When many people hear the word "meditation," they envision a robe-clad monk seated in the lotus position in the corner of some southeast Asian temple. He's probably chanting a phrase in a foreign language and is surrounded by rising wisps of incense, on his way to becoming "one with the universe."
Scenarios like that one certainly happen every day, but the practice of meditation isn't limited to serene monks in faraway lands.
Today's college students face dozens of daily stressors that can easily exact a toll on anyone's concentration and contentedness. The fast-paced world of electronic media to which we've become so accustomed can get overwhelming - especially with midterms approaching, homework to complete, social events to attend and employment obligations to consider. All too often, silence and peace are tossed to the wayside to make room for distraction and cacophony, and we're left wondering why we feel so stressed out.
Having moments of peace and silence in one's life might go against societal philosophies that celebrate action and haste, but they're crucial to maintaining composure and warding away worrisome negative thoughts. Anxiety and hostility are detrimental to one's health - as can be seen in blood pressure measurements - and meditation seeks to reduce both of these negative emotional states.
It is crucial to note that meditation should not be seen as a substitute for any medical treatment, but it can be a helpful supplement to medical treatment when appropriate.
Of the many ways to reclaim moments of peace during taxing days - meditation is one of the simplest and healthiest. There are as many ways to meditate as there are people who practice it, and those of nearly any age and physical ability are able to take part. Although predominantly practiced by Buddhists, meditation does not implicate any specific religion. It can actually complement the worship and prayer of any religion and, of course, it can be practiced by those who are not religious at all. The important thing to remember is that meditation is primarily a spiritual practice, so it transcends being used strictly for religious purposes.
In general, meditation is performed by finding a quiet place, like the corner of your bedroom or living room, sitting in a comfortable position and closing your eyes. Meditation can be carried out through a variety of specific techniques, and different styles work better for different people. It's best to experiment until you find one you like or to combine a few methods.
Many people suffer from excessively busy minds which constantly bring up questions, memories and what-if scenarios that make it difficult to concentrate and sleep. Through practice, mindfulness meditation is likely to help these people. After finding a comfortable location and position in which to meditate, attention is to be directed to the movement of breath in and out of the body. According to the Worldwide Online Meditation Center, "when thoughts, emotions, physical sensations or external sounds occur, simply accept them, allowing them to come and go without judging or getting involved with them. When you notice that your attention has ... become engaged in thoughts or emotions, simply bring it back to your breathing and continue."
Several other techniques for meditating can be found at the Worldwide Online Meditation Center. And mindfulness meditation is only one of a variety of methods that can help you keep in touch with a more peaceful side of life.
Write to Marie at mmzatezalo@bsu.edu
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