The Purpose of Meditation
Why should I meditate and how can I get started with basic meditation techniques?
In this article we will have a closer look at the benefits of meditation. You will learn basic techniques that you can try for yourself, and we will review different types of meditation.
Highlights
- What is meditation?
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Why should I meditate?
Find out about the benefits of meditation. -
How do I meditate?
Learn basic techniques of meditation. - *BONUS* - Guided audio meditation with a monk
“Our mind is like a herd of cows!”
WHAT is MEDITATION?
When we meditate, we concentrate our mind on a specific object, thought or activity in the present moment.
Meditation doesn’t mean not to think! You are not supposed to fully clear your thoughts from your mind. When we meditate, we are solely trying to focus on what’s happening right now. There is no right or wrong! Meditation is about being mindful of your current state of mind without any judgement.
In mindfulness meditation we concentrate on the present moment, we try to understand the true nature of life, and we make an effort to approach our practice with loving-kindness towards ourselves and others.
For me, meditating is like traveling. We are exploring our inner road map, our mind. We are heading on a journey alongside our thoughts, feelings (pleasant and unpleasant) and our emotions – but without a fixed destination.
When we meditate, we try to gain the ability to focus.
Just think of your mind as a herd of cows. The cowherd tries to make the cows walk in one straight line along a path on a paddy field. Yet, the cows constantly keep wandering off to the lush, green grass, walk up to the waterhole, and sometimes they even walk backwards or just stop. The cows are distracted by the beautiful, shiny things around them. The cowherd needs to continuously train the cows to keep his cattle in check and to make the herd stay on its path, walking in the right direction.
Similar to the cows we constantly absorb the world with our senses. Just in one single day alone we see many forms, hear different sounds, smell lots of scents, taste various foods, feel sensitive touches and we have endless thoughts running through our head. This all happens automatically and our subconscious mind stores every little information on our “internal hard-drive”. So, while it’s totally natural to absorb the world with our senses, we should be mindful to not get attached or cling to the thoughts that arise from the sensations. Once our mind starts to wander, we get distracted and are no longer focused!
Therefore, just like the cowherd shows up to work every day to train his cows, we should frequently train our mind to stay focused and practice meditation.
What are the BENEFITS OF MEDITATION?
As we just learned, throughout the day our mind is often not concentrated. We do something but we think about something else. Multi-tasking has become a popular trend and we sadly have created a world where it feels that everyone has to move quickly to not be left behind. However, distraction and not being able to concentrate on one particular task is what creates stress, anxiety and discomfort in our life.
Meditation strengthens our concentration and gives our mind rest!
Meditation helps to develop concentration and to focus on one particular object, task or activity. It removes stress and gives you a peaceful mind. In mindfulness practice or Buddhist meditation there are 3 key principles which help to see the changing nature of life. In turn, we can get rid of any negative thoughts and thus develop an overall positive view of life. In addition, it has been scientifically proven that meditation helps in many way in regards to our mental health as well as our physical well-being.
Here are just some of the key benefits of mindfulness meditation:
- Improves concentration and attention
- Increases patience and tolerance
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Reduces negative emotions such as anger, jealousy, doubt, regrets, etc.
- Increases productivity and creativity, helping to manage day-to-day tasks with ease
- Creates a new perspective on the impermanence of life, resulting in better handling loss and separation
- Increases self-awareness and creates a neutral view of selfness (ego)
- Removes the layers that cover the subconscious mind and therefore the limited beliefs which cause a lot of our fears
- Generates kindness and empathy
- Preserves the aging brain
- Improves sleep
Meditation will help you to focus on the goals you want to achieve in life - whether it’s a small task during the day or the dream of your life!
Basic Techniques of Meditation
In mindfulness practice there are 2 types of meditation:
1) Concentration meditation (Samatha)
This type of meditation is aimed at the development of mental concentration. It’s about focusing on one particular task, like concentrating on your breath or your body parts, or repeating the words of a specific mantra. Well known methods are breathing meditation, body scan, or loving-kindness meditation.
2) Inside meditation (Vipassana)
This type of meditation helps us to see the true nature of life. It teaches our mind that nothing is permanent in life and that every moment is subject to change. It’s focused on also putting an effort on actually understanding the words of the meditation and manifesting them in our mind to develop the wisdom of life. One example is the mediation of the impurity of the body, or another one is the impermanence meditation.
There are many different techniques, styles and variations of meditation, but no matter which practice you choose, it will help you to develop a peaceful mind!
