The Benefits Of Meditation: A Gift To Yourself On World Meditation Day
Meditation is often perceived as a complex or mystical practice, reserved for monks, Yogis, or highly evolved individuals
While meditation certainly supports spiritual growth, it is a practice that anyone can adopt, regardless of background or experience. Even brief periods of meditation have been shown to bring significant benefits to the heart, body, and mind. In fact, the best gift you can give yourself on this day or any day of the year, is the gift of the art of meditation.
Unfortunately, many people misunderstand what meditation truly is. Some assume that meditation requires sitting cross-legged with an erect spine, in a perfectly still position. Meditation is not about posture. Meditation can be practiced comfortably, even while sitting in a chair, and does not require special attire, music, or candles. At its core, meditation is not about stilling the body, but about calming and silencing the mind.
The mind, like a monkey, constantly jumps from one thought to another. It generates roughly 50 thoughts per minute, which totals to about 50,000 thoughts a day. These thoughts are mostly toxic. This incessant mental activity often leads to stress, anxiety, and even depression. The goal of meditation is to reduce this mental clutter by slowing down the Mental Thought Rate (MTR). The goal is to bring down the rate of thoughts from 50 thoughts a minute to one thought per minute. We must learn to distance ourselves from our thoughts, by watching each thought as it comes. In this way, we become the witness, the observer of our thoughts, not their victim.
Think of the mind as a monkey with a tail—an ‘Ever Yelling, Ever Yearning’ tail (EY). By cutting off this tail, the monkey becomes a monk, and the mind transforms from chaos to calm. When the mind settles, we experience peace, clarity, and bliss. In this state, the intellect can shine, helping us discern right from wrong and empower us to make better decisions. When we no longer allow the mind to control us, when we still the mind, kill the mind, we feel more relaxed and in control of our lives. Remember, we must not let our mind become our boss. If the mind rides our life horse, we will be at a great loss. It is also in this state of thoughtlessness, no mind or Consciousness, that one can be spiritually awakened.
It’s important to note that unlike the physical organs such as the heart or brain, the mind cannot be seen. In fact, it doesn’t really even exist! The mind is simply a bundle of thoughts, constantly shifting and evolving. Meditation helps us to move beyond the illusion of the mind, allowing us to tap into a deeper sense of well-being.
Here are some of the key benefits meditation offers to the heart, body, and mind:
1. Physical Health Benefits
Meditation has a positive impact on physical well-being by helping manage lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and psychosomatic conditions like insomnia and chronic pain. By lowering heart rate and blood pressure, meditation reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It also helps alleviate symptoms of respiratory and inflammatory disorders and even eases muscle stiffness and arthritis pain. Moreover, meditation promotes better sleep, which is essential for overall health.
2. Enhanced Focus and Concentration
Through meditation, we learn to control the barrage of thoughts that often distract us. As we train the mind to stay focused, we improve our concentration and mental clarity. This enhanced focus supports creativity, self-awareness, and problem-solving abilities. For those on the spiritual path, meditation is an essential practice to deepen their connection with the Divine and attain Enlightenment.
3. Improved Mental Health
Meditation helps declutter the mind by slowing down the constant stream of thoughts. As a result, it reduces stress, anxiety, worry, and fear. By calming the mind, meditation helps regulate our moods, making us feel more balanced, calm, and emotionally stable. This sense of tranquility carries over into our relationships and attitudes toward life, fostering a positive outlook. The benefits of meditation on mental health also have a direct effect on physical health, as it aids in the management of stress and anxiety.
In essence, meditation is not just a tool for spiritual seekers but a powerful practice that promotes overall well-being. By calming the mind, it enhances physical health, sharpens mental focus, and improves emotional stability. With regular practice, anyone can experience these profound benefits, leading to a happier, more peaceful and fulfilling life.
