Take a deep breath …
All over the world, mystical traditions and religions have developed their own meditation techniques. The goals vary: to encounter an obscure deity in a higher state of consciousness; to be buried alive for days on end; to empty the mind.
Of course, not every one of these goals is likely to pique the curiosity of scientists – which is why meditation was considered esoteric nonsense for decades. Unfairly so, as has become clear in recent years.
The situation has changed fundamentally – if we set aside the higher realms for a moment and stay in the here and now, right between our own ears, meditation reveals truly astonishing effects: It enhances social skills, carries the relaxation achieved into everyday life, and ultimately even alters the substrate – the brain itself. Who would have thought?!
That’s why, in this special feature, we’re reporting on the effects of meditation, on concentration and therapeutic approaches, and – as a first – provide a glossary of esoteric practices.
You can find an introduction here. It was written by Ulrich Ott, one of Germany’s best-known meditation researchers.
