Medication or Meditation?
Friday 31 October 2025
There is a tendency for the medical profession nowadays to write out drug prescriptions when stress, anxiety or depression are diagnosed. Meiji are not medically qualified people, so we’re not in a position to comment on the wisdom of this tendency, simply that there are more people these days on medication for these kinds of symptoms than ever before. What we do know, however, is that meditation has many benefits, with no adverse side effects. What’s more, its benefits can be more than just psychological, and positively affect health and wellbeing. The Shaolin monks, and many martial artists, already practise meditation as part of their daily lives, and there is plenty of detail about what they do and why they do it, easily accessible online.
Firstly, meditation is to do with peace. There are those who practise it in groups, but the first requirement is still an atmosphere of peace, quiet and inner reflection. In today’s frenetic environment, that must surely be a good thing. Yet how many of us actually make a conscious decision (other than when we go to bed) to set aside just 15 minutes of quiet space to meditate, to chill out our nervous systems?
It is reckoned that 95% of our behaviour runs on autopilot. That’s why we become more self-aware when we meditate. For many of us, meditation means coming face-to-face with ourselves. Perhaps that’s why some people avoid it! Meditation unites the mind and the body. Both benefit from this harmony. The only effort it requires is focus. We are used to 1001 things flitting in and out of our minds, making demands on our thoughts as well as our bodies. It is no wonder that people get stressed.
So, find a quiet space, away from it all. That means no interruptions, from people or phones. Sit in a comfortable position. You don’t need to look like a buddha if you find that position uncomfortable, simply get yourself into an upright, relaxed sitting position which you can sustain for 15 minutes. Don’t have a clock or a watch. Better to guess the time. Close your eyes and become conscious of your breathing, in and out, stay focused on your breathing, in and out, until you feel totally relaxed.
Now the thing that happens, and it happens to everyone, is your mind gets besieged by thoughts, voices, songs, conversations, images, every kind of thing designed to disturb your peace. This is perfectly natural, but it drives some people mad. No peace! From yourself! There are traditionally various ways this gets dealt with. You’ve probably heard the monotone chanting of monks in meditation. Other methods include focusing on a repetitive word or sound. But one of the best and most beneficial approaches is what is called ‘body scanning’. In other words, concentrate on yourself. In your mind, gradually ‘scan’ the whole of your body, from your head to your toes. ‘Visit’ every part of your body. ‘Examine’ your head, your ears, your eyes, your nose, each part of your body, inside and out, in your own time, there is no rush, and no deadline to get to the end. In fact, it’s doubtful you’ll get to the end in a session, because everything will conspire against you to deviate from this mental exercise and persuade you to think of other things. You’ll have to keep pulling yourself back to your single subject – you and your body.
Over time, you’ll unify your body with your mind. You can achieve great harmony with this practice. And all you’re really doing is observing the experience. But those who have documented the experience list some amazing benefits:
Seeing and understanding your pain. It isn’t always obvious we’re even in any pain. The body and the mind are often good at suppressing it. Meditation reveals it, helping you understand it and often alleviate it.
Stress levels reduced. Adherents report significantly reduced levels of stress. Meditation also reveals invented worries, leaving you calmer and better able to cope.
Better relations. Better understanding and empathy will improve the way you relate to people, and invite communication from others.
Improved concentration. Having learned to focus during meditation, you will find it easier to do so in life generally.
Better emotional health. Your mood will be more relaxed, even in stressful situations, with a more optimistic mindset.
Increased self-awareness. Meditation enables you to know yourself better, to understand your own feelings and thoughts, and to stimulate personal growth.
Sleeping better. Sleep is itself a deep, meditative process, and you’re likely to drift off more easily.
Strengthening the immune system. Great inner strength can be achieved with meditation, enabling your immune system to better resist illness.
Resilience. The relaxed mind, reflected in a more fluid, comfortable body, is better resilient to the slings and arrows of everyday life. There is much more online you can easily tap into. Make meditation part of your martial arts training. You may be surprised at the difference it makes to you as a person, and as a warrior.