This morning on my Facebook feed, I saw a post from a page I follow called Spirit Science (https://www.facebook.com/thespiritscience). Anyone interested in the overlap modern science is drawing with the metaphysical should be following it.
It was a photo of an eight year old girl in a meditative pose. Attached was a quote from the Dalai Llama: "If every eight-year-old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation."
Attached to the post was a litany of helpful URLs discussing the medical benefits of meditation, among other things. I thought the information was important enough to share here. Enjoy:
"Let's make this happen. We all know the peace and tranquility that comes from within and energetically radiates from you during meditation. It has the ability to turn the most miserable day into the most blessed of realities. And no this is not just something you're imagining. Here is a list of 100 physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits of meditation.
Here are just a few scientifically stable studies that prove some of these benefits.
Meditation and increased brain size: http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/02.02/11-meditate.html
Meditation on stress reduction: https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/sitnflash_wp/2009/12/issue61/
Meditation and its reduced risk on cardiovascular disease: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16463759
Meditation on the effects and prevention of depression: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3044190/
Meditation on immune and neuroendocrine responses to stress: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2695992/
The change starts with what's inside us. No job, no protesting, no rebellion, no hatred, no work, no saving of money. Only a choice. Right now. Between fear and love. - Bill Hicks
Move from Panic to Freedom, and you may just find the world is not such a dark and miserable place. :) http://panictofreedom.com/"
Very nice studies, there, Allison. If only those who decide to try meditation stuck with it each day for a couple of months instead of stopping after only a few and not seeing any immediate benefits, everyone would be much happier.