Meditation: Its History and Benefits

Looks at the introduction of contemporary meditation techniques in the United States and their benefits.

Meditation is an element of every major spiritual tradition in the world. Recently, it has come in for increased attention in North America. Meditation is mental exercise of techniques of concentration, contemplation and abstraction, regarded as conducive to heightened spiritual awareness or somatic calm. This papers outlines contemporary types of meditation and the somatic and psychological benefits of meditation.