Meditation-basics

Now with this, we will just go to the basics of the basics, the place where everyone must start from. Meditation.
Many of you already do it, so this is more like a reminder.
Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the reflexive, "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness.
Meditation often involves turning attention to a single point of reference.
It is a component of many religions, and has been practiced since antiquity.
It is also practiced outside religious traditions.
Different meditative disciplines encompass a wide range of spiritual or psychophysical practices that may emphasize different goals—from achievement of a higher state of consciousness,
to greater focus,
creativity or self-awareness,
or simply a more relaxed and peaceful frame of mind.

How to mediate
With the hectic pace and demands of modern life, many people feel stressed and over-worked.
It often feels like there is just not enough time in the day to get everything done.
Our stress and tiredness make us unhappy, impatient and frustrated.
It can even affect our health.
We are often so busy we feel there is no time to stop and meditate!
But meditation actually gives you more time by making your mind calmer and more focused.
A simple ten or fifteen minute breathing meditation as explained below can help you to overcome your stress and find some inner peace and balance.

Introduction Meditation is a mind-body practice
There are many types of meditation,
most of which originated in ancient religious and spiritual traditions.
Generally, a person who is meditating uses certain techniques, such as a specific posture, focused attention, and an open attitude toward distractions.
Meditation may be practiced for many reasons, such as to increase calmness and physical relaxation, to improve psychological balance, to cope with illness, or to enhance overall wellness.

The term meditation refers to a group of techniques, such as mantra meditation, relaxation response, mindfulness meditation, and Zen Buddhist meditation.
Most meditative techniques started in Eastern religious or spiritual traditions.
These techniques have been used by many different cultures throughout the world for thousands of years.
Today, many people use meditation outside of its traditional religious or cultural settings, for health and wellness purposes.
In meditation, a person learns to focus attention.
Some forms of meditation instruct the practitioner to become mindful of thoughts, feelings, and sensations and to observe them in a nonjudgmental way.
This practice is believed to result in a state of greater calmness and physical relaxation, and psychological balance.
Practicing meditation can change how a person relates to the flow of emotions and thoughts in the mind.
Most types of meditation have four elements in common:
• A quiet location. Meditation is usually practiced in a quiet place with as few distractions as possible. This can be particularly helpful for beginners.
• A specific, comfortable posture. Depending on the type being practiced, meditation can be done while sitting, lying down, standing, walking, or in other positions.
• A focus of attention. Focusing one's attention is usually a part of meditation. For example, the meditator may focus on a mantra (a specially chosen word or set of words), an object, or the sensations of the breath. Some forms of meditation involve paying attention to whatever is the dominant content of consciousness.
• An open attitude. Having an open attitude during meditation means letting distractions come and go naturally without judging them.
When the attention goes to distracting or wandering thoughts, they are not suppressed; instead, the meditator gently brings attention back to the focus.
In some types of meditation, the meditator learns to "observe" thoughts and emotions while meditating.