Meditation
Meditation denotes a great range of exercises with which one consciously brings the mind to rest and fosters intuitive, non-ruminating thinking. It is not a matter of a single technique, but of many, very different paths, all of which point in the same direction: away from the ceaseless circling of thoughts, towards inner stillness and clarity. From a spiritual point of view, meditation is a path of practice for self-experience; it is not a medical treatment and replaces no medical or therapeutic help.
What is meditation?
At its core, meditation describes the process of gathering the attention and consciously letting go of habitual, often hectic thinking. Instead of driving thoughts on further, one lets them come and go and returns again and again to a simple anchor – the breath, a sensation, a word or an image. Over time a calmer, more wakeful state arises in which intuition and new insights find room more easily. The concrete methods differ greatly, yet the aim of inner quietening unites them.
Which traditions are there (Zen, contemplation, koan)?
Meditation has grown across many cultures. Three approaches often named in practice are:
Zen
Zen is a Japanese form of meditation that aims to switch off completely within and to bring the conscious activity of the senses and of thinking to rest. Out of a phase of complete emptiness – in Zen often paraphrased as “non-existence” – new, higher insights are to arise. To the fore stand silent, upright sitting and the letting go of all clinging.
Contemplation
Contemplation means, in meditation, to sink oneself into a state or object in order to arrive at new insights. In doing so one can inwardly identify with outer conditions, for instance to understand a problem from within and to come closer to a solution. While Zen emphasises emptying, contemplation emphasises the deepened dwelling with a content.
Koan (Choan)
A koan (in the source material “Choan”) is a saying or a spur to thought that Zen masters set before their students in order to break through “thinking in worn-out paths” and to make new insights possible. Koans are in part deliberately not accessible to the intellect – it is precisely this inability-to-resolve that is meant to transcend the habitual mind and to prompt a deeper insight.
How does one begin?
The entry needs no special equipment. Helpful are:
- A quiet place and a comfortable, upright posture.
- A few minutes daily – regularity works more strongly than length.
- A simple anchor, such as the breath, to which one returns as soon as thoughts wander off.
- A patient, non-judging attitude: wandering off is normal and belongs to it.
With a little practice, the coming-to-rest becomes more familiar. Which tradition or method fits best shows itself most readily through calm trying-out.
Related themes
Frequently asked questions
What is meditation?
Meditation is an umbrella term for exercises with which the mind consciously comes to rest and intuitive, non-ruminating thinking is given room. There are many different methods, from silent sitting to sinking into a question or an image.
Which traditions are there (Zen, contemplation, koan)?
Zen is a Japanese form that aims at inner stillness and the letting go of habitual thinking activity. Contemplation means the sinking of oneself into an object in order to arrive at new insights. A koan is a saying or a spur to thought that breaks open entrenched paths of thinking.
How does one begin with meditation?
A quiet place, a comfortable upright posture and a few minutes daily are enough for the beginning. A simple anchor such as the breath, to which one returns again and again when thoughts arise, is helpful. Regularity counts for more than duration.
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- — First English version.
Sources
- D. Harald Alke: Gesundheitslexikon (Health Encyclopedia). A detailed account of health-relevant topics and therapeutic methods; bundled, overlapping experiences from around 30 years of life counselling with clients. Kyborg Institute.
Autor: D. Harald Alke