Everything you need to know about Meditation

2023, March

Meditation is commonly referred to as a mental practice that involves concentrating and focusing the mind on an object, thought, sensation or the breath itself, with the aim of achieving a state of tranquillity, mental clarity and relaxation.

A Little bit of History

Meditation is an ancient practice that has been used in various cultures around the world for at least the last 5,000 years.

Meditation has its roots in Hinduism, which is one of the oldest religions in the world. Hinduism emphasizes the importance of meditation, known as "dhyana," for achieving enlightenment and union with the divine and is practiced as part of the spiritual path to achieve self-realization.

Buddhism, another of the world's great religions, also has a strong meditation tradition. The Buddha taught various meditation techniques as part of the path to liberation from suffering. Buddhist meditation techniques have been developed over time and are practiced around the world to this day.

Meditation is also an important practice in Taoism, which is one of China's oldest religions. In Taoism, meditation is used to cultivate internal vitality and balance the body's energy.

Meditation has come to the West through various paths, including philosophy and religion. In the 1960s and 1970s, meditation gained popularity in the United States as part of the hippie and counterculture movement. Since then, meditation has spread throughout the Western world and has become a common practice for people seeking to improve mental and physical health.

What is Meditation?

In the West, meditation is commonly referred to as a mental practice that involves concentrating and focusing the mind on an object, thought, sensation, or the breath itself, with the goal of achieving a state of tranquility, mental clarity, and relaxation. In fact, these are just a few techniques to lead to a meditative state.

In practice meditation is the absence of activity of the rational mind giving way to a void that allows one to connect to the All.

A simpler way to understand the process is to consider that in a normal state the rational mind is constantly in reasoning, thinking, judging, or otherwise (as represented in image 1).

When one enters a meditative state the rational mind ceases its activity allowing for total dedication to the present moment and connection to personal energy and other energies of higher vibration (as represented in image 2).

The following images visually describe the two states mentioned above:

imagem 1 mente racional

Image 1 | Active rational mind

imagem 2 - estado meditativo

Image 2 | Meditative state

By knowing the workings of the human mind it is easy to understand that it is the constant activity of judgment and comparison, typical of the rational mind, that causes an illusory approach to the present moment.

In this way we distract ourselves from an experience in the Here and Now, and make it impossible for us to connect to personal truth and tap into higher vibrations that can bring us wiser information and guidance. This is the state that all spiritual approaches seek and which they call a state of Enlightenment. This state is attained in deep and advanced levels of meditation.

Between a state of constant activity of the rational mind and a state of enlightenment, there are many possible meditative states to experience.

Many of the current Western approaches to meditation focus on training the mind into a state of no activity. In fact meditation goes beyond this.

Some types of practices to train meditation

Mindfulness Meditation | Involves the practice of being mindful and aware of the present moment, without judgment or distractions.
Transcendental Meditation | Involves repeating a mantra or sound to quiet the mind and achieve a state of calm and tranquility.
Vipassana Meditation | A Buddhist meditation technique that involves observing thoughts and bodily sensations to achieve a deeper understanding of oneself and reality.
Kundalini Meditation | Involves the use of breathing techniques and mantras to awaken and direct Kundalini energy, which is considered a source of spiritual energy.
Zen meditation | A Japanese meditation technique that involves observing the breath and concentrating on a single object to achieve a state of tranquility and mental clarity.
Guided Meditation | Involves the practice of following the guidance of an instructor to help achieve a state of relaxation and concentration.

What is the difference between Yoga and Meditation?

The ultimate goal of Yoga is the attainment of Enlightenment, called Kaivalyam. To reach this state it uses a series of mental training techniques, energetic purification and approaches to life. Therefore, Yoga is nothing more and nothing less than a millenary proven formula to reach the deepest state of Meditation.

What are the benefits of practicing Meditation?

Meditation is a scientifically proven practice, and its benefits can be enjoyed in many aspects of life.

Here are some of the main benefits of meditation:

Stress reduction | Helps reduce the production of cortisol, the stress hormone, and consequently lower anxiety levels.
Improved mental health | Reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety and improves sleep quality. In addition, the practice can increase feelings of emotional well-being and self-awareness.
Improved concentration and creativity | Increases the ability to concentrate and focus, and boosts creativity and productivity.
Strengthened immune system | Through the enhanced action of the enzyme telomerase during the meditative process, meditation helps strengthen the immune system, reducing the risk of disease and infection.
Reduction of chronic pain | By promoting the inhibition of brain regions related to the sensory and emotional components of pain. Contributes to the reduction of the sensation of pain.
Improved blood pressure | Promotes greater relaxation of the nerve signals that coordinate heart function and tension in blood vessels, thus reducing blood pressure.
Increased empathy and compassion | Meditation helps to improve interpersonal relationships, by promoting a state of calmness and focus on the present.

Who can practice Meditation?

Meditation is a practice that can be performed by anyone, regardless of age, gender, religion, culture, or physical condition. The practice can be adapted to meet everyone's individual needs. Meditation can be practiced anywhere, at any time.

How and When to practice Meditation?

Although meditation is a natural process and intrinsic to being human, when not practiced regularly, its practice involves progressive learning and training.

To learn how to meditate in a solid way, I recommend reading Soul Temple's e-book "Practical Guide to Meditation - Meditation for Everyone" full of tips and exercises to make meditation part of your daily life or to evolve to deeper levels.

Would you like to receive an EXCLUSIVE Practical Guide to practice meditation step-by-step?
Subscribe to the Newsletter or send us an e-mail.

If you are just starting your meditation journey, I recommend the following guided meditation to experience all the steps of a meditation process:

Back