Meditation is an English word that means yoga
Definition
Meditation is a general term used for a multitude of mental processes and techniques including relaxation, directed attention, visualization, devotional contemplation, thinking and planning, mindfulness, insight and intuition training, and so on.
Meaning
Meditation is part of the rāja yoga vidyā, the yoga of meditation that takes one from ignorance (avidyā) to knowledge (vidyā). It has three components:
- a meditator, who is the subject at the center of the meditation
- the object of meditation, any object or concept that the meditator meditates on
- a technique, a process of meditation that the meditator uses to unite him or herself with the object of meditation.
The resulting blissful meditative state is a high state of yoga. The meditative state is one of conscious of union of an individual with life or self. This increases our awareness of who we are, our knowledge and our life skills.
In Sanskrit the word for meditation is dhyana, which means ‘an unbroken flow of awareness’, a truly joyful and life affirming experience. It is the opposite of the unaware state.
Application
Meditation is an exalted, joyful, powerful and highly aware state of being. This meditative state arises from any process or technique that empowers us to unite with an object of meditation. The result of this process of union (yoga) is knowledge of that object or concept.
If we meditate on ourselves we gain self-awareness and self-knowledge. Self-awareness is one of the most precious things we can have as it leads to self-empowerment, self-confidence and self-actualization. Ultimately it leads to Self-realization, which is the realization of who we truly are, and knowledge of our purpose.
Meditation is both a method that supports us living a more conscious life and is also a high state of being in which we experience the life affirming experience of unbroken awareness. It results in a more present-centered and heart-centered life.