meditation

(noun)

A practice in which an individual trains the mind and/or induces a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit; a devotional exercise of, or leading to, contemplation.

Related Terms

Examples of meditation in the following topics:

  • Meditation

    • Daily meditation can be helpful for a variety of reasons.
    • Different meditation techniques include meditation of breath, devotional meditation, and relaxation meditation.
    • Meditation of breath can be described as the most traditional form of meditation, in which a person sits comfortably and focuses on his or her breath entering and leaving the body.
    • Meditation may also involve repeating a mantra and closing one's eyes.
    • There are a variety of health benefits associated with meditation, and research continues to show more evidence of these benefits in studies involving meditation.

  • The Value of Spirituality and Faith in Managing Stress

    • All forms of prayer, meditation, and existential contemplation activate centers in the brain that are implicated in relaxation and peacefulness, which lowers levels of experienced stress.
    • Forms of meditation, prayer, and contemplation can negate or abate present stress and provide resilience in the face of new stressors.
    • Neuroscientists continue to study the effects of prayer and meditative states on the brain.
    • A number of studies have demonstrated the positive effects of prayer, meditation, and contemplation on both mental and physical health.

  • Body-Oriented Psychotherapies

    • Yoga in this sense often occurs in a class and may involve meditation, imagery, breath work, and music.
    • Both the meditative and the exercise components of hatha yoga have been researched for both specific and non-specific health benefits.

  • Managing Stress Through Conventional and Alternative Medicine

    • Alternative methods such as yoga, meditation, and visualization embrace the transactional model of stress by empowering the stressed person to either view the situation differently or believe in their capability to cope.
    • Other alternative methods to stress management include meditation, deep breathing, relaxation techniques, spending time in nature, humor, spas, and social activity, among many others.

  • Specific Effects of Stress: Cancer

  • Introduction to Stress

    • Psychological methods include cognitive therapy, meditation, and positive thinking, which work by reducing the response to stress.

  • Stress and Cardiovascular Disease

    • Things like yoga, meditation, reducing one's workload, and taking personal time to relax can reduce stress levels, aid in stress management, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

  • Describing Consciousness

    • Issues of interest include phenomena such as perception, subliminal perception, blindsight, anosognosia, brainwaves during sleep, and altered states of consciousness produced by psychoactive drugs or spiritual or meditative techniques.

  • Maintaining Motivation

    • Behaviors such as exercise, meditation, deep breathing, good eating habits, and getting enough sleep can help individuals better handle stress.

  • How the Body Responds to Stress

    • Behaviors such as exercise, meditation, deep breathing, good eating habits, and getting enough sleep can help individuals better handle stress and avoid negative effects such as increased likelihood of sickness and poor digestion.