Mindfulness Meditation

In recent years, meditation has gained popularity in Western society. Wellnessbeing However, it is a practice that has been around for many thousands of years in other cultures. In fact, meditation has survived over 4500 years worth of social and political transitions (Andreson 2000). Would meditation still exist and be practiced thousands years after it was invented if it wasn't beneficial? Most likely not.

Many people are confused by the word meditation because it is unknown, regarded as metaphysical or new age or linked to a particular dogma. As we have just seen, meditation is not a new concept and its foundation is simple. As Ayaja says in his text on psychotherapy, "Simplicity can be the most difficult thing". This statement is true, especially in the way western societies live.

Human beings complicate life's simple rules in their mind, rather than live and be from the heart. For my own life, I prefer to keep living and meditation as simple as I can. Stephen Levine said it well in A Gradual Awakening when he talked about meditation. "Meditation is for many an alien concept. It's distant, foreboding and seems impossible to engage in." Another word for awareness is meditation. "Meditation is awareness." (Levine 1989, 1, p. This explanation can be very useful and helpful to someone who wants to meditate.

In this article, I'll give a short description of how meditation works, the benefits it has on a psychological, physical, and spiritual level, as well as my own experience.

Levine (1989, 8), states that there are many types of meditation. This paper will be based on Vipassanna, which is mindfulness meditation. Vipassanna involves participating as directly as possible in every moment with awareness and understanding. This is, in my opinion, the most simple and effective way of meditating and a great way to go about your day. This type of meditation encourages us to live in the moment, "now". Goleman (72a) says that the goal of meditation, regardless of its ideological origin or orientation, is to change the state of consciousness through practice. "To die to life as ego, and to be born to a higher level of experience."

This paper will focus on mindfulness meditation, rather than concentration mediation which comes to most people's minds when meditation is discussed. Concentration meditation is focused on a specific object, mantra or deity. Mindfulness meditation encompasses a dynamic and inclusive range of observations. Tacon, 2003) says that it is easier for westerners to practice mindfulness meditation because they are not shutting out the rest of the world. Kabat-Zinn (1996) also said that mindfulness could be a good option for many westerners who are unwilling to embrace Buddhist practices or terminology. Due to the simplicity of mindfulness meditation, its practicality, and its perceived separation from Eastern philosophies, religions, and practices, it is more suitable for western society.

Instead of trying to pick one definition for what mindfulness meditation means, I'll present different perspectives from people who are familiar with the practice to make my point more clearly. In Buddhist tradition, mindfulness is called insight meditation, which in sanskrit means to "see clearly." Zen and Buddhism both include mindfulness meditation, but it is possible to practice this practice without being a Buddhist. It is not required to be a Buddhist in order to benefit from mindfulness meditation. (Levey & Levey 1999). Here I'll present different definitions and descriptions of mindfulness meditation.