for a moment. Waitfor a facial expression of readiness. When you are ready to begin, tighten all the muscles that youcan, but never tighten them to the point of discomfort. Hold this for thirty seconds. Nextpay close attention to the sensation you feel and remember it. Then let all your musclesgo and allow them to relax. Compare the feeling that you are feeling to the one that youhad just felt proceedings ago. After a few minutes repeat this but, allow your muscles to relax fora longer amount of time.     Yoga, another form of meditation, teaches an eightfold path informant with theacquisition of pure moral attitudes, proceeding through practices of breath control andpostures designed to allow a person to concentrate without having his or her mind flurry by outside forces. By concentrating on progressively more abstract conceptsthe person achieves higher and higher meditative states, culminating in a contentlesstrance that constitutes liberation. Yogis, people that perform yoga, in more advancedstages of this process are said to be gifted with remarkable powers , such as specialcapacities for sight, an ability to raise and to project their minds into other bodies, andso on.     Religion is a major factor in meditation.