... Meditation the Real Medicine Writing an argument paper can be difficult, but my topic that I have chosen makes it somewhat easier since it is one that is used every day of my life. With it I can meet the daily challenges that most everyone take for granted. Like, eating and drinking we think nothing of those skills, well for me it is the same as eating and drinking. It has to be or I won't be able to function throughout my day. In 1981 I broke my lower lumbar spine in 4 places, a fall that accrued during a Special OP’s training exercise. I fell four stories and landed in water, but it felt like cement. For the next year my life was in a hospital traction bed and told I would never walk again. I walk today but the pain remains, a constant reminder of a day that changed my life forever and started me in the world of pain management. As one starts thinking about the argument topic they want to write about, this was a no brainier for me in choosing the topic to write about. A practice that is, as routine as eating or brushing one's teeth for most people. This routine is as important to me as to the daily challenges that most everyone take for granted. My argument topic is on meditation vs. alpha-medicine drug treatments. Let’s get some clearly to the facts about meditation this might be helpful in an argument against some of the assumptions on meditation, which is something I practice in my life every single day to relieve my back pain. So, what is meditation? What...
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...Joseph The Power of Prayer and Meditation Since the beginning of man, there has been prayer and meditation. While that may be common knowledge, most do not know the effects prayer and meditation have on the human mind and body. Many people may regard these practices as useless and archaic, however many also believe they have powerful effects; such as stress relief, and improvement of mental and physical health and even brain growth. Although it may be a controversial subject, there are many studies on the effects of these practices. In the end, the actuality of these affects remains a mystery. Though both claim to produce much of the same effects, prayer and meditation are a little different; Meditation is the art or discipline of slowing one’s thoughts to enter a place of spiritual peace or focus. Prayer is the act of conversing to or with a deity. Despite what you may believe, Prayer is a widely used practice. “One third of Americans use prayer to facilitate physical healing,” (Jeffrey, Kluger, Park, Walsh p.1) States an article on the benefits of prayer on health. Western medicine may attempt to water down the connection between prayer and healing, yet some studies show that there is a connection between meditation, prayer and good emotional and physical health. We often get caught up in our in our fast paced lives with stress not following far behind. There are many avenues to choose when it comes to dealing with stress appropriately; such as exercise...
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...Cascia Research, A.Y. 2010-2011 Mrs. Ma. Alon C. Song Meditation as Healing Remedy for Stress “Never underestimate the impact of stress,” goes with heavy sighs and redundant complains of tired students, over-fatigued employees and even exhausted presidents. People cannot escape stress but what are the remedies for it? Simple! There are various types of relaxation exercises that can be the foundation of stress management. One of them is Meditation technique. Meditation is a technique that can relieve the difficulties and problems of each and everyone. It can aid all ages in coping with stress. It can also assist in reinforcing the immune system of the stressed person’s body. Furthermore, meditation can be the true source of concentration and confidence. The aim of this research paper is to broaden the knowledge of each individual on how stress can be handled with the technique called meditation. Meditation can be a very effective tool in stress management. It teaches stressed individuals not only to relax but to focus away from stressful thoughts and feelings. In becoming skilled at the said technique, a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind will be obtained. It will give an advantage for the most part of the emotional well-being and the overall health. With the help of meditation, it can clear away the information overload that rise up day by day and be part of the cause of a person’s stress. Since meditation has been one of the most investigated of the relaxation...
