Meditation has long been hailed by mullahs, monks, yogis and other spiritual leaders as producing feelings of stability, emotional well-being, clarity of mind and improved ability to focus. Until recently, the scientific community has dismissed many of these claims. However, recent scientific studies have determined that mindfulness meditation techniques do indeed cause changes in the brain, resulting in keener focus, better recall and even improved immunity against disease and depression. The effects of meditation on the mind are now, through these studies, revealing even more about the human brain.
One neuroscientist, Richard Davidson of the W.M. Keck Laboratory for Functional Brain Imaging and Behavior, has been studying the effects of meditation and other exercising on both the brain and the overall health of people. He was invited by the Dalai Lama to test several monks trained in meditation as part of one of his studies. The results of these tests were astounding.
The monks who had been studying intensive meditation for years showed significantly more brain wave activity than the average people chosen to participate in the series of studies. Davidson's studies are concluding that meditation trains the brain the way any physical sport would train the physical body. Even moderate levels of meditation appear to produce improvements in the ability to focus on specific tasks, remember facts and numbers, learn new information and engage with greater consciousness in activities requiring attention to detail.
Davidson's studies also suggest that meditation stimulates the left prefrontal cortex, the part of your brain that generates feelings of contentment and happiness. Therefore it is believed that mindfulness meditation may actually fight depression and stimulate feelings of well-being, just like what the monks and yogis have been telling us for centuries.
Meditation tapes were used as instructional guides for those who agreed to participate in the meditation studies. It appears that a variety of meditation techniques are effective for improving mood, relieving anxiety, stimulating brain activity and increasing mental sharpness.
 | Whether you go it alone, join a meditation group or work with a teacher, there are many benefits of meditation like helping reduce stress, lowering your blood pressure and improving your outlook on life. |
 | The objective of Zen meditation is to quiet the mind and facilitate a deeper understanding of one's inner self. |
 | If your attempts at learning to meditate always more closely resemble naptime, take in these tips on reaching a relaxed state without falling asleep. |
Zen Buddhism and Meditation Zen Buddhists place an emphasis on learning about the nature of human existence and learning to cope with it. It may be hard at times to live in this difficult world but Buddhists try to accept the world for what it is. |
Many people have discovered the benefits of meditation in general. It helps to lower the blood pressure, and can relieve stress and hypertension. Additionally, meditation can help you prepare your mind for the day, leaving you better able to think alertly and absorb new information. |
