{"id":395,"date":"2023-03-02T20:16:31","date_gmt":"2023-03-02T20:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/learn-it-meditation\/"},"modified":"2025-11-11T18:57:55","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T18:57:55","slug":"learn-it-meditation","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/learn-it-meditation\/","title":{"raw":"Other States of Consciousness: Learn It 2\u2014Meditation","rendered":"Other States of Consciousness: Learn It 2\u2014Meditation"},"content":{"raw":"

Meditation<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n

meditation<\/h3>\r\n

Meditation<\/strong> is the act of focusing on a single target (such as the breath or a repeated sound) to increase awareness of the moment.<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n

Practicing Meditation<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Unlike hypnosis, which typically involves a therapist guiding a participant, meditation can be practiced independently. Many people, however, benefit from some initial instruction to learn how to reach a meditative state.<\/p>\r\n

Although there are many different styles, most forms of meditation involve quieting the mind<\/span> and redirecting attention<\/span> to achieve a state of relaxed awareness<\/span> and focused concentration<\/span> on a specific sensation, emotion, or thought (Chen et al., 2013; Lang et al., 2012).<\/p>\r\n

Mindfulness Meditation<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

One of the most well-known approaches is mindfulness meditation<\/b><\/span>, which has grown in popularity in recent years. Mindfulness is a deliberate, non-judgmental awareness of one\u2019s thoughts, feelings, or surroundings in the present moment\u2014often with the goal of fostering self-understanding or insight (Kabat-Zinn, 1994).<\/p>\r\n

Applications and Benefits<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Buddhist-derived meditation practices, including \u201cmindfulness-based interventions\u201d (MBIs) have been applied to a wide range of medical and psychological conditions including stress, chronic pain, addiction, and mood disorders.[footnote]Lindahl, J. R., Fisher, N. E., Cooper, D. J., Rosen, R. K., & Britton, W. B. (2017). The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists. PloS one, 12(5), e0176239[\/footnote]<\/p>\r\n

MBIs have been widely implemented, including in prisons, the military, and educational settings. Research indicates that meditation may help reduce blood pressure, and the American Heart Association suggests that meditation might be used in conjunction with more traditional treatments as a way to manage hypertension (Brook et al., 2013). Like hypnosis, meditation also shows promise in stress management, sleep quality (Caldwell, Harrison, Adams, Quin, & Greeson, 2010), treatment of mood and anxiety disorders (Chen et al., 2013; Freeman et al., 2010; V\u00f8llestad, Nielsen, & Nielsen, 2012), and pain management (Reiner, Tibi, & Lipsitz, 2013).<\/p>\r\n

Cultural and Spiritual Roots<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

While Western science often highlights the health-related outcomes of mindfulness, these represent only one dimension of meditation\u2019s broader significance. In many religious and spiritual traditions<\/span>, contemplative practices such as chanting, prayer, and meditation<\/span> are intended to cultivate spiritual growth<\/span> and inner peace<\/span>.<\/p>\r\n

This intersection\u2014using religiously derived meditation techniques in secular, medical, or therapeutic contexts\u2014remains an important area for ongoing discussion and research.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"732\"]\"Photograph Figure 2<\/strong>. (a) This is a statue of a meditating Buddha, representing one of the many religious traditions of which meditation plays a part. (b) People practicing meditation may experience an alternate state of consciousness. (credit a: modification of work by Jim Epler; credit b: modification of work by Caleb Roenigk)[\/caption]\r\n<\/figure>\r\n
[ohm2_question height=\"500\"]3982[\/ohm2_question]<\/section>","rendered":"

Meditation<\/h2>\n
\n

meditation<\/h3>\n

Meditation<\/strong> is the act of focusing on a single target (such as the breath or a repeated sound) to increase awareness of the moment.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

Practicing Meditation<\/b><\/h3>\n

Unlike hypnosis, which typically involves a therapist guiding a participant, meditation can be practiced independently. Many people, however, benefit from some initial instruction to learn how to reach a meditative state.<\/p>\n

Although there are many different styles, most forms of meditation involve quieting the mind<\/span> and redirecting attention<\/span> to achieve a state of relaxed awareness<\/span> and focused concentration<\/span> on a specific sensation, emotion, or thought (Chen et al., 2013; Lang et al., 2012).<\/p>\n

Mindfulness Meditation<\/b><\/h3>\n

One of the most well-known approaches is mindfulness meditation<\/b><\/span>, which has grown in popularity in recent years. Mindfulness is a deliberate, non-judgmental awareness of one\u2019s thoughts, feelings, or surroundings in the present moment\u2014often with the goal of fostering self-understanding or insight (Kabat-Zinn, 1994).<\/p>\n

Applications and Benefits<\/b><\/h3>\n

Buddhist-derived meditation practices, including \u201cmindfulness-based interventions\u201d (MBIs) have been applied to a wide range of medical and psychological conditions including stress, chronic pain, addiction, and mood disorders.[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

MBIs have been widely implemented, including in prisons, the military, and educational settings. Research indicates that meditation may help reduce blood pressure, and the American Heart Association suggests that meditation might be used in conjunction with more traditional treatments as a way to manage hypertension (Brook et al., 2013). Like hypnosis, meditation also shows promise in stress management, sleep quality (Caldwell, Harrison, Adams, Quin, & Greeson, 2010), treatment of mood and anxiety disorders (Chen et al., 2013; Freeman et al., 2010; V\u00f8llestad, Nielsen, & Nielsen, 2012), and pain management (Reiner, Tibi, & Lipsitz, 2013).<\/p>\n

Cultural and Spiritual Roots<\/b><\/h3>\n

While Western science often highlights the health-related outcomes of mindfulness, these represent only one dimension of meditation\u2019s broader significance. In many religious and spiritual traditions<\/span>, contemplative practices such as chanting, prayer, and meditation<\/span> are intended to cultivate spiritual growth<\/span> and inner peace<\/span>.<\/p>\n

This intersection\u2014using religiously derived meditation techniques in secular, medical, or therapeutic contexts\u2014remains an important area for ongoing discussion and research.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Photograph
Figure 2<\/strong>. (a) This is a statue of a meditating Buddha, representing one of the many religious traditions of which meditation plays a part. (b) People practicing meditation may experience an alternate state of consciousness. (credit a: modification of work by Jim Epler; credit b: modification of work by Caleb Roenigk)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n