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...The Minds of Monks Consciousness, it has many variations, one being meditation. Meditation is the most debated and scrutinized forms of consciousness. It has been discussed, argued, contested and questioned on how it has, can, and might alter the human consciousness. However through science and experimentation the altering effects of meditation can be seen and recorded not just on the consciousness but on the physical brain. In the last journal the discussion concentrated mainly on how meditation could give a piece of the peaceful life as focused practices can boost improve attention spans in the everyday person and how meditation exercises could boost mental toughness in soldiers. In this journal the emphasis will be on the effects on the brain, as while as meditation may increase a person's ability to feel empathy for others similar to the Dalai Lama. Many wonder how the Dalai Lama can retain his kindness, even as his homeland is torn apart by violence. New neuroscience research may help explain the exiled Tibetan leader's unremitting compassion for all people. In an experiment scientists asked subjects, both expert meditators and novices, to practice compassion meditation while inside a functional MRI. The participants heard sounds designed to provoke an empathetic response, such as a distressed woman calling out, as well as positive and neutral sounds. When subjects heard the sounds, both groups experienced more brain activity in areas associated with empathy while...
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...Meditation Meditation is a holistic discipline .It is generally an internal, personal practice and most often done without any external involvement. Meditation is a safe and simple way to balance a person’s physical, mental and emotional forces. But can benefit everybody. Meditation is not a technique but a way of life. Meditation means 'a cessation of the thought process' . It describes a state of consciousness, when the mind is free of scattered thoughts and various patterns . The observer (one who is doing meditation) realizes that all the activity of the mind is reduced to one. Herbert Benson, M.D., a professor at Harvard Medical School, describes the meditation experience as the "relaxation response." He discovered by studying various yogis and longtime meditators that the meditation process counteracted the effects of the sympathetic nervous system-the one that wants to fight or flee. Whereas the sympathetic system dilates the pupils and gets the heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure up, the parasympathetic system, activated when we meditate, does just the opposite. Muscle tension decreases, blood pressure drops, and for some extraordinary practitioners, even temperature and basal metabolism rates drop during a prolonged meditation. Oxygen needs of the body are reduced when one is in a highly relaxed state, and brain waves change from the busy beta-waves to the blissful alpha waves. In addition to...
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...Although the use of meditation isn't widely known nor thought of as a form of medicine or even a substitute in some cases. Recent studies conducted in the past decade are shedding more light on the relation between medicine and meditation, a topic not extensively explored before recent periods. Meditation has the potential to increase positive development in many areas of overall health including mental state and immunity, as shown in a study by the department of Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin. Objectively the University set out to determine whether the effects of meditation had a positive effect on the brains function and the immune systems of the human body. Doing this through the use of two controlled groups of subjects, one set on an eight week meditation schedule and the other given no schedule. After the subjects completed the regiment of meditation, both groups were put under electrical brain scan and given the influenza vaccine. In result, the group who had participated in the meditation process resulted in an increased activity in the region of the brain associated with positive change/outlook as well as an increased number of influenza fighting antibodies. To conclude, the use of meditation has a positive effect on the function of the human brain, motor skills and disease fighting antibodies. Personally I believe the use of meditation can be an efficient addition to ones daily schedule, although the effects may not be significantly...
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...One type of mindfulness based stressed reduction meditation, Loving Kindness Meditation (LKM), explicitly emphasizes caring and connection with others (Salzberg, 1995). The practice of LKM combines mindfulness in a form of non-judgmental awareness of the present moment (Kabat-Zinn, 2003) with a meditative cultivation of feeling of love for all beings (Lee et al., 2012). Loving Kindness arising from the Buddhist concept is related to cultivating “compassion, joy, equanimity, empathy, altruism and a sense of connectedness with others” (Kristeller & Johnson, 2005, p. 395). A state of loving-kindness or compassion is defined as “unconditional readiness and availability to help living beings” (Lutz, Brefczynski-Lewis, Johnstone, & Davidson, 2008,...
