“There is no difference between thought and action, and stone, air, ice, sun, fear, and self are one.”

Peter Matthiessen,The Snow Leopard

Meditation Motivation

Meditation by its definition is the art of practiced, yet concentrated focus. It is the act of inner listening, an awareness of even the slightest sound. Combined with clear visualizations and rhythmically controlled breathing, it is the search for deeper awareness of the here and now itself.

The practice of deep contemplation or meditation has existed down through the ages and is very familiar to many groups and individuals. In its original intended form, meditation was an important part of spiritual, cultural and religious ceremonies. It became part of the tradition as a tool for developing greater spiritual understanding.

According to passionate supporters, the benefits of meditation are without question. One of the most prominent benefits is the fact that meditation has proven to be an excellent stress reducer. A deeper level of relaxation is said to be achieved from the action of looking inward. This is beneficial because it assists in both spiritual growth and personal enhancement. Although the roots of meditation are steeped in religious practices and cultural traditions, it is an activity that can and should be practiced by anyone.

In today’s society there are numerous styles, forms and variations of meditation. There are Buddhists who meditate while sitting, Christian orders who prefer to contemplate, and a religious order called the Sufi who are more interested in twirling movements. Despite their preferences however, all have the similar goal of experiencing “ultimate reality.”

The link between the mind, body and healing has long been established. This mind and body connection is not a totally new concept. Despite awareness of it however, the medical community has only recently come to terms with the use of meditation in patient recovery.

Several hospitals now use the practice of meditation as a valuable resource to encourage higher quality of life for their patients. It’s important to note at this point, that meditation itself does not completely replace medical therapies. What it becomes essentially, is a complimentary therapy to improve the overall mental health of individuals with drastically debilitating injuries, long term conditions, or terminal illnesses, and their families who are also affected.

If meditation seems like something you might like to try, here are a few resources to get you started.

Get a 13-page pdf “Introduction to Meditation” from Lifechoice Meditation

Free Meditation Guide Provides A Resource To Reduce Stress

Meditation Exercises Provided by Meditation Workshop

Concentration

Meditation Breathing

How to Gain Control of Your Thoughts