Abstract

This paper illustrates the types of meditation and the state of meditation in terms of psychophysiological characteristics. In this paper we describe the methods of various meditation techniques, such as Yoga, Buddhist meditation, Transcendental Meditation (TM), Bensonian relaxtion response and Carrington's clinically standardized meditation (CSM). It is defined that meditation may be a process in which attention is manipulated through one-point concentration which leads to alteration of consciousness, and expands subjective awareness. In this process, volitional control of autonomic function and development of psychic abilities may be facilitated. Consistent with the subjective description of meditation as a very relaxed but, at the same time, very alert state--so called "sung-sung-juk-juk (惺惺寂寂)" in Buddhist Zen--it is likely during meditation that such factors as decreased cortisol and heart rate, increased five-fold plasma AVP elevation and EEG synchrony play a critical role in meditation. It would seem that meditation is an integrated response with peripheral autonomic changes subserving increased central nervous activity.