| The history of meditation is long and varied. Various | | | | separate their conscious minds from their physical |
| cultures around the world have engaged in a plethora | | | | bodies, meditation is in practice. |
| of practices throughout millennia of existence that can | | | | Eastern cultures are thought to have developed |
| be considered forms of meditation. Most major | | | | meditation techniques hundreds of years before |
| religions have embraced the practice of mediation in | | | | Western cultures. Through the teachings of Buddha, |
| various forms through out history, and non-religious | | | | followers were able to understand the one of the |
| movements have also followed in the practices of | | | | greatest achievements in life is the obtaining of |
| attaining enlightenment and a sense of peace with the | | | | enlightenment. Through Buddhist meditation techniques, |
| world as a whole through meditation techniques. | | | | practitioners are able to leave behind every day |
| Because there are so many forms of meditation in | | | | worries and concerns and instead turn their |
| which one can engage, the history of meditation is not | | | | contemplate inwards to the core of their own being, or |
| one linear focus but instead a study of the various | | | | outwards, towards the contemplation of the greater |
| forms of meditation itself. | | | | world that surrounds them. In either case, meditation |
| In artifacts that date to thousands of years in the past, | | | | became integral part of Eastern religions many |
| there is evidence that meditation was practices | | | | centuries ago. |
| throughout the world. In Eastern cultures, meditation | | | | Within Western cultures, there is evidence of Christian |
| practices including Zen meditation, Buddhist meditation | | | | monks and priests practicing various forms of deep |
| and Tantra meditation have been practiced over many | | | | prayer and relaxation techniques that lead to the |
| millennia. Even before those forms of meditation | | | | practice of meditation. When a monk or priest |
| evolved, however, history speculates that meditation | | | | becomes so elevated that they have ceased to |
| was an integral part of every day life. When studying | | | | worry about physical needs and are only |
| the history of meditation, researchers have found that | | | | contemplating the goodness of the world around them |
| in hunting and gathering cultures, the practice of sitting | | | | through the practices of common prayers, they have |
| around a communal fire by light and allowing the | | | | truly achieved a beneficial state of meditation. |
| hypnotic affect of flame to take over, people may | | | | Every day usage of meditation techniques in the world |
| have been practicing meditation for as long as | | | | did not come about until the twentieth century. Within |
| consciousness existed. The link between primitive | | | | the history of meditation, this is still a very new |
| cultures and meditative states is well supported by | | | | occurrence, but as meditation continues to gain |
| ancient forms of writing and artifacts that have been | | | | popularity, a greater population of people will be |
| found and studied over time. In any occurrence where | | | | exposed to its lasting benefits. |
| a practitioner uses any technique or substance to | | | | |