Reflection on Meditating and Encourage Concentration

Reflection Paper on Meditating
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Reflection Paper on Meditating
Introduction
The term meditation is a combination of two Latin words meditari and mederi meaning to think or dwell upon and to exercise the mind or heal one’s mind. Meditation is a technique developed to encourage concentration by directing one’s mind towards positive thoughts. Meditation makes one’s thoughts to be calm and see the true nature of things. By engaging in meditation, one learns the behavior patterns of the mind, and develops a positive way of thinking. Meditation requires the regular practice of focusing on positivity to find peace and have an energized state of mind. It is a technique of training one’s mind the same way one trains the body to keep fit. However, mediation is more than just staying fit. It is a process that needs regular concentration to achieve peace and calmness of the mind. This paper seeks to provide my reflection on meditation by reviewing its background history and benefits besides providing my personal experience with the practice.
History of Meditation
Meditation is a common practice known all over the world, first practiced by hunters and gatherers during the ancient times. Archaeologist discovered some evidence of meditation in an art wall that dated 5,000 to 3,500 BCE. The image portrayed people sitting in specific posture, sitting on the ground with legs crossed and their hands resting on their knees while their eyes closed. The knowledge was later passed down to other generations, for instance, the practice of meditation progressed largely through Buddhism teachings. Buddhism teachings can be traced back to 500 BC. Meditation was one of the key practices for Buddhist. Buddhism confined this practice within Asia until the 20th century where the world was exposed to this type of practice. In the Western history, meditation began in the mid-nineties and progressed around the world for various reasons. Some people used meditation to heal their minds while others preferred mediation as a tool of both physical and mental wellness.
With time, most religions adopted the practice of meditation as a cornerstone of spiritual nourishment. Almost all major religions have developed various forms of meditation, for instance, Islam has two forms of meditation according to the Quran; they include the Tafakkur, which is a contemplative meditation towards the universe and the Sufism that is not practiced often.
Buddhism has various variations of meditation including the Zen, Tibetan, and the Theravada. However, all the variations aim at finding the path to enlightenment through meditation. Yoga is another form of meditation introduced by Swami Vivekananda in the 1960’s. The Judaism refers to the meditation practice as "hit boded ut," a ritual that needs to be done to find inner peace. Likewise, there are several Christian practices that can be referred to as meditation; for instance, the recitation of the rosary by the Roman Catholic and the adoration of the Eucharist are forms of repetitive prayer performed by Christian’s faithful, which are practiced as meditation.
The goal of meditation is to enable one go beyond the mind and experience the true nature, whi...