Meditation was once the privilege of spiritual people who practiced systematic introspection and spiritual immersion as part of their religious practice. In modern times, there are numerous methods of meditation practiced in numerous religions. There are Buddhist methods of meditation as well as Christian ones – and those developed by a well-known sect leader of the modern age. Through inner collection, observation of the breath, chanting of mantras, and other techniques conducive to immersion (meditation), the mind is to be calmed and observed in its actions. Different methods of meditation are dedicated to different contents.
What is meditation?
Mediation is an umbrella term for a wide variety of techniques and forms of spiritual introspection. One of the goals of meditation is to recognize the other in oneself and to have a unity experience. The term meditation is derived from Latin. It means “introspection” or “contemplation” in the broadest sense and is part of a spiritual practice in some world religions. It is an umbrella term for various techniques and forms of spiritual introspection, for example Buddhist mindfulness meditation, the Dynamic Meditation of Osho, the analytical meditation of the Tibetans, to name but a few. In a broader sense, painting, trance dance or chi gong can also be meditation. One of the goals of meditation is to recognize the other within oneself and to have a oneness experience. By becoming still and observing itself in meditation, the mind recognizes the fleetingness of all things and the interconnectedness of everything.
Function, effect and goals
One is to realize, through a wide variety of meditative techniques in meditation, among other things, how much that is void, fleeting, and harmful is managed by the uncontrolled mind. The experience of pure consciousness is one of the concise goals of meditation. It is also about oneness and recognizing the interconnectedness of all things. The dualistic split between the self and the other is to be eliminated through meditation. Meditation in the long run leads to changes in viewpoints, calmed brain waves and inner serenity. One can reach a better understanding of the ego and higher states of consciousness through meditation. Meditation today, however, is no longer used only in spiritual contexts. It can even be completely detached from religious content. In this case, meditation – for example, according to the model of Jon Kabat-Zinn – is used in medical and psychological contexts. Nevertheless, meditation is not to be seen as a pure relaxation technique. Rather, meditation used therapeutically is about attentive contemplation and experiencing stillness, exploring certain contexts, and reaching various states of absorption. These cause a change in brain waves, breathing or heartbeat as the meditation deepens. The use of meditation without any spiritual-religious reference and purely for therapeutic purposes is controversial in the religious traditions that place meditation at the center of their practice. Within the framework of scientific research, meditation is increasingly being examined for its content and modes of action. The Cologne-based “Society for Meditation and Meditation Research e.V.” is just one of many examples through which the various effects of meditation are to be researched. In Buddhism, meditation is considered a central spiritual practice, without which one cannot have or deepen certain experiences.
Risks, side effects, and dangers
The experience gained through meditation is not entirely without risks, side effects and dangers. Traditional and modern Tibetan texts repeatedly warn against practicing meditation without an experienced teacher. People with pre-existing mental illnesses are particularly at risk of falling into psychosis, panic attacks, anxiety problems, or clinical depression as a result of unexpected experiences in meditation. Spiritual crises triggered by excessive practice of meditation are unknown in conventional medicine. Wrongly understood or excessively practiced meditation can have the opposite effect to what meditation is supposed to do. Properly applied meditation can be helpful under expert guidance, especially in cases of depression, addiction, stress disorders or mental instability.German organizations like the “Netzwerk für spirituelle Entwicklung und Krisenbegleitung e.V.” and the “Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie und Psychohygiene” are helpful for problems concerning meditation.
