Meditation

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Above is a silhouette posing in the traditional lotus position. A physical position commonly associated with that of meditation.

Meditation is a practice in which an individual trains the mind or induces a mode of consciousness, either to realize some benefit or for the mind to simply acknowledge its content without becoming identified with that content, or as an end in itself.

The term meditation refers to a broad variety of practices that includes techniques designed to promote relaxation, build internal energy or life force (qi, ki, prana, etc.) and develop compassion, love, patience, generosity and forgiveness. A particularly ambitious form of meditation aims at effortlessly sustained single-pointed concentration meant to enable its practitioner to enjoy an indestructible sense of well-being while engaging in any life activity.

The word meditation carries different meanings in different contexts. Meditation has been practiced since antiquity as a component of numerous religious traditions and beliefs. Meditation often involves an internal effort to self-regulate the mind in some way. Meditation is often used to clear the mind and ease many health concerns, such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. It may be done sitting, or in an active way—for instance, Buddhist monks involve awareness in their day-to-day activities as a form of mind-training. Prayer beads or other ritual objects are commonly used during meditation in order to keep track of or remind the practitioner about some aspect of the training.

It is worth noting however, that despite the inconsistencies across cultural practices, universal techniques remain across all methodologies and this article will attempt to define and document these consistencies in a manner that is informative, rational, scientific and generally helpful for those to wish to pursue this deeply profound field of psychonautics.

Subjective effects

Cognitive effects The general physical effects of maintaining a consistent meditation routine can be broken down into several components which progressively intensify proportional to persistent practise. These are described below and generally include: Enhancements Analysis enhancement Current mind state enhancement "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. Suppressions "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. Personal bias suppression "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. Novel states "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. Cognitive euphoria "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. Spritual states "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid. "[Effect" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.

Visual effects The visual effects of a consistent meditation routine can be broken down into several components which progressively intensify proportional to persistent practise. They are not however common or univeral in their apparition: Internal hallucinations (autonomous entities; settings, sceneries, and landscapes; alterations in perspective and scenarios and plots) The internal hallucinations of mediation can be described as more solid than psychedelics and do not seem to be composed of visual geometry. The most common way in which they manifest themselves are through spontaneous, fleeeting hypnagogic scenarios. They are most common during depper states and can be comprehensively described through their variations as lucid in believability, fixed in style, autonomous in controllability, and equal in new experiences and memory replays in content. Physical effects The physical effects of mediation are can be broken down into a a couple of components which progressively intensifie proportional to persistent practise. The most prominent of these cognitive effects generally include: Bodily control enhancement Physical euphoria Tactile disconnection Tactile enhancement

Studies

• http://phys.org/news/2011-01-mindfulness-meditation-brain-weeks.html
• http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/12/06/0956797613503853
• http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201306/how-does-meditation-reduce-anxiety-neural-level
• http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0058244