Oakville Zen Meditation
Mindfulness Meditation: What it does & how it works?
Definition:
Meditation: Sitting meditation technique that focus our attention, in a mindful way, on body
posture/sensations, breathing , environment and, after awhile, mental relaxation.
Mindfulness: focusing /paying attention to x, y, z w/o intention, analysis, judgment and decision.
Mindfulness meditation: Is recognized now as a special form of cognitive behavioral therapy in which
cognitive or analytic process is replaced by simple observation, that is reflecting things as they are
and not as we want them to be. It is acting like a like a mirror.
What makes mindfulness meditation different from other types of meditation is the absence of external instruments such as music, video, guidance or mantra. No gimmicks, you are on your own.
How the benefits of mindfulness meditation leading to self-awareness come from?
Not clear yet: probably from the positive effect on neuroplasticity and ongoing bioelectrical rewiring of our brain centres which have been confirmed by neuro-imaging studies.
Here are the documented benefits of mindfulness meditatio:.
Spiritual:
Better understanding of what is genuine existing reality vs existing mind-made V.R.
Expanding our consciousness and interconnectivity with our surrounding world.
As corollary: disappearance of self-made feeling of separateness from others.
Experiencing current space-time that is living more in the moment rather than dreaming all
the time in the virtual past and future. It can be done by bring the mind where our body is and
what we are currently doing.
Mental/ Cognitive:
Better control of our restless mind and runaway thoughts moving back & forth from past to future.
Enhancement of attention span, concentration and cognitive skills with a non dualistic open mind.
Improves intuition, creativity and interconnectivity rather than separateness an isolation.
Improves short and long-term memories.
Focusing on mono-tasking rather than multitasking which is stressful even if you don’t realize it.
Emotional:
HOW? By bio-electric regulations of our emotional centers localized in our limbic system and
amygdala.
Most negative emotions are reduced in frequency and intensity, if not control such as anxiety, fear,
resentment, regrets. BY accepting them rather then fighting we are quieting our mind.
Also reduced are our endless and never satisfied desires, hatred and illusions main sources of
dissatisfaction and unhappiness.
Negative self-image is reduced allowing better compassion and acceptance to self and others.
Non-attachment ?de-centering leading to acceptance & letting go, even control of our mind-driven ego
Physical benefits:
They are all consecutive to the mental & emotional benefits listed before.
Reduces stress and its effects by controlling its neuro-biochemical process such as stress hormones.
slow down heart rate &respiration, reduces fatigue, reduces eating disorders,
and anti-social behavior, etc..
Reduces chronic pain, inflammation, appetite. addictive behavior.
Improve sleep.
Enhance our immune system fighting infection and maybe cancer but not proven
Socio-professional enhancement:
Pro-social and interactive behavior leading to acceptance, kindness empathy to others
Improves self-image, well-being, patience, less judgmental attitude and emotional health are the main reasons for this interactive relationships.
Caution: Mindfulness meditation is not the holly grail nor a miracle pill. Far from because it requests significant ongoing practice requiring patience, trust, discipline and, above all, a non-judgmental attitude towards the practice itself.
The practice of meditation is cumulative with the frequency of meditation and its benefits listed above will appeared sooner or later w/o too much correlation with the quality of your meditation.
