Mindfulness Meditation Research Paper

586 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay on the benefits of meditation

Since the dawn of mankind, meditation has created altered states of consciousness and taught self-mastery. Of course modern-day stresses are drastically different than those that primitive hunter-gatherers endured; but the prehistoric man's fascination with the flames of a campfire - resulting in non-structured meditation - has remained central to what it is to be human.

Over time, a variety of meditative traditions evolved. With so many styles to choose from, there is most assuredly a style that suits any individual. Quite simply, there is no right or wrong type of meditation - if it feels good, do it. If it just doesn't resonate with you, move on.

Mindfulness Meditation

One of the most well-known types of meditation is Mindfulness Meditation, or Vipassana. This is part of the Buddhist tradition and involves becoming aware of everything happening around you in the moment, as well as self-awareness of the things you say, do, think and feel. This type of meditation can be practiced anytime and is particularly wonderful while you're engaged in your daily tasks. Its goal is to awaken you to the miracle of the present moment. …show more content…

The goal is to develop loving, altruistic thoughts, emotions and behaviors towards everyone.

Koan (Zen): designed to challenge the dualistic way in which we perceive the world. Once the non-dual reality is understood, the meditator awakens. The koans are riddles that challenge our perception of "what is" and are often used as the basis for contemplation.

Mantra: the repetition of a mantra (a phrase, single word, or sound) tunes you in to the universal energy. It often involves the feeling of resonance produced by making the sound (such as

Show More
Related

  • Suffering In Buddhism In Stephen Prothero's God Is Not One

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    However, meditation is not as common within Buddhism as most believe. There is a large assumption “that Buddhism and meditation go hand in hand”, but the majority of Buddhists have focused on “cultivating moral behavior, preserving the Buddha’s teachings (dharma), and acquiring good karma”(Braun 2014, p.1). Meditation and Buddhism are often assumed to be one and same, but this is also not true. As Buddhism has gained popularity among lay people it’s practices have changed Buddha’s teaching of the middle path has adapted to meditation being “possible in the city” rather than with monks in jungles and caves (p.4). As seen in Burma, in less than 75 years Buddhism and meditation were able to grow “from a pursuit of the barest sliver of the population to a duty of the ideal citizen” (p.5). While meditation is not the core of Buddhism it has encouraged the growth of Buddhism as it’s practice of mindfulness has been inspiring an approachable model (p.6). Meditation and mindfulness are easily manipulated to secularization, but still have significance in Buddhism and following the patterns of your

    Read More

  • The Main Themes Of Buddhism In The Dhammapada

    951 Words  | 2 Pages

    Imagining a life of purity, thoughtfulness, and reflection may prove impossible for some individuals to accomplish; however, the way of the Buddha emphasizes the importance of an unmitigated mind, free from material desire and unnecessary passions. When one attempts to define Buddhism, he/she may cover the concepts of meditation and clearing the mind, yet actually practicing Buddhism yields a certain lifestyle, one that requires constant thought and effort. The Dhammapada, a sacred religious text, explains certain main themes of Buddhism such as Anitya, or the temporary nature of all beings, the necessary ability to master one’s mind, and the significance of overcoming outside desires and connects these overarching motifs to different cultural

    Read More

  • Mindfulness Essay

    997 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mindfulness is a concept or practice that was founded nearly 2600 years ago. It is a very integral component of the Buddhist faith and is believed to be associated with many benefits including self-control, tolerance, flexibility, objectivity, concentration, mental clarity, emotional intelligence, kindness, compassion, acceptance, and equanimity.

    Read More

  • Benefits Of Mindfulness Meditation

    833 Words  | 2 Pages

    Over twenty-five hundred years ago, Buddha Guatama practiced meditation and came to what is known as “The Four Noble Truth,” an important principle in Buddhism (Elder, 2010). This principle informs the reader of what suffering is and how affect is. This is a great example of how valuable meditation is- on the very first session ever recorded, the awareness that came from it would later be the foundation of a new religion. This proves how powerful meditation can be. Furthermore, some form of meditation can be found in various religions. Although the styles, techniques, and ideology behind the meditation can vary per religion, personal transformation is the key goal (Modi, Singh, 2012). Today, in Western society, mindful meditation (a form of meditation) has grown in popularity, used for relaxation and to help treat those who suffer from mental illness’ and mood disorders. Viewed as alternative medicine for the mind and soul, it is beneficial for our emotional and mental

