 |
|
|
| Benefits of Meditation for Individuals and for Society as a Whole | |
Robert Elias Najemy
How is Meditation Used Today?
People from all walks of life, in all the countries of the world belonging
to all the possible religions, meditate for a wide variety of reasons. The
same technique offers something different to each according to his needs and
motives. Some of the motives for which people meditate today are:
1. To relax the body, mind and rejuvenate one’s flow of energy in order to
more effectively face the responsibilities of one’s demanding and active
life.
2. To heal illnesses (especially psychosomatic ones).
3. To overcome emotional problems.
4. To develop a more relaxed and positive view towards life.
5. To develop a peaceful and more clearly functioning mind.
6. For greater ability to penetrate into the core of problems and find
inspirational solutions. This has been found especially useful by scientists
and businessmen.
7. To tune into a creative inspirations for artistic expression.
8. For freeing oneself from addictions such as cigarettes, alcohol,
narcotics and tranquilizers.
9. To purify one’s character.
10. To develop will-power.
11. As a method of self-observation and self-discovery.
12. To develop the latent powers of the mind.
13. To create a relationship with God.
14. To develop an inner relationship with the Divine.
15. For spiritual growth, self-knowledge or enlightenment.
16. To transcend the identification with the body and mind, and experience
spiritual realities.
17. For the ecstasy of union with the Universal Spirit, which is the
essential reality of the universe.
Scientific Research on the Effects of Meditation
on the Body and Personality
Numerous scientific experiments on people who meditate and similar control
groups who do not meditate, have given repeatable results concerning the
effects of meditation on a person’s body and personality.
Most of the following studies have been made on persons practicing
Transcendental Meditation. (However, my personal opinion after 34 years of
practicing various forms including T.M., is that most forms of meditation
will give the same results)
1. DEEP PHYSIOLOGICAL REST is shown by a distinct drop in the metabolism
rate, as measured by the oxygen consumption by an individual in meditation,
waking activity, sleep and hypnosis.
2. Another indication of the deep rest is that the number of breaths needed
to be taken each minute during meditation drops significantly.
3. Good news for those with heart problems is that meditation is also
extremely restful and rejuvenating for the heart.
4. Another indication of the deep rest produced by meditation is the
significant drop in the blood lactate level. The lower the lactate level the
more rested and rejuvenated is the muscle tissue.
5. Tests show meditation’s deep calming effect through the decrease in skin
conductivity.
6. Brain wave measurements during meditation show a higher incidence of
alpha waves indicating a restful alertness. There is a sense of peace and
yet a wakeful awareness in one’s environment.
7. Another scientific study showed that meditation induces greater
communication and interaction between the two hemispheres of the brain.
8. Perhaps the best documented and well known effects of meditation concern
its ability to reduce blood pressure in those with high blood pressure.
LONG TERM PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES
9. In the long run both the heart rate and breathing rate develop a slower
pace as the body experiences less mental-emotional stress and learns to
waste less energy. The body becomes more relaxed and more efficient.
10. Persons who meditate experience much more stable health. They have less
illnesses in general in their lives.
LONG TERM PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES
11. Studies have also shown that those who meditate regularly react more
quickly and more effectively to a stressful event.
12. Meditation also increases one’s perceptual ability and motor
performance.
13. Studies on high school students showed that those who meditated had a
higher «intelligence growth rate» than those who did not.
14. Memory recall is also enhanced by meditation.
15. Many psychological studies have been made in work environments
concerning meditators and control groups of non-meditators.
Meditators had above average increases in
a. JOB SATISFACTION
b. PRODUCTIVITY,
c. Improvement in their relationships with coworkers
d. Improvement in their relationship with their supervisors.
16. A large number of psychological tests have been done on those who have
been meditating for various periods of time. A test made on those who had
been meditating for only two months in comparison to non-meditators produced
the following results:
a. Meditators had greater inner-directedness than non meditators.
b. They measured higher self acceptance.
c. Greater spontaneity and creativity.
d. Greater self-esteem.
e. An increase in the capacity for intimate contact with loved ones.
f. Less anxiety .
17. Prisoners who stared meditation showed:
a. A marked decrease in mental illness.
b. Their behavior became more socially acceptable.
c. Less anxiety and less aggressiveness.
d. Became inclined to more positive activities such as sports, clubs and
educational activities.
OTHER LONG TERM PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES
18. After 4 to 6 weeks of meditation, meditators with hypertension have
found their blood pressure fall.
19. A group of meditators who had been suffering from bronchial asthma found
significant relief.
20. Meditators checked for their consumption of cigarettes after starting to
meditate showed marked decrease.
21. Meditation significantly reduces ones need for or dependency on
tranquilizers. alcohol and or drugs.
22. Other tests made on meditators show that they need much less sleep to
recover from sleep deprivation.
23. Meditators show significant decrease in the illness after starting
meditation.
24. Meditators showed greatly increased ability to recover from
psychosomatic illnesses.
25. Insomniacs who start meditation require much less time to fall asleep.
26. A study on athletes showed that, after starting to meditate, there was
an improvement in their performance on various athletic events as well as
their intelligence as measured by intelligence tests.
27. In one other study it was found that meditation has the tendency to
normalize a person’s weight. That is if he is overweight, he tends to loose,
and if he is underweight, he tends to gain.
SOME CONCLUSIONS
CONCERNING THESE RESEARCH STUDIES
The conclusion is obvious.
Meditation increases whatever is good and life supporting in a person.
It strengthens our immune system, harmonizes our endocrine system and
relaxes our nervous system. It creates health and vitality.
On a mental level it develops inner peace, clarity, self-confidence,
self-acceptance, creativity, productivity and eventually greater
self-actualization.
It makes our work environment more satisfactory, improves our relationships
with coworkers, supervisors and subordinates. It makes us more creative,
more responsible and more productive.
On a spiritual level it puts us in contact with our inner voice, with our
inner strength, with our inner spiritual wisdom and love.
Think now, what would happen if many people in our society meditated? How
would it affect our society?
Think what would happen if you meditated daily.
(Adapted from the forthcoming "The Art of Meditation" by Robert Elias
Najemy. His book "The Psychology of Happiness" (ISBN 0-9710116-0-5) is
available at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/holisticharmo-20 and
http://www.HolisticHarmony.com/psychofhappiness.html. His writings can be
viewed at http://www.HolisticHarmony.com where you can also download FREE
articles and e-books.
|
|
|
