Meditation

::This article is about the practice of meditation. For the writings by Marcus Aurelius, see Meditations. For the writings by René Descartes, see Meditations on First Philosophy.

Related Topics:
Marcus Aurelius - Meditations - René Descartes - Meditations on First Philosophy

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Meditation usually refers to a state in which the body is consciously relaxed and the mind is allowed to become calm and focused. Several major religions include ritual meditation; however, meditation itself need not be a religious or spiritual activity. Most of the more popular systems of meditation are of Eastern origin, though there exist also various forms of Christian, Jewish and Muslim meditation.

Related Topics:
Body - Mind - Religion - Eastern - Christian - Jewish - Muslim

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Another form of meditation is more closely akin to prayer and worship, wherein the practitioner turns spiritual thoughts over in the mind and engages the brain in higher thinking processes. The goal in this case is the receipt of spiritual insights and new understanding.

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From the point of view of psychology, meditation can induce — or is itself — an altered state of consciousness.

Related Topics:
Psychology - Altered state of consciousness

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