PSYC 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Mantra, Laurentian University, Asthma

• School: Memorial University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1000
• Professor: Dr.Susan Walling

Document Summary

Meditatio(cid:374) is a te(cid:272)h(cid:374)i(cid:395)ue desig(cid:374)ed to tu(cid:396)(cid:374) o(cid:374)e"s (cid:272)o(cid:374)s(cid:272)ious(cid:374)ess awa(cid:455) f(cid:396)o(cid:373) the oute(cid:396) wo(cid:396)ld, toward inner cues and awareness, ignoring all stressors. It usually involves a quiet place, assuming either a specific body position or simply a comfortable position, (cid:272)o(cid:374)t(cid:396)olli(cid:374)g o(cid:374)e"s (cid:271)(cid:396)eathi(cid:374)g, li(cid:373)iti(cid:374)g o(cid:374)e"s outwa(cid:396)d atte(cid:374)tio(cid:374), a(cid:374)d fo(cid:396)(cid:373)i(cid:374)g i(cid:374)te(cid:396)(cid:374)al i(cid:373)ages. The result of such efforts is an altered state of consciousness, accompanied by deeply relaxing and pleasant feelings. Best-known practices derive from the yoga traditions of the hindu religion and from the zen traditions of buddhism. Meditation techniques that psychologists are interested in all seem to include versions of self-regulation practices that involve training attention and awareness to bring our mental processes under greater voluntary control. When practised, they seem to be able to positively influence mental well-being and/or impact of specific capacities such as calm, clarity, and concentration. Two major meditation techniques seem to use opposite approaches: