Article by Ace Smith

Have you ever gone to the beach and just looked at the sunset, smelled the saltiness of the sea in the air, felt the fineness of the sand beneath your feet? Have you ever sat beside a river and listened to the sound of rushing water? Or have you taken a quiet time and listened to the song of the birds of the air, or just concentrated on the voices of the crickets calling out to each other? Did you know that you were already meditating then, or did you just realize that truth now?

Many people meditate for different reasons: some to get away from the “realities” of life, some do so to relax, while others just want to be alone. Meditation is not limited by religion. Yes, there are religions that have meditation as one of their important practices, though they may call it by different names, but the concepts are the same. Buddhists, Zen Buddhists, those who practice Hinduism, Taoism, most of the other Eastern religions, these are the people who practice meditation because it is infused in their belief systems. Even Christians meditate in their own practice. So basically, whether you are a Hindu or a Christian, a business tycoon or a doctor, a student or a professional, whatever your religion, whatever your beliefs, whatever your gender, whoever you may be, you can and have every right to meditate.

Why do people meditate?

In many articles, it said there that meditation aids in the reduction of stress. Meditation strengthens our immune system and fortifies our body’s defenses. So in effect, meditation helps us not be sick and live longer lives. This fact has been the focus of many researches over the years, while even more developments are being discovered about meditation and health.

Originally, meditation techniques such as yoga and tai chi were used for clearing the mind and strengthening the spiritual energy. But as time passed, people became less interested in the meditation part and focused more on the body sculpting aspect. Yoga and tai chi became popular forms of exercise instead of just meditation techniques. Yoga and tai chi are often integrated into exercise routines for individuals or group sessions.

Aside from the physical goals meditation practitioners aim for, many persons meditate because of mental benefits. Even psychiatrists and behavioral psychologists use meditation to help calm their patients. In some cases, it helps them deal with traumatic experiences, overwhelming grief, and other emotional problems. Some persons who reach their retirement age use meditation to avoid ailments related to ageing, such as Alzheimer’s disease and muscular pain.

Professionals and students alike use meditation to improve their concentration. There have been studies that determined how meditation helps in cognitive receptiveness of its practitioners. They become more attentive and are able to retain more information through the help of meditative practice.

In relation to religion, meditation enabled practitioners to attain full enlightenment and a virtuous state of mind. It enables them to gain wisdom and a deeper understanding of the subconscious. It also enables them to achieve a higher level of spirituality, which results to qualities such as compassion, kindness, and all others.

About the Author

Ace Smith is a prolific writer touching base on topics like Technology, Travel, Health and others. For more information you can drop by his web sites that deals with: Credit & Finance, Africa and Jewelry.