We all know how difficult it is to control our minds. Obsessive, unclear, unwanted, and destructive thought continually invades our minds causing fear, anxiety, indecision, anger, and depression. Sometimes we seem powerless to prevent this invasion.
In response, the practice of meditation has become increasingly popular in the West as a way of dealing with this problem. These practices, which have their origins in Buddhism, take many forms, but generally refer to the attempt to get beyond the thinking, discursive or logical mind into a more attentive, aware, and relaxed state. By sitting quietly we can learn to empty our minds of its confusing, anxiety, anger, and depressive-inducing content, leaving behind a serene state of mind. Many people have found this practice successful, and scientific research supports its causal efficacy.
