How to Meditate(ˈmedəˌtāt): Mindfulness(ˈmīndfəlnəs)

How to Meditate(ˈmedəˌtāt): Mindfulness(ˈmīndfəlnəs)

By David Gelles

There are lots of different types of meditation. Most religions(riˈlijən) have(hav) contemplative(kənˈtemplətiv) traditions(trəˈdiSHən), and there are plenty(ˈplentē) of secular(ˈsekyələr) ways to meditate, too. But in recent years, mindfulness meditation has become increasingly(iNG-,inˈkrēsiNGlē) popular.

Basic(ˈbāsik) mindfulness meditation is the practice(ˈpraktəs) of paying(pā) attention to the present(priˈzent,ˈprezənt) moment with an accepting, nonjudgmental(ˌnänjəjˈmentl) disposition(ˌdispəˈziSHən). The goal isn’t to stop thinking, or to empty the mind. Rather, the point is to pay close(klōs,klōz) attention to your physical(ˈfizikəl) sensations(senˈsāSHən), thoughts and emotions(iˈmōSHən) in order to see them more clearly, without making so many assumptions(əˈsəm(p)SHən), or making up stories.

It’s a deceptively(diˈseptivlē) simple exercise(ˈeksərˌsīz) — just be right here, right now, without daydreaming(drēm). But with practice it can yield(yēld) profound(prō-,prəˈfound) results, giving us greater control(kənˈtrōl) of our actions, and making room for more kindness and equanimity(ˌekwə-,ˌēkwəˈnimitē), even in difficult situations. With time, mindfulness meditation can even help(help) us better understand what causes(kôz) us stress(stres), and what we can do to relieve(riˈlēv) it.

Though mindfulness meditation was inspired(inˈspīrd) by Buddhist practices, today it is available(əˈvāləbəl) as a wholly(ˈhōl(l)ē
) secular practice that emphasizes(ˈemfəˌsīz) stress reduction(riˈdəkSHən), the cultivation(ˌkəltəˈvāSHən) of focus and the development of tranquility(ˌtraNGˈkwilitē).

https://www.nytimes.com/guides/well/how-to-meditate