The Importance of Meditation

This is an unprecedented time period of human history. We all are aware of the emotional burden placed upon the youth due to lockdown health orders. We all suffer from self-isolation and social distancing.  Some of us are prohibited to interact with our beloved family members and friends. Even a casual meet up with a friend or two is a ‘No – No!!’ Unavoidable health restrictions have placed immense pressure on every one of us creating clouded minds. Is there a way to deal with our clouded minds? Meditation is indeed a positive way to maintain sanity during the challenging times of COVID 19 lockdowns.

Meditation, or Bhavana, is an essential part of the Buddhist way of living that provides mental training to achieve a calm and luminous mind; to develop concentration, clarity, emotional positivity, and a calm seeing of the true nature of things. Meditation is the treasured way Great Buddha practised to achieve the complete liberation of mind, towards the realization of the Ultimate Truth, Nirvana. 

Two main types of meditation are Vipassana and Samatha, which require different mental skills and modes of functioning or qualities of consciousness. The Buddhist practice of meditation aims at producing a state of perfect mental health, tranquillity of mind, and understanding of reality. 

There are several methods of practising meditation that are beneficial to our health & wellbeing. Most of these methods are easy to follow and quite relaxing. Some of them are as follows:

• Movement meditation – The use of mindful and purposeful physical activity such as walking, gardening, or any physical activity as a form of meditation. The benefits of movement meditation include increased awareness, decreased anxiety, enhanced peace of mind, and an improved connection with the present moment. 

• Visualization meditation – This method is practised by visualizing a positive scenario or memory to calm anxious feelings and achieve peace, relaxation and serenity. This is heavily used to reduce stress, depression, and anxiety, because of its therapeutic benefits. 

• Loving kindness – Dhamma school students frequently practice this method in their Buddhist learning. By focusing on compassion, equanimity, and kindness towards others, both anger and resentment are diminished. They open their minds to send kind messages to loved ones; family, friends and people all over the world.

Meditation has a history spanning over five thousand years for spiritual purposes. Today, meditation is being widely practised to increase mental wellbeing due to its benefits to the body, mind, and wellness. Buddhist styles of meditation are the most widely practised forms of meditation all over the world. Health professionals advocate that engaging in 5-10 minutes of meditation daily can ultimately lead to deep inner peace, where practising meditation on a regular basis can make a significant impact on our health & wellbeing. Meditation can be a valuable way to maintain our sanity during these challenging times of COVID 19 lockdowns. Please give it a try!