Religious Implications
Meditation has been and still is a central practice in eastern religions,
for contacting "God" or one's higher Self. Christianity also has
semblances of meditation, such as the biblical statement "The kingdom
of heaven is within you". Churches have a meditative atmosphere.
Meditation deals with contacting something within us that is peaceful,
calm, rejuvenating, and meaningful. Whether one calls this something
"God" or "soul" or "the inner child" or "theta-wave activity" or "peace" or
"silence" is not important. It is there and anyone can benefit from it
regardless of what they believe.
Most people in the world have already meditated. If you have relaxed
looking at a beautiful sunset, allowing your thoughts to quiet down, this
is close to meditation. If you have been reading a book for awhile, then
put it down to take a break and just sat there quietly and peacefully for
a few minutes without thinking, this is close to meditation.
Ethical Implications
In many traditions meditation practice is a means for reinforcing ethical
qualities. In these traditions, calmness of mind, peacefulness and
happiness are possible in meditation and in life generally only if they are
accompanied by the observance of ethical norms of behaviour.