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...Health Benefits of Meditation Article Critique Part two Paper Rasheedah Long Grand Canyon University NSG 325: Evidence Based Practice 03/30/2015 The purpose of composing this paper is to review one article that supports the PICOT statement. This paper will be written as an essay and will scrutinize major components of the study such as the introduction, the review of literature, the methods used, the findings, and lastly the discussion. This paper will provide an analytical view of the chosen article, determining the applicability of the findings, the clinical importance, the validity and the reliability of the issue addressed in the article. There are many different types of mediation practices. Transcendental meditation and mindfulness based stress reduction meditation are two of the most commonly researched. Meditation is now widely accepted into mainstream and is being used as a way for maintaining health and wellness. Several medical and rehabilitation facilities have proved meditation to be a safe and effective tool for treating: “stress, fatigue, depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, tinnitus, congestive heart failure, general pain, as well as many other health ailments. (Natural Medicine Database, 2014) Article Introduction The introduction to the study was clear and concise. It clearly identified what the researchers were looking to establish. The introduction explains that mindfulness meditation is defined as...
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...There are many ways to live a healthy, safe and happy lifestyle. There are many things a person may experience in their life to make them feel better. Meditation is an activity that is used throughout the world to enhance happiness in an individual’s life. There are numerous amounts of reasons why meditation can help you live a healthy, safe and happy lifestyle which will be discussed further on. Meditation is known as a cure to anything and is in debate that people who meditate are much stronger, healthier, happier and active people. There are many studies which have been undertaken which will also be referred to further on. This essay conveys the benefits of meditation in health, happiness, how to meditate as well as showing studies that have been conducted around the world in proving how effective meditating really is. First of all meditation is a three step process that leads to a state of consciousness that brings serenity, clarity, and bliss to an individual’s life (meditation station, 2006) and is also referred to as mindfulness training. Meditation may increase anyone’s ability to stay in the present moment as opposed to worrying about the future and past. Medititation is also known as enabling an individual to connect more with their feelings and emotions. Meditation improves a person’s concentration which results in a clear mind which makes an individual more productive, especially in creative disciplines like writing (Pettinger, 2012). It helps people not get too...
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...Discuss the cause and solutions to stress in modern organizations. How does the Indian philosophy differ from western thought on stress management? Definition of Stress Stress is an imprecise term. It is usually defined in terms of the internal and external conditions that create stressful situations, and the symptoms that people experience when they are stressed. McGrath (1976) proposed a definition based on the conditions necessary for stress. Causes of Stress Stressors can be divided into those that arise from within an individual (internal), and those that are attributable to the environment (external). Internal conflicts, non-specific fears, fears of inadequacy, and guilt feelings are examples of stressors that do not depend on the environment. Internal sources of stress can arise from an individual's perceptions of an environmental threat, even if no such danger actually exists. Environmental stressors are external conditions beyond an individual's control. Bhagat (1983) has reported that work performance can be seriously impaired by external stressors. There are many aspects of organizational life that can become external stressors. These include issues of structure, management's use of authority, monotony, a lack of opportunity for advancement, excessive responsibilities, ambiguous demands, value conflicts, and unrealistic work loads. A person's non-working life (e.g., family, friends, health, and financial situations) can also contain stressors that negatively...
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...Spiritual Healing: Crystals, Plants, and Meditation Many believe that certain kinds of crystals, plants, and meditation are spiritually healing. On the other hand, people think it is a silly concept and a waste of time. They would assume it is new age nonsense. Some folks will argue that it is a hoax while others will genuinely argue that it has legitimately worked for them and many others. Believe it or not, it has been proven to heal human beings around the world. In the name of spiritual healing, Shamans, Priests, and Healers have the will to help others experience healing through all kinds of ways; one being through the use of crystals, plants, and meditation. According to “A Brief History of Crystals and Healing”, crystal healing goes...
