Meditation has been around for thousands of years. While it is not surprising that many people in the Western world continue to embrace the practice of meditation, it can be considered surprising that many cultures that have a long and rich history for meditation. Chinese medicine, the Hindu tradition, and the Eastern Zens are among the most prevalent of the different practices. Each culture has a unique religious and spiritual focus, as well as a meditation practice that brings that focus on being.
The religious emphasis of the Eastern Zens is its use of pranayama or breath control. While most people have an awareness of the need to breathe regularly, few are aware of the various techniques of meditation and breathing that make up the practice. In fact, pranayama is used in the Eastern Zens to meditate, not only in a physical sense but in a way that sees the mind to remain focused on a single thing for an extended period of time. It is this focus that allows the mind to relax and be calm.
Yoga is another popular form of meditation that has evolved and moved to the West. The emphasis on meditation in yoga is more in the physical aspect of it than the religious aspect. The technique of yoga meditation is a form of physical exercise that allows the practitioner to tune in with the body, channeling the energy and control that it possesses to remain focused on a single object for a certain amount of time.
However, the practices of each of these traditions are almost equally widespread in other parts of the world. In the Far East, the Hindu tradition of meditation has become very popular. Many people that practice yoga now also practice meditation in order to help with their stress levels. It is one of the most common forms of meditation that is practiced today, and many people that have not had their physical needs met or their stress levels can not find a balance between meditation and yoga.
In the Eastern Zens, the techniques are different from each other, with each having its own roots and strong points. Meditation is done through focused meditation practices, which are usually found in Buddhism, while yoga is done through physical practices. What links the two is focusing on a single thought or goal?
While it is not clear if Eastern Zens was a religion or not, it was probably more spiritual in nature than many forms of Christianity. It would seem that meditation is an essential part of the religion, though. Like other forms of Buddhism, the focus is on the individual rather than the need to go to heaven and be reincarnated.
While the Eastern Zens does not promote organized religion as it does in other religions, it is clear that Buddhism and Zen practice some forms of mediation and meditation. Even the end of life is seen as a form of meditation for both groups. In addition, the end of life, or the fact that it is a journey, is a major component of Buddhism.
The practices of the Hindu tradition are very similar to the Eastern Zens. The emphasis is again on an all-encompassing belief and meditation. While meditation may not be seen as a religion, it is similar to religious meditation in that the focus is on achieving inner peace and harmony.
With the most non-religious focus, Yoga practices have emerged in recent years. As with the Eastern Zens, the emphasis is on an internal goal. Yoga is almost completely geared towards physical practice, and the rest of the practices are the types of meditation that we know so well.
Both of these forms of meditation are actually related to the practice of yoga. While most religions do not have a practice of meditation, they do have different versions of it. It is interesting to note that all the practices of meditation are found in the two religions mentioned above. These forms of meditation are even practiced separately as well, meaning that practicing them in addition to each other can make one feel good in the practice.
Overall, meditation practice has become more widespread in recent years. Though it is not a religion, Buddhism and Yoga are found as an integral part of the practice. For most of us, we choose to incorporate meditation into our lives on a daily basis.
