| Meditation is a mental/spiritual technique for | | | | incessantly. This leads to inner peace, and to |
| quieting the endless chatter of the mind and | | | | spiritual awareness of one's real essence – |
| freeing it from anxiety and stress. In its advanced | | | | The Inner Spirit, which is above and beyond the |
| forms, it aims for the attainment of peace of | | | | mind. There are many methods and traditions, |
| mind, inner silence and spiritual awakening. | | | | some of these may involve the repetition of a |
| Meditation is a state of concentrated awareness | | | | mantra or contemplating on the meaning of |
| on a thought, idea, an aspect of God or on one's | | | | selected verses from the scriptures, and others |
| consciousness, and usually involves turning the | | | | require focusing the attention on the breath, a |
| attention inwards, away from the external world. | | | | candle or some type of inner visualization. There |
| During meditation the mind often wanders away, | | | | are also higher techniques that require the |
| and the practitioner has to bring the attention | | | | emptying of the mind of all thoughts and entering |
| back again and again. This of course involves | | | | into a state of inner silence, clarity and bliss. This is |
| some effort in the beginning, but as one gains | | | | a state of deep inner peace and awareness of |
| proficiency, keeping the mind calm and free from | | | | one's real being. Regular practice of meditation |
| distracting thoughts becomes second nature. | | | | develops patience, love and tolerance, for oneself |
| In more advanced techniques, meditation aims to | | | | and all beings. |
| free the mind from the compulsive habit to think | | | | |