meditation
Focused mental quieting
Meditation is the practice of focused attention or contemplation, often to calm the mind, achieve spiritual insight, or cultivate awareness.
In religious contexts, it may involve prayer, visualization, or repeating mantras.
In secular use, meditation typically means mindfulness or breathing exercises: I started a daily meditation practice to manage stress.
The word also refers to a serious contemplation of any subject: a meditation on mortality, meditations on the nature of art.
A written or spoken meditation is a reflective discourse: The essay is a meditation on grief and memory.
Undisturbed mental quietude
- tranquilityUndisturbed peacefulness
- calmnessPeaceful mental state
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
- quietudeState of calm stillness
equanimity · inner peace · silence · composure · placidity · quiescence · repose · contentment
Profound spiritual awakening
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- dharmaCosmic moral order
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
- chakrasBody's spiritual focal points
transcendence · awakening · satori · moksha · samadhi · kundalini · third eye · consciousness
Therapeutic breathing exercises
- postureBody position, alignment
- sessionScheduled time for activity
- mantraRepeated focus phrase
- sittingBeing in seated posture
zazen · vipassana · samatha · qigong · body scan · loving-kindness · retreat · cushion
Sustained single-minded attention
- attentionFocused mental awareness
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
presence · absorption · introspection · reflection · discernment · vigilance · centering · clarity
Free from agitation
- de-stressReduce mental tension
- unwindRelease accumulated tension
- sootheGently ease discomfort
- decompressRelease stored pressure
tension release · stress relief · restfulness · gentle · softening · ease · leisure · unwinding
Restoration of health
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- anxiety reliefEasing of mental distress
- stress reductionLessening mental tension
- therapeuticPromoting healing or wellness
recovery · emotional regulation · mental health · resilience · coping · self-compassion · grounding · nervous system
Maintaining personal wellbeing
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- vitalityCapacity for spirited existence
- well-beingState of health, contentment
- holisticAddressing interconnected wholes
restoration · rejuvenation · health · wholeness · lifestyle · daily practice · morning routine · habit
Silent, receptive spiritual practice
- desert fathersEarly monks of Egypt
- mysticsSpiritual insight seekers
- TrappistMonk of austere order
- monasticOf religious community life
rosary · holy silence · divine presence · sacred · devotion · Teresa of Avila · John of the Cross
serenity
Undisturbed mental quietude
- tranquilityUndisturbed peacefulness
- calmnessPeaceful mental state
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
quietude · equanimity · inner peace · silence · composure · placidity · quiescence · repose · contentment · groundedness
enlightenment
Profound spiritual awakening
chakras · transcendence · awakening · satori · moksha · samadhi · kundalini · third eye · consciousness · Buddha
breathwork
Therapeutic breathing exercises
sitting · zazen · vipassana · samatha · qigong · body scan · loving-kindness · retreat · cushion · timer
concentration
Sustained single-minded attention
- attentionFocused mental awareness
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
contemplation · presence · absorption · introspection · reflection · discernment · vigilance · centering · clarity · observation
calm
Free from agitation
decompress · tension release · stress relief · restfulness · gentle · softening · ease · leisure · unwinding · restorative
healing
Restoration of health
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- anxiety reliefEasing of mental distress
- stress reductionLessening mental tension
therapeutic · recovery · emotional regulation · mental health · resilience · coping · self-compassion · grounding · nervous system · somatic
self-care
Maintaining personal wellbeing
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- vitalityCapacity for spirited existence
- well-beingState of health, contentment
holistic · restoration · rejuvenation · health · wholeness · lifestyle · daily practice · morning routine · habit · app
contemplative prayer
Silent, receptive spiritual practice
- desert fathersEarly monks of Egypt
- mysticsSpiritual insight seekers
- TrappistMonk of austere order
monastic · rosary · holy silence · divine presence · sacred · devotion · Teresa of Avila · John of the Cross
- leisure activitiesrelax, watching, unwind, walking, chill
- group activitiesgroup games, voting, protest, group dance, group project
- cultural practicesmusic, dance, art, religion, marriage
- mental wellnessmental health support, self-care, mental wellness, emotional wellness, coping skills
- spiritualitysacred, enlightened, divine, holy, spiritual growth
- wellnesshealthy, wellness, fitness, exercise, nutrition
meditationdistraction
Thing diverting one's attention
mind-wandering · inattention · absent-mindedness · daydreaming · forgetfulness
meditationagitation
Disturbed, restless state
anxiety · restlessness · stress · turmoil · panic
meditationthoughtlessness
Lack of careful consideration
mindlessness · impulsivity · unreflectiveness · heedlessness · spontaneity
- guided meditationNarrated mental relaxation exercise
- deep meditation
- meditation classesTaught sessions for mental stillness
- meditation practiceRoutine cultivation of awareness
- meditation centerFacility for mindfulness practice
- meditation retreatOrganized withdrawal for mindfulness
meditative, meditating, premeditation, meditatively, premeditating, mindfulness meditation, guided meditation