Why Meditate?
For thousands of years
people have used meditation to move beyond the mind’s stress-inducing thoughts
and emotional upsets into the peace and clarity of present moment awareness.
The variety of meditation techniques, traditions, and technologies is nearly
infinite, but the essence of meditation is singular: the cultivation of mindful
awareness and expanded consciousness.
These are the ultimate
precious gifts of meditation, yet people are initially drawn to meditation for
many different reasons. Some begin meditating because of a doctor’s
recommendation, seeking the health benefits of lowered blood pressure, stress
reduction, and restful sleep. Others come to meditation seeking relief from the
fearful, angry, or painful thoughts that constantly flood their mind. Still
others come to meditation to find greater self-understanding, to increase their
intuitive powers, or to improve their ability to concentrate.
It is accurate to say
that the purpose of meditation depends on the meditator – but it is also true that
anyone who meditates regularly receives profound benefits on all of these
levels – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
Here are just a few of
the benefits
• Relief from stress
and anxiety (meditation mitigates the effects of the “fight-or-flight”
response, decreasing the production of stress hormones such as cortisol and
adrenaline)
• Decreased blood
pressure and hypertension
• Lower cholesterol
levels
• More efficient oxygen
use by the body
• Increased production
of the anti-aging hormone DHEA
• Restful sleep
New research is also
showing that meditation restores the brain. A landmark study conducted by
Massachusetts General Hospital found that as little as eight weeks of
meditation not only helped people feel calmer but also produced changes in
various areas of the brain, including growth in the areas associated with
memory, empathy, sense of self, and stress regulation.
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