A religious activity that is equally as important as prayer is meditation. This religious activity is practiced all over the world, including here in the U.S.

However, in the U.S., it is not practiced as a religious exercise but more of a tool for relaxation and improvement of physical and mental health.

I remember the first time I meditated in a high school gym class. We laid down on the wrestling mats listening to the sounds of nature playing from a stereo, and the teacher instructed us to focus on relaxing our bodies, starting from our feet and moving upward. By the end of the meditation lesson, I was almost asleep I was so relaxed.

Meditation, though, is primarily used in religions like Buddhism and Hinduism. I am not well versed in the religion of Buddhism; however, I do know the Buddha used meditation to achieve enlightenment.

When studying world religions as a sophomore in college, I watched a documentary about the lives, routines and rituals they had, and the philosophies and beliefs of Buddhist monks.

Often, these monks would meditate for hours at a time and would sometimes meditate for several days not eating, not sleeping, not interacting with anyone else. They experienced complete oneness with meditation, their bodies and their spirituality.

I was amazed by some of the stories about monks who would stay in these long-lasting periods of deep meditation.

Hinduism also uses meditation as a religious practice as well.

I was very fascinated when a man who practiced Hinduism showed me how he meditated. We both sat on the floor and looked at a website he liked to use. On this website, there were hundreds of meditations used for certain things like happiness, good health and even things like meditations for wealth and education.

He picked one that had a theme that was a combination of stress relief and happiness. We meditated for about five minutes, and he instructed me to relax and continue to meditate for a couple of minutes after the meditation.

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Meditation aids in relaxation, improvement of mental, physical health

A saintly life is full of goodness and a chief attitude is kindness. With a kind attitude, kind thoughts and kind actions follow. Like begets like. When each moment is walked in the footprint of kindness the trail becomes one that others can follow to achieve a high and harmonious life for themselves.

Meditation

Sit up straight in a quiet place where you will not be interrupted. Some ideas are your bedroom or walk-in closet, a garden, or a stretch of beach. Fold your hands in your lap or place them palms up or palms down on your thighs. Close your eyes.

Make your petition and say a prayer for personal and world peace. Praying lifts your thoughts and spirit and is part of emulating a saintly life.

Begin your meditation breathing, which is one count to inhale, and one count to exhale. Continue this pattern throughout the meditation without actually saying the counts. Just keep up the rhythm. Breath is a link between body, mind and emotion. To raise your vibration regulate your breathing till you feel calm and can sit still.

Pay attention to your breaths, follow their course in and out, like waves at the shore approaching and receding. If your mind strays, gently bring it back to the rhythmic breathing pattern.

To finish your meditation mentally think an appreciation for something good in your life, such as a loved one or dear pet.

Take a deep inhalation, then slowly exhale. Open your eyes. Stretch out and go on with your day in a saintly way. It feels good.

I invite you to join me in a daily world peace cyber group meditation. Click the article here to read about it.

Meditation Lessons for Teens and Adults More than 70 offerings, from guided meditation techniques to on-the-go stress relief and relationship meditations interspersed with verse, and a section of special occasion prayers. 114 pages. PDF Ebook | EPUB | Paperback | Mac Users | B&N NOOK eBook | Kindle

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Meditation to Promote a Saintly Life