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...measures of effectiveness. The measures of effectiveness consist of validity, efficacy, symptom, behavior management, and recidivism. These measures should be identified, prior to deciding which therapeutic interventions can be most helpful to the individuals, diagnosed with the psychological disorder. Many common symptoms are associated with bulimia nervosa. Rates of symptom reduction or management have been reported with the three treatments. Furthermore, the neurophysiological underpinnings of diseases and disorders have to be identified, along with the contemporary attitudes towards the three treatments chosen. Psychological Disorder: Bulimia Nervosa Bulimia nervosa is known as an eating disorder. This eating disorder brings about the effects of bingeing and purging. People, suffering from bulimia nervosa, frequently eat a lot of food at one time. A short period after eating the food, the person, then, attempts to remove the food from his or her system by vomiting, through medication that creates bowl movements, or by working out. Working out would lead them to throwing up. People diagnosed with bulimia nervosa are, often, lacking self-esteem. Many are self-conscious about their image. Majority of individuals, suffering from bulimia nervosa, have weight problems or believe that they have weight problems. Bulimia is associated with other illnesses, as well. An example includes depression. Bulimia nervosa shares many characteristics of anorexia nervosa....
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...Those inmates who participated in the program had recidivism rates of 46.7% over the period of 15 years, the control group had higher recidivism rates of 66.7% over the same time period (Rainforth, Alexander, Cavanaugh 2008). The findings provided by this study were considered to be statistically important to the support of this programs benefits. According to the study the Transcendental Meditation has proven to be more than a mere program to offset reoffending to a later time, but it has actually helped some inmates in permanent rehabilitation. A combination of both Transcendental Meditation and group therapy has proven to have an even greater positive impact on recidivism, than providing inmates with Transcendental Meditation alone. The benefits of the effectiveness of other programs in prison such as education and drug rehabilitation programs can be enhanced when they are combined with Transcendental Meditation therapy (Rainforth et al.,...
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...The essay at hand will be discussing Meditation III by Descartes by paying particular attention to Descartes’ ideas of God, substances and modes; objective reality and formal reality of a thing; the meaning of natural light and the use of the concept ‘cause’ in a metaphysical sense. In Meditations III, Descartes aims to prove God’s existence and that He is not a deceptive being. Thus ensuring us that we are not deceived at all when we perceive things clearly from the spiritual realm. Descartes differentiates between the varying ideas of reality within themselves contained different grades of reality namely God, substances and modes. Descartes idea of God forms his objective reality whilst the idea of God forms Himself as the Deity’s existence is its own formal reality. As meditations III is the argument for the existence of God, Descartes maintains that this stems from the fact that he has an idea of God. Descartes suggests that the idea m stems from God himself as both the cause and effect of this idea. The idea God implies the formal reality and also its own infinite God. Reason being, God reveals himself to Descartes in an infinite reality. Of these Descartes is certain and clear that distinct idea, representations, images are sure to exist. These ideas emanate from God as cause, as both the cause and affect of his existence. However, there must be as much reality in a cause as there is in its effect. This would apply to both formal reality and objective reality. Regards...
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...Meghan Orlando Dr. Russo Philosophy 281-01 24 April 2015 Mindfulness and Weight Related Disorders Buddhism began in Northern India during the 5th century B.C.E. when a young prince named Siddhartha gave up his royal duties to enter a spiritual life through meditation. After six years he attainted enlightenment and from here went on to teach how to attain a life free of suffering. Meditation is the way you are to understand ones mind and learn how to control it. “As our mind becomes more positive our actions become more constructive, and our experience of life becomes more satisfying and beneficial to others,” (“About Buddhism”). Throughout history there have been many different forms of this practice created all essentially leading its followers to nirvana by riding them of the negative aspects of their life. Buddhist mindfulness meditation is a practice that has been around for what seems like forever and it is just now being seen for many of its benefits in the health field. The purpose of this practice is to transforms one mind and yourself, to be more positive and mindful of the things one does subconsciously. In Andy Fraser’s book, The Healing Power of Meditation, he states, “all fear and anxiety come from a mind that is untamed,” (2013). In taming ones mind you gain control over your whole self, including feelings and actions. Due to the changes in our society stopping to meditate or be mindful of your actions seems nearly impossible. Multitasking is a way...
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