If we look at the history of meditation, we discover that it did not originate as a tool for relaxation, health improvement, or increased personal productivity, although it is precisely because of this positioning that it has become widespread among modern people. Ancient practitioners viewed these effects of meditation as incidental, incidental, while its true goal has always been the transformation of personal qualities, the transformation of one’s inner state, which could only occur through regular practice.
American Psychological of Meditation
The American Psychological Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in an experiment on a group of yogis, confirmed that meditation can indeed change a person’s personality traits. The yogis studied followed the spiritual tradition of Asian monks and yogis, who practice deep, prolonged meditation. This approach differs significantly from the modern, pragmatic approach cultivated in the West, which devotes minimal time to practice in pursuit of immediate, short-term results (such as stress reduction) and neglects such an important component as exploring and reconfiguring one’s self. And this is far from the only thing missing from this “user-friendly” version of meditation.
However, meditation is not the most important component of yoga; it is only one tool among a wide range of practices, including, for example, strict rules of self-discipline (yamas and niyamas), which help increase awareness and consciousness, ultimately leading to significant changes in one’s inner state. However, such profound transformations require a lifetime’s dedication.
Tibetan spiritual tradition for Meditation Practice
The yogis in the experimental group followed a Tibetan spiritual tradition that holds that people everywhere can be liberated from all forms of suffering and that meditators can contribute to this seemingly impossible task by employing mind training techniques. One such approach is the development of a certain emotional equanimity, as well as the belief that meditation and related practices can have a long-lasting effect, transforming the practitioner and the world around them.
While some Western meditators adhere to these beliefs and make serious efforts in their practice, others simply try these methods for the sake of learning something new, without viewing it as their life’s work. (But we all know that motivation can change over time, so often something completely different from the original goal begins to keep a person on the path of a given practice.)
However, a person’s personal qualities change not only due to complete dedication to practice, but also due to the following factors:
- Firm ethical principles are a set of moral guidelines that facilitate personal transformation. Many traditions use them as an internal compass, protecting them from selfishly exploiting the results of their practice.
- Altruistic principle (when a yogi practices meditation not only for himself, but for the benefit of all living beings).
- A well-founded belief, the conviction that your specific path is important for the world as a whole and will lead you to necessary changes. Some sacred texts warn us of the dangers of “blind faith” and encourage practitioners to carefully select their mentors.
- Personalized instructions (an experienced teacher can give the student advice on how to navigate his or her specific path).
- Devotion (a deep sense of gratitude to all people, principles, and forces that facilitate the practice. May also be expressed toward sacred images, the teacher, or their achievements and personal transformations).
- A community of like-minded people (a circle of people who are as interested in the practices as you are).
- Supporting the country’s culture. Traditional Asian cultures have always highly valued people who have dedicated themselves to cultivating attentiveness, patience, compassion, and other similar qualities. Therefore, those leading ordinary lives support practitioners by bringing them food and money as a token of gratitude, trying to make their lives easier in any way possible. Unfortunately, this is not common in modern cultures.
- The idea of a possible transformation of consciousness (the very thought that these practices can lead to the liberation of our consciousness from its usual shackles evokes respect and reverence for this path, as well as for those who follow it).
Last Update: January 15, 2026
#About Author#
Written by Dr. Ashish Sharma, MBBS.MBBS graduate (Karaganda Medical University) and FMGE-qualified physician with completed internship at Rajeev Gandhi Government General Hospital, Alwar.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general educational and awareness purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.