On the basis of research and advocacy of meditation as a non-cognitive skill and technique as precondition of better performance and wellbeing, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has declared December 21, 2024 as first World Meditation Day to be observed annually. "The day is intended to promote meditation as a way to achieve well-being and harmony between the mind and body, as well as between humans and nature" is the stated rationale.
According to the UN [1], meditation is the 'practice where an individual uses techniques such as mindfulness, focused attention, or concentrated thought to train the mind and achieve a state of mental clarity, emotional calmness, and physical relaxation.' The UN adds. "Research underscores its ability to reduce stress, improve focus and emotional balance, alleviating anxiety and depression, and enhance sleep quality. It also contributes to better physical health, including lowering blood pressure and managing pain."
"Meditation is increasingly recognized for its contributions to mental health — a fundamental human right — and its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasize health and well-being as central to achieving sustainable development. Goal 3, "Good Health and Well-Being," aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, addressing key challenges such as maternal and child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and access to essential medicines and vaccines. This target also highlights the importance of mental health, universal health coverage, and the reduction of health inequities to build resilient and inclusive societies," suggests the UN.
With spiritual intelligence as a recognised area of study under modern psychology, meditation has become a much sought after technique to develop this potential of human beings. Education with spiritual intelligence based psychological foundation creates better self-awareness and self-actualization that integrates life and learning holistically, me thinks.
In many traditions of the East, some of the important techniques of meditation are: Anapansati; tratak, nirgun, skriya, prakriti, mantra, sahaj, yogniddra, leshya, vichar, nad, nirdeshit, vipassana, mala-jap, drashta,kayotsarga, shavasan, preksha, kriya, yanta dhyan etc. According to Garg (2024) [2], meditation takes us in the inner depth wherein we feel the bliss, peace and wellbeing. Daily practice of Dhyan Yoga leads to both cognitive and spiritual growth. Meditation is also sometimes done while walking (kinhin), doing a simple task mindfully (samu) or lying down(shavasana, kayotsarga).
ABC's of meditation
A: Attention-focussing deep practice till you become spontaneous in it
B: Breath observance without regulating it or neutral mindful observation of sensations on body
C: Concentration or mindfulness that gets manifested when mind is calm and still or pure through practice of equanimity and mind working as neutral witness to one's thoughts and actions
Refereces
[1] UN (2024) World Meditation Day, 21 December, https://www.un.org/en/observances/meditation-day
[2] Garg, Y. M. (2024). Dyan hai To Hahan hai. Dainik Bhasakar, Manorama Supplement, Dec 18. p.1
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