What does meditation mean? In this post, I would like to speak about the meaning of meditation, and offer a definition for meditation.
People often ask:
- What is meditation and how to define it?
- Is it worthwhile to practice it?
- What are the benefits of meditation?
- How to define meditation?
These are legitimate questions which need answers.
Let’s start with the definition of meditation. A good understanding of a term helps us understand it better.
What Is Meditation – meaning and Definition
Here are a few meditation definitions:
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- Meditation is a technique for calming down the nonstop activity of the mind and for experiencing inner peace.
- It is a technique for freeing your mind from constantly nagging thoughts and worries, and quieting the chatter of your mind.
- This is a method for relaxing the body and reducing stress and anxiety.
- It is a way that helps in going deep within and experiencing a sense of higher awareness.
- It is a way for sharpening mind and focus.
- Meditation means reflecting and contemplating.
- It is a path to spiritual awakening and enlightenment.
Meaning of Meditation According to Various Sources
Here are a few more definitions and explanations from various sources.
Wikipedia definition of meditation
“It is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.”
Merriam Webster dictionary definition of meditation
“To engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.”
Cambridge dictionary definition of meditation:
“The act of giving your attention to only one thing, either as a religious activity or as a way of becoming calm and relaxed.”
Meditation definition according to Collins dictionary:
“Meditation is the act of remaining in a silent and calm state for a period of time, as part of a religious training, or so that you are more able to deal with the problems of everyday life.”
People often ask:
- Is meditating suitable only for people living a certain lifestyle?
- Do you need to live in an ashram in order to practice it?
- Do you need to wear certain attire or belong a certain religion?
- Can a busy person meditate?
Below, you will find answers to these questions and a few more definitions.
What Is the Purpose and Meaning of Meditation
Here are a few clarification about the meaning of meditation and why it’s recommended to practice it.
1. Relaxation
A technique for relaxing the body, calming down the restlessness of the mind, releasing stress and worries, and gaining calmness and inner happiness. Its practice leads to peace of mind and to higher awareness and understanding yourself, your life and the world.
2. Focused attention
This term refers to a state of focused attention, and usually involves turning the attention inwards, away from the external world. In its higher form, its aim is to empty the mind of thoughts and enjoy inner peace, calmness and bliss.
3. It is an inner activity
Meditative practice is an inner activity, and does not require making changes in your external life in order to practice it. You also do not need to follow any particular religion, be a member of a certain group, wear special clothes, or lead a certain lifestyle.
4. It is a way of life
It is more than just a technique that you may practice once or twice a day. Its effects go beyond the time you sit down to meditate, and affect your whole day. Gradually, peace, happiness and clarity of vision and thinking will become habitual.
5. Spiritual awakening
Constant practice transforms the consciousness and can lead to spiritual awakening and enlightenment.
6. Expansion of awareness
It is a way to expand your awareness beyond the ego and become aware of your Inner Self and your Oneness with the Universe.
Is Meditating Suitable for Everyone?
This practice is suitable for everyone, young and old, no matter where they live and what they do.
You can live in bustling city or in a quiet village. You do not have to belong to certain religion and you do not need to live in an ashram.
Some people, who do not know what meditation is, regard it as an excuse to be lazy or run away from duties and responsibilities. They believe that it is an impracticable and useless activity.
This concept is utterly wrong and shows ignorance of what this practice really is.
To meditate and to contemplate, you need dedication, motivation and some mental effort.
Meditating is a most useful and rewarding activity. It sharpens your mind, expands the mind, and makes you more efficient and energetic.
Regular practice creates a state of inner peace and happiness, and remove stress, worries and restless thinking.
You don’t need to be a monk or a hermit, live in seclusion or in an ashram, in order to meditate. You can continue living your usual life, have a job, a husband or wife and kids, and still meditate every day.
During meditation, the mind often wanders away, and the meditator has to be constantly vigilant, bringing the attention back, over and again. This of course, involves some effort in the beginning, but as you gain proficiency, less effort will be necessary.
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Meditation Techniques
There are many types of meditation. Some involve visualization and others the repetition of a mantra.
Some techniques require contemplating on a certain idea, and others, require focusing the attention on inhaling and exhaling, the flame of candle or on a certain geometric shape.
There are many other forms of meditation, such as transcendental meditation, guided meditation and mindfulness. There are also Buddhist traditions that offer a few methods.
There are also techniques that aim to silence the mind, so you become aware of the inner self within.
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All the techniques of meditation include concentration. this means focusing the attention on a single subject, thought or activity, and not allowing it to wander away to other thoughts and emotions or anywhere else.
Don’t worry if you cannot focus and pay attention, with practice, this skill would improve.
Nowadays, this topic is becoming popular with all types of people, including people living a busy life.
Scientific researches have been made, and there is medical evidence, proving that it reduces stress and has various health and mental benefits.
Some people think that to meditate you need to sit down on the floor with your feet crossed. Actually, this is not necessary at all. Most people, would find it easier and more comfortable to sit on a chair.
Useful Skills You Need
Everyone can meditate. However, a certain degree of concentration ability, self-discipline, willpower and perseverance would be most helpful.
These skills would make everything easier. You can develop these skills, and the articles and books on this website would teach you how. Even a small degree of these skills would be most helpful in your life.
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What Are the Benefits of Meditation?
You might wonder what are the benefits of meditation, and whether it is worth your time and efforts.
A regular practice leads to a positive mindset and to more calmness and happiness. You also gain the ability to deal calmly and effectively with problems and difficulties, and to handle more efficiently your daily tasks and daily affairs of life.
Another most important gain is the ability to slow down, and eventually, even stop the constant, and often useless, chatter of the mind.
If you could watch your mind, you would see that it is always moving from one thought to another. This could sometimes, be tiring, and it prevents you from focusing your mind. It also weakens your control over your mind and your attention.
Meditation improves your ability to control your mind, focus it, and calm it down.
When you learn to meditate, you free the mind of unnecessary distractions, unnecessary thinking, and nonstop chatter. This leads to tranquility, mental clarity and to a sense of bliss.
A List of the Benefits of Meditating
- It makes your mind becomes calm.
- A practice that reduces the amount of endless chatter of your mind.
- It improves your focus. When the mind wanders away, you learn to bring it back.
- Meditation helps you understand yourself, other people, and the world around you.
- It makes you a happier and more positive person.
- This practice reduces stress.
- Meditating helps you to become a more efficient person.
- Becoming a more tolerant and understanding person.
- Gaining clarity of mind.
- It helps you grow grow spiritually.
- Clarity of thinking, insightfulness and an open mind.
Meditation Techniques
Where can you learn to meditate? There are meditation teachers everywhere nowadays, and there are various meditation programs, which you can find if you conduct a search.
Here is a list of a few techniques, which you might like to learn about and to practice:
Practicing “Who Am I” Meditation
“Meditation is sticking to one thought. That single thought keeps away other thoughts; distraction of mind is a sign of its weakness; by constant meditation it gains strength.”
– Sri Ramana Maharshi
“The inner experience of meditation can be had without any kind of forced discipline. The outer trappings – how one sits, breathes, dresses, and so forth – are irrelevant.”
– Deepak Chopra
You might also like reading meditation quotes.
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About the Author
My name is Remez Sasson. I am the author and creator of SuccessConsciousness.com, which I have been running since 2001. Join me on a fabulous journey to self improvement, happiness, success, positive lifestyle, conscious living and meditation, through my website, articles and books.