    Read More

  • Essay On Mindfulness Mediation

    1024 Words  | 3 Pages

    Concentration and mindfulness are also considered fundamental components in mindfulness meditation. Concentration is the ability to focus on an object be it external or internal, without interruptions. In simple terms, this can be achieved by literally forcing our minds from attaching to any one thought or sensation. Mindfulness is more of a gentle awareness of what is occurring in the present moment. In union, these two techniques allow the self to center in on the true nature of reality. Of course this is no simple task and requires a lot of patience, persistence, consistence, and mental

    Read More

  • Yoga's Spiritual Path Means to Join

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...ufferings and pain. It's involved with the idea of self realization. It's the notion of getting above all egotistic responses, such as resentment and anger, which limit the individual. The freer you become, the more you can observe life from a less selfish and egotistical point of view to a perspective that grasps the whole. Another way to freedom from egotism is isolating oneself from pleasure or pain. At the conclusive stage, the individual can entirely go from past the limited self, to knowing the sacred reality that everything shares, when the limitation of being an individual is gone, only Brahman remains.

    Read More

  • Difference Between Mindfulness And Meditation

    1060 Words  | 3 Pages

    This type of mindfulness meditation is known as shamatha in Buddhism. It basically forces you to focus on the present because you have to continue to follow the inhale and exhale of your breath. You can be mindful of the way you eat, taking a shower, driving to work or enjoying quiet time with your spouse. Every moment in every day is an opportunity to practice mindfulness. In Buddhism, the Buddha realized that focusing on just his breath allowed him to accurately perceive reality and attain enlightenment.

    Read More

  • Buddhism and Modern Psychology Final Exam Essay

    702 Words  | 2 Pages

    05 May 2014. Barbor, Cary. " The Science of Meditation.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Meditation

    1248 Words  | 3 Pages

    OK. So you’ve heard, that meditation is beneficial for you, maybe you’ve read lists about the advantages of meditation. A ton of different kind of meditations are on-line, and you found several resources, articles, blog posts about the theme to select from. These articles state, that the meditation has countless benefits, which are also proven by scientific research. You can believe them, since eminent scientists carried out extensive research on this subject. And they suggest, you should try them, and of course you should practice it each day. Every day - or you won’t have those benefits.

    Read More

  • Meditation

    4152 Words  | 9 Pages

    Meditation is an age-old practice that has renewed itself in many different cultures and times. Despite its age, however, there remains a mystery and some ambiguity as to what it is, or even how one performs it. The practice and tradition of meditation dates back thousands of years having appeared in many eastern traditions. Meditation’s ancient roots cloud its origins from being attributed to a sole inventor or religion, though Bon, Hindu, Shinto, Dao, and later, Buddhism are responsible for its development. Its practice has permeated almost all major world religions, but under different names. It has become a practice without borders, influencing millions with its tranquil and healing effects.

    Read More

  • Meditation Essay

    2077 Words  | 5 Pages

    As one can see, meditation is a sacred act that can have endless benefits. As well as being a physical act, activities such as transcendental meditation can also be fulfilling spiritually and mentally. Through deep concentration and relaxation, meditation becomes an altered state of consciousness. This essay has shown many ways as to why this is so. Through the simple acts of letting one’s mind go, there are endless possibilities that can happen. Without meditation and altered states of consciousness, the world as we know it would be completely different.

    Read More

  • Mindfulness Research Paper

    536 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mindfulness is not just about meditation it’s so much more. Mindfulness involves being fully present and aware of life. It’s about knowing where and what we’re doing. You could say it’s about taking time to smell the roses, living in the present. Author James Baraz stated that mindfulness is being aware what is happening right now without wishing it were different. Last week I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Cindy March present on how simple it is to be more mindful and show compassion towards others and ourselves. Dr. Cindy March has been practicing mindfulness for over forty years. The concept of mindfulness is fairly new to me and Dr. March was able to not only enlighten me but open my eyes to simple and easy ways to be more present in life and my work.

    Read More

  • The Life of Buddhist Monks

    2048 Words  | 5 Pages

    Story, Francis. "Buddhist Meditation." Access to Insight: Readings in Theravada Buddhism. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • How to Cope with Stress from College

    853 Words  | 2 Pages

    National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). (2010). Health info. Meditation: An introduction. Retrieved from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/meditation/overview.htm

    Read More

  • Clinical Psychology Reflection Paper

    1505 Words  | 4 Pages

    Meditation is not a time devoted to thinking or reflecting about oneself, but a time to redirect one’s thoughts and emotions away from the outside world and onto something simple, such as the wind or one’s own breathe. By learning how to meditate, an individual can learn how to react appropriately to “the circumstances one finds oneself in, i...

    Read More

More about Mindfulness Meditation Research Paper

Open Document