About - Meditation

A tool of many uses

The word 'meditation' has a very broad meaning and covers many aspects of inner training. There are many forms of meditation, just as there are many uses for its application. Basically, meditation is a practice or discipline that allows one to enter a calm and natural trance state of mind where a deeper state of relaxation and awareness can be experienced. Within this state one can contemplate deeply, focus the mind upon a specific purpose, subject, or particular area; process events, situations and emotions, or even completely empty the mind to allow for a deeper connection with inner guidance and heighten ones level of intuition.

Meditation usually involves sitting down in a comfortable position, with the spine straight, eyes closed and the tongue on the roof of the mouth. A common misconception is that this is the only way of meditating. Although this is the most common way of practicing or developing the meditative state, meditation can actually be practiced with the eyes open, and within every act or moment of ones life. Indeed, this is the goal for many who utilise meditation as a tool for inner development; to practice meditation within all things. In this way, meditation allows one to be totally present within the now, being mindful of every moment in life. One can meditate whilst walking, talking, driving, painting, listening to music, or within any act of life at all. Meditation allows one to deeply focus ones mind whilst heightening perception and observation of all things, enriching every moment, thus the term 'there are no ordinary moments'.

The main component of any meditation practice is breathing. Meditation involves breathing in a different way than most people breathe within every day life. This way of breathing involves breathing through the diaphragm with deep rhythmic breaths, often referred to as 'yogic' or 'rhythmic' breathing. Consciousness and breathing are inter-related. Consciousness is directly affected by the way in which we breathe, and the level of life-force (Chi) energy we intake with each breathe.

Humans should naturally breath deeply through the diaphragm so that oxygen and life-force energy (Chi / Ki / Prana) can be received throughout the lungs, including the lower nerve endings of the lungs, however, the majority of the human race (with the exception of certain indigenous peoples living in nature and those that practice meditation) have now become lazy in their breathing; which is referred to as 'shallow breathing'. Shallow breathing is where one only inhales and inflates the top of the chest in a short breathes without proper use of the diaphragm. As babies, we actually start out breathing in the natural and correct way, however, children eventually tune their breathing to the shallow breathing of the adults around them as adults have bigger lungs and are therefore stronger breathers in comparison.

Within meditation one re-learns how to breathe in the natural way. As one learns to once again breathe deeply in the correct way, it allows them to enter the focused state of mind. Within this state of mind, consciousness eventually expands, including a heightening in perception, focus, self-awareness, creativity, observation, intuition and internal clarity of mind. Meditation has been used for many thousands of years in this way for a variety of uses. It is known as a component of almost all spiritual ways of life, including both religious and non-religious practices. Meditation was the original core and basis from which the exercises and techniques of eastern Martial Arts and forms of healing techniques first evolved, originating with the practices of Buddhist monks. Various meditative disciplines encompass a wide range of spiritual and psychophysical/ psychotherapeutic practices, which can emphasise upon different goals or purpose.

Meditation can be been used for an endless variety of benefits, some of which include: