 You may have seen an orchestra tune their instruments at the start of a performance. Is there a specific pitch they tune to? Who sets that initial pitch? How do we know if the principal violist is right? Technically it doesn’t matter if the principal violist is “right”, what matters is whether everyone else is tuned to her. However, most orchestra’s these days use a tuning fork for the violist to get a precise note.
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 Meditation is a word you may have seen thrown around rather recently. This ancient practice has become rather vogue in recent years. For millennia, religious societies across the world have employed it as a fundamental part of their way of life. Eastern schools from Hinduism to Taoism teach varieties of meditative practices. Many shamanistic societies also consider it as a fundamental aspect of their school. Even Isaac, son of Abraham is mentioned to have meditated in Genesis. Numerous Christian sects include mediation, of various methods, in their regimen as well. And now in the 21st century, meditation is making its place known in the increasingly secular west. Why is this “activity” so espoused for so long? Is it inherently religious? What do we have to learn from it? Let’s consider some of these questions. Probably the school of thought most commonly associated with mediation is Buddhism. In his quest to end his own suffering Siddartha Guatama attempted many practices employed by the mystics of his time. He studied various yogas. He engaged in various methods of self mortification. Living in the jungle, he fasted until emaciation. This was only until he decided that there must be some purer way to end desire. It was then that he chose to sit under the Bodhi Tree and meditate until the end of his suffering was achieved, which it shortly was. It is apparent that meditation was already practiced in his society, however, his Middle Way placed greater focus and emphasis on this activity in particular. Since his time, meditation has been a core pillar of the myriad of schools that follow his teaching. At its core meditation is a practice of self control. In a common version, one chooses to sit and follow the breath. Oftentimes, almost continuously, in fact, this focus on the breath will become distracted with thoughts, feelings, emotions, and bodily sensations. The practitioner will then compassionately, and non-judgmentally return focus back on to the breath. While simple, this practice does have quite broad effects. We become increasingly compassionate, as we are forced to be compassionate to ourselves with every straying of the mind that is kindly returned back to the breath (Kristeller & Johnson, 2005). This in turn leads to a more compassionate perspective on one's neighbors, as the mind becomes more and more conditioned to respond to phenomena with non-judgement. Additionally, one begins to become more aware of what one is thinking, feeling, sensing. Instead of being buffeted by a constant stream of inputs that can cast us around without our noticing, we become more aware and in control of these inputs and whether or not they require a response from us. This has a calming effect on the mind in general. One becomes more and more able to navigate the sea of experience with less and less panic. Meditation is like a muscle. The more we use it the stronger it becomes. We can become more and more in control of our own thoughts. While beneficial for religious societies, in their quests to purify and hallow the self, the effects may be likewise obtained by the Western practitioner. Mental health professionals have been increasingly recommending it as a method to alleviate varieties of stress induced disorders. Anxiety and depression is shown to be more easily managed when combated with this practice (Harvard Health Publishing, 2018). Perhaps, this rise in popularity is for good reason. There are even numerous apps to assist the initiate with the nascent practice. While a long road the destinations are valuable. The path of Meditation is a journey that one takes alone, side by side the millions who practice today and in centuries past. Bibliography Harvard Health Publishing. (2018, August 12). How meditation helps with depression. Harvard Men's Health Watch. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/how-meditation-helps-with-depression Kristeller, J. L., & Johnson, T. (2005, May 23). CULTIVATING LOVING KINDNESS: A TWO‐STAGE MODEL OF THE EFFECTS OF MEDITATION ON EMPATHY, COMPASSION, AND ALTRUISM. Journal of Religion & Science. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9744.2005.00671.x AuthorNick Carlo |
AuthorStaff at Mission Health & Wellness regularly contribute to this blog including Nick Carlo, Hannah Roeter, Courtney Mohr Taylor, and Dr. Kristen Acesta ArchivesCategories
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Mission Health focuses on our foundations of health through the use of diet and lifestyle modifications via nutrition integration, mindfulness based practices including mental health counseling and personal fulfillment, physical medicine & movement therapy, Rx/nutrient prescriptions including medication management, second opinions, and ethical prescribing, and above all, patient education.
We hand produce our local + wildcrafted botanical medicinals via Salt Creek Apothecary.
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We hand produce our local + wildcrafted botanical medicinals via Salt Creek Apothecary.
P: (509) 885-2664 F: (833) 330-1512