Meditation usually refers to a state of extreme relaxation, in which the body is generally at rest and the mind quieted of surface thoughts. Several major religions include ritual meditation; however, meditation itself need not be a religious or spiritual activity. It is widely thought to be of Eastern origin.
Another form of meditation is more closely akin to prayer and worship, wherein the practitioner turns spiritual thoughts over in the mind and engages the brain in higher thinking processes. The goal in this case is the receipt of spiritual insights and new understanding.
Vipassana and anapanasati are parts of broader notion of mindful awareness, which is part of the Noble Eightfold Path, the ultimate goal in Buddhism that leads to Enlightenment, and expounded upon the in the Satipatthanasutta. While in anapanasati meditation attention is focused on the breath, in vipassana, however, the mind is trained to be acutely aware of not only breathing, but all things that one comes to experience.
The concept of vipassana works in believing that the meditator's mind will eventually take note of every physical and mental experience "real-time" or as it happens, the goal being that it will gradually reveal to the practitioner how one's mind unknowingly attaches itself to things that are impermanent in nature. Thus, when such things cease to exist, one experiences the suffering from its loss. This very wisdom, achievable solely through vipassana meditation, in turn gradually frees one's mind from the attachment that is the root of suffering. For one practicing this form of meditation, it is also very important to note that the wisdom presents itself into the mind of meditator only when he/she is NOT thinking but yet possessing an acute awareness of what goes on in their mind, body and surrounding. The nature of vipassana is sophisticated; one may desire a veteran instructor to provide initial guidance.
In other words, in Vipassana (insight, or seeing things as they are) meditation, the mind is trained to notice each perception or thought that passes without "stopping" on any one. This is a characteristic form of meditation in Buddhism, especially in some Theravada traditions, and is also a component of Zazen, the term for meditation practice in Zen.
However, in at least some forms of vipassana, one does not attend to whatever perceptions arise, but purposely moves one's attention over their body part by part, checking for perceptions, being aware and equanimous with them, and moving on. This form of meditation has some resemblance with "choiceless awareness" — the kind of meditation that J. Krishnamurti addressed.
Jesus, according to the New Age writing The Urantia Book, often left his apostles and the crowds to distance himself in the wilderness areas of Palestine to engage in long periods of dynamic-mind, spiritual meditation wherein he communicated with God. The 40 days following his baptism were spent in such a manner.
The Urantia Book describes it this way: "On every mountaintop of intellectual thought are to be found relaxation for the mind, strength for the soul, and communion for the spirit. From such vantage points of high living, man is able to transcend the material irritations of the lower levels of thinking -- worry, jealousy, envy, revenge, and the pride of immature personality. These high-climbing souls deliver themselves from a multitude of the crosscurrent conflicts of the trifles of living, thus becoming free to attain consciousness of the higher currents of spirit concept and celestial communication. But the life purpose must be jealously guarded from the temptation to seek for easy and transient attainment; likewise must it be so fostered as to become immune to the disastrous threats of fanaticism." (see context)
As a method of stress reduction, meditation is often used in hospitals in cases of chronic or terminal illness to reduce complications associated with increased stress including a depressed immune system. There is a growing consensus in the medical community that mental factors such as stress significantly contribute to a lack of physical health, and there is a growing movement in mainstream science to fund and do research in this area (e.g. the establishment by the NIH in the U.S. of 5 research centers to research the mind-body aspects of disease.)
Dr. James Austin, a neurophysiologist at the University of Colorado, reported that Zazen or Zen meditation rewires the circuitry of the brain in his landmark book Zen and the Brain. This has been confirmed using sophisticated imaging techniques which examine the electrical activity of the brain.
Dr. Herbert Benson of the Mind-Body Medical Institute, which is affiliated with Harvard and several Boston hospitals, reports that meditation induces a host of biochemical and physical changes in the body collectively referred to as the "relaxation response." The relaxation response includes changes in metabolism, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and brain chemistry.
The Urantia Book indicates that relaxation is similarly a result of dynamic-mind meditation, thus its health benefits should be the same. However this has not been confirmed by scientific investigations.
Most Abrahamic traditions practice forms of meditation that use their God, Saints and/or Prophets as concentration focus
Some people, including the controversial Guru Rajneesh (also known as "Osho"), taught forms of "Dynamic Meditation" that involve violent exercise and hyperventilation, akin to aerobic exercise or those like the Sufi whirling.
Meditation based on questioning "Who am I" draws from various traditions, especially Vipassana, Insight Meditation, Zazen, and with the express purpose of getting to know one's true nature, and/or experiencing Kensho, Satori, Enlightenment. This method teaches to be wary of trance-like states of relaxation, and advocates intense inquiry into the nature of thought, mind, ego, self, and desire.
Jesus-style, dynamic-mind, spiritualized meditation engages the spiritized creative consciousness and full awareness. The mind and thinking processes are expanded rather than shut down, by-passed, distracted, or dulled. The only requirements are sincerity, persistence, and God-consciousness. The Urantia Book, however, cautions against the use of "physical fatigue, fasting, psychic dissociation, profound aesthetic experiences, vivid sex impulses, fear, anxiety, rage, and wild dancing" to initiate "mystic communion". It categorically states that "under no circumstances should the trancelike state of visionary consciousness be cultivated as a religious experience."
