Whether for health, religion, or self-realization, millions of people practice meditation. Perhaps you have already dabbled in the relaxing sensory deprivation of meditation and you are looking for new methods to boost the experience or maybe you are a complete beginner; either way this article will elucidate two techniques that go beyond the most simple methods of meditation.
Meditation: Not Just for Buddhists
Many people believe that meditation is a difficult rite performed only by Buddhist monks or aloof, enlightened souls. If you are in the group described above who has already started to delve into the practice of meditation, you know that it can be done by anyone with a mind, a body, and spare time (translation: everyone!). While it is true that meditation is central to sects of Buddhism, the positive effects of meditation can apply to any person, Buddhist or not.
In its simplest form, meditation is meant to clear a mind's attention from the clutter of the world and to connect a person with his or her inner self. Today's world of multitasking makes it easy for our minds to become controlled by chaos. For a lot of people, time seems to be a commodity that slips by quickly. Meditation is a way to slow things down. When one meditates, his or her body is able to escape from the things that distract us from listening to our inner beings. Not only is meditation relaxing because it gives our minds a rest, it is medicinally beneficial; it relaxes the body. Studies show that meditation helps reduce heart rate and general stress on the body.
Some people consider simply sitting in a space, eyes shut, with controlled breathing to be a form of meditation. Any person can experience this type of meditation, but there are more advanced forms of the practice that almost any person in the world can experience as well. Read onward for two examples to step up your meditation, to put you one notch closer to the Zen Monk you have always aspired to follow.