This document discusses meditation and provides context on its meaning and history. It defines meditation as a practice involving concentration, mindfulness, and insight that can have both spiritual/religious and secular applications. The document outlines the two most researched forms, Transcendental Meditation and Mindfulness meditation, and notes their similarities like cultivating mindfulness and differences like the objects of concentration. Resources on the etymology and history of meditation as well as examples of long-term meditators are also provided, with an invitation to try practicing meditation.

1. Meditation
Robert Beshara

2. What do you imagine when you hear
the word “meditation”?

3. How would you feel if I told you that
this is also a way to meditate?

4. And this

5. On the etymology of the word
• Meditation (n.): “c.1200, "contemplation; devout
preoccupation; devotions, prayer," from Old French
meditacion "thought, reflection, study," and directly from
Latin meditationem (nominative meditatio) "a thinking
over, meditation," noun of action from past participle stem
of meditari "to meditate, think over, reflect, consider,"
frequentative form from PIE root *med- "to measure, limit,
consider, advise, take appropriate measures" (cognates:
Greek medesthai "think about," medon "ruler;" Latin
modus "measure, manner," modestus "moderate,"
modernus "modern," mederi "to heal," medicus
"physician;" Sanskrit midiur "I judge, estimate;" Welsh
meddwl "mind, thinking;" Gothic miton, Old English metan
"to measure;" also see medical)” (Harper, n.d.)

6. What is meditation?
• Meditation is a practice that involves concentration,
mindfulness, and insight.
• There is usually a spiritual or religious context for
meditation. At least, historically. But meditation can also be
applied as a technique if we prefer the secular route.
• Meditation is not for everyone (e.g., people who struggle
with psychosis) and it is not a panacea.
• Meditation is, among other things, a tool to help us
understand ourselves better and our relationships with
other people and things.
• So it can have some psychological benefits as well as
physiological correlates.

7. Which meditation?
• The two most researched forms of meditation
are: Transcendental Meditation (TM) –
Hinduism, and Mindfulness – Buddhism
• Other forms: contemplation is a form of
meditation practiced by some followers of the
Abrahamic religions
• Jon Kabat-Zinn developed Mindfulness-Based
Stress Reduction (MBSR), which was the
inspiration for Mindfulness-Based Cognitive
Therapy (MBCT)

8. The difference/similarity between TM
and Mindfulness
• Concentration (mantra vs. breath)
• Mindfulness (a non-judgmental attitude)
• Insight (into our suffering?)

9. Resources
• Harper, D. (Ed.). (n.d.). meditation (n.). In Online
Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved May 14, 2014, from
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?
allowed_in_frame=0&search=meditation&searchmode
=none
• “the world’s happiest man” is a long-term meditator:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2225634/Is-worl
• Relevant articles will be sent along with this
presentation

10. Shall we practice?