In the past twenty years or so, meditation has acquired an progressive acceptance and practice in the West.  Whilst still far from comprising an significant part of Western society, the practice of meditation has made substantial inroads in the remedial and medical communities and is gaining more and more broad acceptance in business organizations, educational, and political arenas. 
 
It is possible that in United States and Europe, meditation has survived its infancy and is well on its way through childhood.  Some of the reasons for this expanding acceptance is that meditation has proved to be both a practical and competent tool for increasing health in addition to happiness.  
 The past twenty years have supplied consistent clinical and scientific experience that permits us to draw some solid conclusions about the practice of meditation.  In general, we can posit with great assurance, that based on the evidence, that the consistent practice of meditation contributes to a healthier and more efficient individual. 
 
More precisely, those who practice some form of meditation have one or more of the following characteristics:
·         they have lower triglyceride levels;
·         attain a lower, more stable heart rate;
·         they have lower blood pressure;
·         they have a slower and less changeable respiratory rate;
·         they have a more stable galvanic skin response;
·         report less psychosomatic symptoms such as headaches, colds, gastric disturbances;
·         take less prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs;
·         report lower degrees of anxiety and fear;
·         score higher on self-actualization inventories;
·         and have expanded capacity for loving relationships.
 
The preceding depicts only a couple of of the numerous benefits of meditation.
 
Briefly, when likened to others who do not practice meditation, or to their state prior to when they began to meditate, those who systematically practice meditation are healthier, more cheerful, and more effective human beings. 
 
Clinical experience, scientific enquiry, and the experience of an ordinary individual all point to one and the same conclusion: the consistent practice of meditation is, in all probability, the most important and effective self-help tool available nowadays for individual health and effectiveness.
 
It is likewise clear that under the direction of a qualified teacher, meditation can be safely and successfully practiced by just about anyone without any fear of adverse side-effects.
 
The real question isn’t whether meditation is helpful, but instead how and why it works. What is it that happens during and as a consequence of meditation that brings about such particular physical and psychological benefits and results in improvement in numerous aspects of one’s life?
 
The key to answering these questions lies in understanding the relationship between meditation and the emotions.  The physical, mental, and behavioural changes named above all reflect a more balanced and harmonious emotional state.

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