
Meditation
does not come easily. A Beautiful tree grows slowly. One must wait for the
blossom, the ripening of the fruit and the ultimate taste. The blossom of
meditation is an expressible peace that permeates the entire being. Its
fruit ....is indescribable."
Swami Vishnu-Devananda
Meditation is the practice by which there is constant observation of the
mind. It means focusing the mind on one point, stilling the mind in order to
perceive the Self. By stopping the waves of thought you come to understand
your true nature and discover the wisdom and tranquility within. In the same
way that focusing the rays of the sun with a magnifying glass makes them hot
enough to burn, so focusing the scattered rays of thought makes the mind
penetrating and powerful. With the continued practice of meditation, you
discover a greater sense of purpose and strength of will and your thinking
becomes clearer and more concentrated, after all you do.
Benefits of Meditation
Improvement of Body Luster and General Health
When your mind focuses on a particular part of the body, the blood flow to
that part increases and cells receive more oxygen and other nutrients in
abundance. Today, many of the film stars and fashion models include
meditation in their daily regimen.
Improvement
in Concentration
Many of the athletes and sports professionals regularly employ meditation
methods. Studies have found a direct correlation between concentration
exercises (meditation) and the performance level of sports professionals.
Meditation strengthens the mind, it comes under control and is able to
provide effective guidance to the physical body to effectively execute all
its projects. Psychological exercises are a powerful way of improving
concentration and improving mental strength.
Health Benefits of Meditation
Though meditation is usually recognized as a largely spiritual practice, it
also has many health benefits. The yoga and meditation techniques are being
implemented in management of life threatening diseases; in transformation of
molecular and genetic structure; in reversal of mental illnesses, in
accelerated learning programs, in perceptions and communications beyond the
physical, in solving problems and atomic and nuclear physics; in gaining
better ecological understanding; in management of lifestyle and future world
problems. Some benefits of meditation are

»
It lowers oxygen consumption
» It decreases respiratory rate.
» It increases blood flow and slows the heart rate.
» Increases exercise tolerance in heart patients.
» Leads to a deeper level of relaxation.
» Good for people with high blood pressure as it brings the B.P. to
normal.
» Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels of blood lactate.
» Decreases muscle tension (any pain due to tension) and headaches.
» Builds self-confidence.
» It increases serotonin production which influences mood and
behavior. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, obesity,
insomnia and headaches. Helps in chronic diseases like allergies , arthritis
etc