Meditation has been practices since ancient times in many parts of the world. Some early people probably used meditation in magical ceremonies: a shaman would meditate when seeking guidance from the spirit world. More recently, mediation has been an aid to spiritual enlightenment in all the world's great religions, including Christianity and Judaism. But its practice is even more ancient in the Far East than it is in the West. Yoga, perhaps the most elaborate Eastern system of mental physical and spiritual training, began in India long before the Christian era and over the centuries mingled with native traditions in China Tibet, Japan and elsewhere.

The result of this cross-fertilization has been a great variety of roms of meditation, which play an important part in Eastern cultures. Among the most familiar in the West, besides Yoga, is Zen, as developed by Japanese Buddhists. Most Oriental traditions of meditation emphasize techniques of mental control, similar to some of the newer approaches to psychotherapy. Although their methods are usually not as formalized as those of the Zen monks or other practitioners, artist and poets have often used mediation techniques to open their mind to inspiration. William Wordsmworth, for instance, wrote of his search for a "happy stillness of the mind." The rewards of Meditation.

Meditation has a wide range of benefits. The physiological effects have been documented by scientific studies of Indian yogis, Zen monks, and other practitioners of meditation. The mechanisms that produces these changes is not fully understood, but meditation seems to relieve stress and ease tension. The beneficial effect are not caused by simply by keeping still; for one thing, the brain-wave patterns recorded during mediation have been show to differ from those seen during sleep.

Among the other reaction observed are lowered oxygen consumption and heart rate and after habitual practice, a drop in blood pressure. Physicians treating people with mind hypertension have recommended meditation (combined with dietary and other changes) before they prescribe drugs.

Meditation has been show to decrease the levels of lactic acid in the blood. And because lactic acid is thought to be associated with anxiety, this effect is of paramount importance for most people. Indeed, some psychotherapists now use meditation to help patients deal with emotionally charged issues.

Over the years, even those seeking practical benefits have cherished the ritual rewards of meditation. Many people say that during meditation they reach a mystical senses of oneness with God or with the universe. And although we think of mystics as dreamy and otherworldly, many spiritual sages emphasize that heir ultimate aim is not isolation but greater involvement with others.