A modern mind is sensitive as well as confused, and it can think of things that are not even valuable to bother ourselves with. Human mind is always busy and full of thoughts and ideas that circulate within. Sometimes, we can stop these thoughts but often we fail to control them. Rarely, these ideas are beneficial for our mental health but often they distract us from the main track. They cause anxiety, depression, and mental illness. To overcome these psychological problems, we need to include meditation in our life.
History and Origin:
A word ‘meditation’ may look new, but it has roots in ancient history. Meditation is an ancient practice that is believed to originate in India several thousand years ago. Throughout early history, the practice was adopted by neighboring countries quickly and formed a part of many religions throughout the world.
The answer to the question that when was meditation first practiced is very difficult. Because many scholars believe that it started thousands of years ago but to pinpoint its origin is debatable. Precisely, no one is certain about the origin of meditation. Throughout civilizations, irrespective of any religion, culture, time people have practiced it. There are various beliefs in different cultures and religions about its existence. Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, all have contributed to this practice and evolved it through times.
What does it mean?
To highlight the question that what is meditation? We must look at the etymology and definition of the word, meditation. According to Wikipedia, the English meditation is derived from old French word meditacioun, meaning “to think, contemplate, devise, ponder”.
If you think that meditation changes you with a snap of a finger, then this perception is fallacious. It does not mean to make you a completely different person neither meditation allow you to change instantly. It is an ongoing practice that gradually changes the mind of person to think straight and sound.
Meditation simply means to allow yourself to think about knowing your inner self. It requires deliberate effort to make who you truly are. It connects you with a person sleeping inside your body and reminds you, your actual self. It links your body with your soul and allows the process of communication between them. It changes your way of thinking and perceptions of the world.
Meditation as a skill:
Meditation, in some ways, is same as any other skill. You start to learn about skill and with time you practice achieving that skill and then use it in making your life better. Same is the case with meditation, first, you learn about it and then practice it and at the end it helps you to make your mind and psyche strong. But it is somehow a complex process because it is concerned with brain. It helps to control brain of a person in very effective way. It is the process of turning your focus to one point and eliminates other stressful thoughts that exist in outer world.
Is meditation a simple practice?
It is a psychological exercise that controls your mind to fix at present time. It allows your thoughts to flow freely without attaching yourself to them. It is not simple as it looks, since it includes to retain thoughts, letting them stream freely, and controlling them to move in the right direction. This exercise needs practice and devotion.
Is meditation helpful?
To think of meditation as a perfect practice to eliminate any kind of stress and depression will not be wrong. But it is also important to keep in your mind that meditation needs consistency. If you want to make your mind free from irrelevant ideas, you will need to practice it regularly. Furthermore, it does not completely change you, but allow you to improve your personality slowly and steadily.
Why do people practice meditation?
The reason why people meditate is that happiness is related to state of mind and it is the product of feelings and thoughts. Through meditation, you can eliminate those external factors which are irrelevant. These factors not only can unstable you but also confuse you in taking the right decisions. They stop you from thinking logically and effectively to achieve your goals.
Meditation is concerned with teaching your brain how to work. It trains your mind to work in a right way and allows you to perform different tasks. It motivates you to transform from external negativity to internal satisfaction. It transports you towards eternal happiness and satisfaction. Eventually, it can expand your capacity to remain happy in any situation in your life. People meditate because it can help in managing their thoughts and emotions very well.
In a nutshell, meditation is a practice that started thousand years ago. Its origin is ambiguous and debatable, but it has affected many people in a right way. It was the need of people living before us and it is the need of us today, and it will be valuable for future generations too. People have used it to manage their feelings and emotions in a right way and they are still following the same practice. In simple words, meditation is the future of mental health.