Introduction to Meditation

• Rates of depression and anxiety are rising in the modern world.
• Meditation is a practice where an individual trains the mind or induces a mode of consciousness, either to realize some benefit or for the mind to simply acknowledge its content without becoming identified with that content, or as an end in itself.
• In the mindfulness of breathing meditation practice we use the breath as an object of awareness. We follow the physical sensations of the breath as it flows in and out of the body.
• The rest in meditation is deeper than the deepest sleep that you can ever have. When the mind becomes free from agitation, is calm and serene and at peace, meditation happens.
• This meditation practice isn’t a breathing exercise. We allow the breath to flow naturally and are simply aware of it. So there is no control over the breath.
• The simple principle behind this meditation practice is that if we keep taking our awareness back to the breath — over and over again — then our mind gradually quiets down and we feel more contentment.
• The term meditation refers to a broad variety of practices that includes techniques designed to promote relaxation, build internal energy or life force and develop compassion, love, patience, generosity and forgiveness.
• Meditation is often used to clear the mind and ease many health concerns, such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety.
• The benefits of meditation are manifold. It is an essential practice for mental hygiene. A calm mind, good concentration, clarity of perception, improvement in communication, blossoming of skills and talents, an unshakeable inner strength, healing, the ability to connect to an inner source of energy, relaxation, rejuvenation, and good luck are all natural results of meditating regularly.
• Meditation may also involve repeating a mantra and closing the eyes. The mantra is chosen based on its suitability to the individual meditator.
• Meditation has a calming effect and directs awareness inward until pure awareness is achieved, described as "being awake inside without being aware of anything except awareness itself."
• In brief, there are dozens of specific styles of meditation practice, and many different types of activity commonly referred to as meditative practices.