While meditation has been around for thousands of years, the science of meditation is fairly new. Relaxation and calming the mind play a large role in Buddhist meditations. A number of scientific studies now support the self-healing qualities of meditation. Another theme of many meditation traditions is the transformed state of consciousness. Over the years, this has shifted from New Age vagueness to scientifically validated cures for depression, burnout and sleeping disorders, among other ailments. In the future, expect to see more research on meditation in learning, emotion regulation, creativity, relational intelligence, and as a peace-making tool.
Key Takeaways:
- Meditation isn’t just a trending fad, or a great way to unwind. It’s a scientifically validated method to improve mental health.
- The most all-encompassing tome covering the subject of meditation currently is called, The Oxford Handbook of Meditation.
- The handbook overviews the history of meditation. It asserts that meditation as a form of mental training has been around for more than 2000 years.
“It is important to realize that their central concepts are often written in the old languages of Pali and Sanskrit. Those languages are open to multiple interpretations.”
References:
- Psychology Today (Website)
- TEDx Talks (YouTube Channel)
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