I, as a person of natural scientific views , will try not to touch religious, “spiritual” aspects in the matter of meditative practice. In this area I am not competent. It’s not that I’m completely alien to this, but I try not to go beyond the immediate observable phenomena that can be registered with instruments and senses. Describe everything in unknown esoteric terms also do not see the point. I am interested in meditation in the context of its applicability to the life and development of Western man , i.e. us with you.
The benefits of meditation are what you get
So what does meditation do?
As a result of scientific research, the following series of positive effects from meditation have been singled out (these effects I also observe on myself).
Some physiological effects of meditation include:
- Stabilizing effect on blood pressure level
- Lower heart rate and respiration rate
- Reduction of the content of stress hormones in the body
- Improving mental activity
- Strengthening immunity
- Stabilization of activity of brain waves
- Charge energy and vigor
Some psychological effects of meditation include:
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- Reducing stress, anxiety and depression
- Reducing fears, phobias, fear of death
- Improving mood, ability to enjoy life
- Growth of self-confidence
- Improving mindfulness
- Improved ability to concentrate
- Strengthening the power of controlling emotions
- Increase the level of intelligence and organization of thinking
The mass of scientific research in the West is devoted to the use of meditation and the positive influence of practice on the psychological and physical health of people. It is rapidly gaining popularity in the Western world because of its positive influence on the well-being of a person . According to the same Wikipedia, according to a study conducted by the US government, about 10% of the population is engaged in meditation in this country (or ever). This is about 20 million people!
“Since 1950, in the west, about 3000 studies have been carried out on the effect of meditation on human health. In more than 1000 of them, various meditation methods are associated with changes in metabolism, blood pressure, brain activity and other physiological processes. Meditation is used for clinical purposes as a method of reducing stress and pain. “
I hope that in our country, too, a larger proportion of citizens will meditate. Therefore, I will try to make my modest contribution to this matter. And once again, I emphasize that meditation greatly simplifies following the path of self-development and self-perfection and well prepares you for it.
Through meditation, people get rid of bad habits (I personally helped them quit smoking ), strengthen relationships with others, achieve better results in life, stepping over external difficulties, inner fear and insecurity. In general, there are lots of pluses. With regular classes, these bonuses will be available to everyone.
A little about how meditation works
Now I remember with what a certain amount of skepticism I initially took to meditating. Meditation seemed to me some kind of shamanic practice or a fashionable trend of alternative medicine. Due to their materialistic views, I have always been suspicious of such trends. But I decided to try, and some reasons contributed to this. And after a while I realized how useful this exercise is .
No, in time I did not change my views much. I still treat practice as an exercise for concentration of attention. A meditating person learns to stay focused on his internal processes, looking at them as if from a side.
Gradually, such detachment appears in the ordinary state, you abstract from what is happening inside you. For example, there is some kind of emotion (anger, irritation). And instead of immediately succumbing to it, you fix its occurrence and stop this impulse. Malice does not absorb your attention, because there remains a part of you that quietly watches what is happening inside. And you have the opportunity to resist this feeling.
And it will always be this way, in any situation: when you are shy with another person, feel shy, uncomfortable, when you are nervous, doubt, afraid. Meditation will help you learn how to always catch unnecessary emotions that prevent you from living and achieving your own in life situations and extinguish these impulses by will. In consequence, as a result of practice, such things as anger, fear, uncertainty, shyness, shyness towards people, a desire to drink or smoke will appear less and less. And they will not have to stop them. You will find peace and confidence in any situation!
A person during stress is like an overclocked machine: the more you accelerate, the more difficult it is to manage.
Meditation gives you the confidence that you can control yourself at any cost. It will help to keep the iron peace in the conditions of psychological pressure. During important meetings, you will cease to experience nervousness. You will become the master of the situation. Let others be nervous!
It’s a tremendous feeling when you are shaken from the inside by a feeling of anger or resentment, and your whole being is gripped by the desire to break, rude, sarcasm. Instead, you stretch out a friendly smile and say a couple of pleasantries. It’s not about the ability to hypocrisy, hide your true feelings, but in the ability to control yourself, to suppress the inner negativity. Together with a smile, not only does the outer mine of anger disappear, but internal relaxation and a good mood come. Irritation disappears. (This I call the “feedback principle”, I will definitely write about this a separate article.) Works great in practice).
Ability to own oneself gives an amazing sense of confidence, control and willpower. There comes an understanding that everything is in your hands. You cease to feel like a puppet of external circumstances, strong feelings and momentary desires. Man no longer perceives himself as a being conditioned by upbringing, the influence of habits with a set of rigidly prescribed innate qualities and talents. Meditation gives the feeling and knowledge that everything depends on you, that in your power to make yourself what you want to be. This self-consciousness of an independent person, in whose hands are the levers of control of his life by his fate!
Conclusion
Of course, one use of meditation is indispensable. Do not expect that everything will happen without your intervention. Self-development requires constant work on yourself, and practice only contributes to this work, preparing you for it.
My system of self-development implies that you will hone your personal skills and develop, facing directly to life’s circumstances . You will react to them, and then analyze your reaction, and based on this you will have an understanding of where to work and how to eliminate the shortcomings of your personality. You will find it easier to analyze your actions, to abstract yourself from emotions and draw conclusions about yourself. And this is not all that meditation provides .
I hope this site will become a guiding thread for you at the beginning of the path of self-improvement. Good luck!