WHY DO WE NEED TO MEDITATE? MEDITATION IS A MEANS OF TRANSFORMING THE MIND The Sanscrit word for Meditation is Dhyana The root words dhi, meaning "receptacle" or "the mind", and yana, meaning "moving" or "going". It is a refined meditative state, a continuous flow of thought and contemplation. It also a term used in yoga as the seventh limb, or level, part of the eight steps of yoga practice to bring us to self realization. Meditation is a deep inward focus , which in time with practice, brings a calmness, and relaxation, improve psychological balance ,cope with illness, or just overall health and wellbeing. There are various ways to meditate Pantanjali explains in "The Yoga Sutras" . Some methods of focusing are:
Sound: Repeating a mantra, phrase or other sound.
Visualizing: Picturing an object with eyes closed, such as a lotus flower or the energy points in the body (chakras).
Gazing: Looking at an actual object with eyes open. Candles, flowers or pictures are common for gazing.
Breathing. Observing the breath, and what it feels like - the sensations- as it travels in and out of the body. It has been confirmed that physiological and psychological changes take place in the body during meditation.