Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ended a 45-hour meditation session at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday, June 1. The spiritual retreat took place at the Dhyan Mandapam, the place where the great Hindu philosopher Swami Vivekananda is believed to have had a divine vision of 'Bharat Mata'. Despite the political criticism saying that the meditation was merely "photo shoots," Modi's visit brought into light the deep cultural and spiritual importance of meditation.
The Many Benefits of Meditation
Meditation is an old practice that offers many benefits that touch far beyond mere spiritual enlightenment. Here are some important advantages backed by science As per Dr Kedar Tilwe, Consultant Psychiatrist, Fortis Hospital, Mulund & Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi – A Fortis Network Hospital:
Reduces Stress
One of the most known benefits of meditation is the fact that it reduces stress. Research from the Shamatha Project at the University of California, Davis, indicates that mindfulness meditation can significantly lower cortisol levels, which is the body's primary stress hormone. Even a short training in mindfulness can bring about a drastic reduction in stress and improve general emotional well-being.
Increases Self-Awareness
Meditation increases self-awareness in the sense that it encourages an individual to become aware of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in a non-judgmental way. Increased self-awareness can lead to better self-understanding and personal growth. A study in Perspectives on Psychological Science indicates how mindfulness can help people recognize and deal with their blind spots and weaknesses.
Improves Physical Health
The benefits of meditation to physical health are enormous. It lowers blood pressure, reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke, and improves overall cardiovascular health. A study in Circulation indicates how the practice of Transcendental Meditation can lower the risk of heart disease by a great margin.
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Better Sleep
It has been seen to increase the impact of treatment programs against insomnia and other sleep disorders. A JAMA Internal Medicine study recently found that mindfulness training increased sleep quality better than common sleep hygiene practices. Sleep is improved, and daytime fatigue is reduced.
Pain Management
Meditation can also help in pain management. It is seen to increase the capacity of the brain to process pain, which helps increase the tolerance of the sufferer against the discomfort in his/her body. A study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience revealed that even amateur meditators reported that their pain perception was notably reduced after just a few meditation sessions.
Coping with Illness
In cases of chronic diseases or fatal diseases, meditation has a strong relieving effect on the patients. Research has found that it helps reduce activity in the stress and anxiety centres of the brain for women with breast cancer. Similarly, other studies showed that mindfulness meditation helped reduce stress and fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Weight Management
Through mindful eating, mindfulness meditation can aid in weight management. According to research from the University of California, San Francisco, obese women who practised mindfulness and meditated daily were more likely to lose weight. The practice helps in training the mind to be more aware of eating and savouring food more.
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Addiction Recovery
Meditation can be an effective way of defeating addictions of many kinds. Smokers who meditated daily were much less prone to grab a cigarette, says a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. The practice helps in keeping at bay stress and other emotional reasons behind drug abuse.
Reducing Anxiety and Depression
Meditation further helps in lessening the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Embracing mindfulness meditation, researchers at Johns Hopkins University found new evidence that may help lessen psychological stress. Participants of different studies reported large decreases in anxiety and depressive symptoms after practising regular meditation.
Bottomline
The 45-hour meditation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a strong reminder of the deep historical and spiritual roots of meditation in India. Meditation has a plethora of scientifically-backed benefits, from stress reduction and better self-awareness to improved health and elevated emotional well-being. Whether you want to improve your mental health, manage pain, or simply live a more conscious life, meditation can cause changes that are really positive.