Meditation
DO NOT JUST WAKE UP, RISE AND SHINE
Meditation is a powerful tool that comes with a number of health benefits. It’s the practice of thinking deeply or focusing one’s mind for a period of time, with the goal of obtaining feelings of relaxation and inner peace.
The ancient practice of meditation has been used for centuries to quiet the mind, reduce anxiety, and promote emotional balance. Whether you’re looking to relieve stress, boost your creativity, or simply find inner peace, a meditation course could be just what you need to transform your life, a type of mind-body complementary medicine.
Meditation produces a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process results in enhanced physical and emotional well-being.
Make it a rule not to eat until you have practised; if you do this, the sheer force of hunger will break your laziness. In India they teach children never to eat until they have practised or worshipped, and it becomes natural to them after a time; a boy will not feel hungry until he has bathed and practised.
THE MIND-LAKE
The bottom of a lake we cannot see, because its surface is covered with ripples. It is only possible for us to catch a glimpse of the bottom, when the ripples have subsided, and the water is calm. If the water is muddy or is agitated all the time, the bottom will not be seen. If it is clear, and there are no waves, we shall see the bottom. The bottom of the lake is our own true Self; the lake is the Chitta and the waves the Vrittis. Again, the mind is in three states, one of which is darkness, called Tamas, found in brutes and idiots; it only acts to injure. No other idea comes into that state of mind. Then there is the active state of mind, Rajas, whose chief motives are power and enjoyment. “I will be powerful and rule others.” Then there is the state called Sattva, serenity, calmness, in which the waves cease, and the water of the mind-lake becomes clear.
Meditation’s effects on the brain
Though meditation has been around for centuries, scientists have recently discovered its effects on the brain. Some research shows that meditation can change the brain’s structure. Others show that it can change brain functions.
Meditation has measurable effects on three areas of your brain:
- gray matter — involved in muscle control and sensory perception, including emotions, memory, speech, seeing, hearing, and decision making
- the prefrontal cortex — responsible for decision making
- amygdala — controls emotional response
- hippocampus — responsible for memory and learning.
