Meditation leads to freedom from incessant, nagging thoughts and worries, and to inner strength, peace of mind, a sense of bliss, and in its higher levels, to spiritual awakening and enlightenment. As you see, meditation is much more than a method for relaxing the body, as some people think.

Though it plays an important role in various religions and spiritual practices, it is actually a practice that is free from all religious connotations, and has always been practiced everywhere, from ancient times until the present day. There has always been the desire to go within, to find what is beyond the physical form, and to find the real spirit and the relation between mankind, the world and the creator.

There are many forms, techniques and traditions of meditation, which are practiced and followed for various reasons and aims, such as for gaining peace of mind, spiritual growth and spiritual awakening, as well as for relaxation, health, success, mental powers or the development of psychic abilities.

Meditation calms down the body and the mind, reduces stress and anxiety, normalizes the blood pressure and has a healing effect on the body. It improves the concentration power, sharpens the mind and strengthens the intuition. Its constant practice reduces the number of restless thoughts in the mind, brings peace of mind, happiness and bliss, and in its higher stages, enlightenment.

In order to obtain results it has to be practiced every day, at least once a day, twice better, for at least 15 minutes, though a beginner may start with only 10 minutes a day.

In a very general sense, there are two forms of meditation. One form requires that you focus the mind on some activity, such as the breathing process, a concrete object, mental image, a word or a thought, and there is what may be termed as "formless meditation", in which you focus on the inner silence, inner self or on nothing at all. This form can only be practiced after one is well trained with the first form.

Here are a few tips and advice about meditation:

1. It is important to meditate every day.

2. A positive attitude, patience and an open mind are of great help.

3. Do not meditate when you are tired.

4. Find a place where you can be alone and undisturbed.

5. Sit in a comfortable position with the spine erect.

6. Take a few slow deep breaths.

7. Bring to your mind some pleasant memory, and enjoy thinking about it for a few moments.

8. Think for a few moments about the benefits of meditation, how it will strengthen your focus, calm down your mind and ease stress and tension.

9. Tell yourself that all thoughts will have to wait now, and that nothing is going to distract your mind.

10. Start meditating calmly, yet with focused attention. The more focused the attention is, the easier it is to ignore thoughts and other distractions.

11. Start with a simple technique. Here are two examples: