Overview
Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique or combination of techniques to train attention and awareness and to detach from reflexive, discursive thinking, with the aim of achieving a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state, while not judging the meditation process itself. The practice is found across numerous religious traditions, and is also undertaken independently of any religious or spiritual context for its perceived health benefits.
Meditation techniques are broadly classified into focused (or concentrative) methods and open monitoring methods. Focused methods involve directing attention to a specific object such as the breath or a mantra. Open monitoring methods, including mindfulness, involve a wider awareness of mental events as they arise. Practitioners may combine elements of both approaches.
The earliest records of meditation, referred to as dhyana, are found in the Upanishads, and meditation plays a salient role in the contemplative repertoire of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Within Hindu traditions, dhyana is associated with concentration of the mind and is described in textual sources dealing with yoga and spiritual discipline. Meditation-like techniques are also known in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, generally in the context of remembrance of God and practices of prayer and devotion.
Asian meditative techniques have spread to other cultures, where they have been applied in non-spiritual settings such as business and healthcare. Research suggests that mindfulness meditation may produce small to moderate improvements in anxiety, depression and pain, possibly through enhanced self-regulation and associated changes in brain activity. However, evidence is mixed, and mindfulness has not been clearly shown to be superior to other active treatments; much of the existing literature on meditation is considered preliminary or methodologically limited. Ongoing research continues to examine the psychological, neurological and cardiovascular effects of meditation.
References
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Meditation.