meditation
The term ‘meditation’ is interpreted in many different ways today. Almost everyone understands something different by it. For some people, it is associated with deep relaxation to achieve detachment from everyday life. The desire for calmness and relief from stress and nervousness often comes to the forefront due to today’s fast-paced lifestyle.
Originally, the term comes from the Latin word ‘meditatio’ and means ‘thinking, reflecting, contemplating’.
Originally, the term comes from the Latin word ‘meditatio’ and means ‘thinking, reflecting, contemplating’.
Heinz Grill
When Heinz Grill speaks of meditation, he refers to object-focused meditation, in which a specific meditation object or a concrete text with a spiritual theme is chosen and held in concentrated and alert attention for an extended period. During this time, physical conditions, personal past experiences, emotions, and flowing thoughts are set aside as unimportant so that they become still, allowing the chosen object to rest alone at the center of attention and gradually reveal itself to the observer.
Quote Heinz Grill: Heinz-Grill.de/die-meditation
In this sense, meditation practically becomes an ever-expanding activity of consciousness and a developmental process, leading both to a deeper understanding of a particular content and to the formation of new habits, until these authentically radiate from within the person and become a new character trait.
Examples of meditations are Heinz Grill’s meditations on the olive tree, which have been presented here as a film.
MEDITATION Olive Tree PART 1
MEDITATION Olive Tree PART 2
The founder of Anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner, understands meditation as 'an intermediate state between thinking and perception':
“Meditation is an intermediate state between thinking and perception, in which a person finds themselves between Lucifer and Ahriman. In speculative, ruminative self-thinking, Lucifer prevails; in passive perception or when one merely follows external authorities, Ahriman acts. When a person, through repeated contemplation of the given meditation content, develops a creative and simultaneously vividly experienced thinking, they bring the influences of the two opposing forces into proper balance and free themselves from their compelling effects. Between the polar opposites of Lucifer and Ahriman, the meditating soul flows and can thus live with clear consciousness in the true divine-spiritual element.”
Martial arts
Practicing Taijiquan
Especially in Asian martial arts traditions such as Tai Chi, Chi Kung Dao, Kung Fu, or Qi Gong, meditation is integrated into movement practice to improve concentration and calm the breath. They are also known as martial arts of mindfulness. Visualization methods are sometimes used to help better imagine and integrate the different techniques.
The meditation exercises thus serve to develop concentration, discipline, and self-confidence, as well as to enhance physical and mental well-being.
The meditation exercises thus serve to develop concentration, discipline, and self-confidence, as well as to enhance physical and mental well-being.
ZEN meditation
Zen meditation (Zazen) originates from a Buddhist school that emerged around the 5th century in China and reached Japan about 700 years later. It belongs to the objectless forms of meditation, in which the practitioner first focuses on the breath and then on how the breath flows in and out. The goal of this form of meditation is to reach the highest stage of enlightenment, Nirvana.
Buddhist monk meditating