Meditation facts for kids
Meditation is a way to calm your mind and focus your thoughts. It helps you relax deeply and become more aware of the present moment.
Many religions use meditation, including Buddhism, Christianity, and Hinduism (where Yoga is a key part).
Contents
How People Meditate
When to Meditate
Some meditation methods suggest practicing for about 20 minutes, twice a day. Other ways might start with less time, especially for beginners. Some experts say you can feel good benefits even with just 8 minutes of practice each day.
Some people meditate for much longer, especially when they are on a special course or a retreat. Many find it best to meditate in the quiet hours before the sun rises.
Ways to Sit or Stand
People meditate in many different positions. Some popular ways to sit include the full-lotus, half-lotus, or simply cross-legged. Other positions include sitting on a cushion, lying down, or even standing.
Sometimes, people meditate while walking slowly, which is called kinhin. You can also meditate by doing a simple task very carefully and mindfully, like washing dishes. This is known as samu.
Using Prayer Beads
Many old religions use prayer beads to help with meditation. These beads are often pearls or small balls connected by a string.
- The Roman Catholic rosary has five sets of ten small beads.
- The Hindu japa mala has 108 beads. The number 108 is special in many spiritual traditions.
- Jainism and Buddhist prayer beads also use beads for meditation.
- The Muslim misbaha has 99 beads.
With prayer beads, you usually say a mantra (a special word or sound) for each bead until you have gone all the way around the string.
Why a Story Can Help
Some meditation teachers, like Richie Davidson, say that having a reason or a story for your practice can help you keep meditating every day. For example, some people meditate not just for themselves, but to help others.
Buddhist Meditation
In Buddhism, three important things are: being a good person, making your mind strong, and understanding why people feel unhappy.
Buddhist meditation is not only for spiritual reasons. Studies show that it can help lower stress, anxiety, and depression.
For Buddhists, meditation helps calm the mind. This way, the mind can better see what causes unhappiness. Buddhists believe that understanding this can end suffering.
Most types of Buddhist meditation focus on something specific. Common things to focus on include your breath, feelings like love, other emotions, or even religious images and sounds.
Christian Meditation
Christians sometimes meditate by thinking deeply about small parts of the Bible. They might also say the words of a prayer to themselves over and over again.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Man Meditating in a Garden Setting
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Bodhidharma practicing zazen
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A statue of Patañjali practicing dhyana in the Padma-asana at Patanjali Yogpeeth.
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"Gathering the Light", a Taoist meditation from The Secret of the Golden Flower
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Saint Pio of Pietrelcina said: "Through the study of books one seeks God; by meditation one finds Him."
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Whirling dervishes
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Meditation. Alexej von Jawlensky, oil on cardboard, 1918
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Meditating in Madison Square Park, New York City
See also
In Spanish: Meditación para niños
