Meditation is an intentional practice of calming one’s body and mind in a fashion that leads to an altered state of consciousness characterized by expanded awareness, greater presence, and a more integrated sense of self. Meditation is practiced for religious, spiritual, and psychological or emotional well-being. While the majority of meditation methods have their roots in religious and spiritual practices, modern medical and scientific research has led to these techniques being incorporated into mainstream medical and psychotherapeutic interventions.

Historical Context

The practice of meditation has long been utilized in various spiritual or religious practices. Meditative practices have been recorded in writings as far back as 1500 BCE (Hindu Vedic writings), 1 to 200 BCE (Buddhist), 10 to 200 CE (Judaic), 20 BCE (Christian), and 800 to 900 ...

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