The Latin term "meditatio" meant as much as "thinking about", but also has the meaning "finding the centre" or "aligning to the centre". Meditation is practised to achieve a state of deep physical and spiritual relaxation. The effect, the meditative state, can be measured neurologically as a change in the brain waves. The heartbeat slows down, breathing deepens, muscle tension is reduced.

There are different techniques of meditation. Depending on the type, it may be immersion or also trance or ecstasy. Meditative practices are an essential part of many religions. Particularly in Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism, meditation has a similar significance as prayer in Christianity.

There is an expert opinion by professors from the Institute of Psychology at the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel. In this scientific expertise, they warn against the dangers, side effects and the potential for abuse of these meditation techniques of various kinds, which are often described as harmless. I would like to emphasise that meditation techniques have significant effects on the brain activity. This is considered particularly severe in the case of children and adolescents whose brains are still in the developmental phase. The same applies to mentally unstable and mentally ill people. Furthermore, it was found that young people who join groups practising Transcendental Meditation (TM) have an above-average chance of developing psychiatric illnesses. The report clearly points out that meditation techniques should not be trivialised as mere relaxation techniques.

The well-known educational scientist Prof. Dr. Franzke, Hanover, arrives at similar results. He found out that the often trivialised meditations, fantasy journeys, dream journeys can lead to considerable health damage in children. These range from panic attacks to nightmares and delusions, depression and psychoses.
A mother informed me that "reflection days for career orientation" were offered at her 15-year-old daughter's school. The parents agreed to this offer and let their children participate. Afterwards, the young people spoke of group-dynamic games, fantasy journeys and various meditation techniques, and of the resulting panic and anxiety states. The matter prompted the police to file a complaint. I can only advise parents to make inquiries until they really know what is to be expected for their child and to whom they can entrust their child.

Group dynamics are offered under different names. The aim of any group dynamic is to change behaviour, to remove and change the identity of the individual. Therefore, each of these practices should be approached with caution. In an expert report by the German Institute for Education and Knowledge, group dynamics are classified as dangerous for young people. Literally it says: They are in a developmental identity crisis in which a group-dynamic dissolution of the structures of the person is contraindicated. They need plans and guidance, not structural change. Group dynamics for children is called irresponsible. For children are beings who look for boundaries and first have to find their identity. Consequential damage is pre-programmed.

To avoid any confusion, I would briefly like to talk about Christian meditation. Becoming still and being silent before God, in relation to God, perhaps with a word of the Holy Scripture, or in adoration; resting in the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, has nothing to do with a meditation technique. In such a silence, in such a listening to the Spirit of God, we give space to him to unfold in us, to work in us, to change us; we open ourselves to him to give us his gifts, fruits, charisms. Here we are not made empty, as is practised in various meditations, e.g. in ZEN, but we are filled. We are allowed to perceive, realise and experience, we are introduced to the divine truth; we surrender our will. This surrender to the divine "You" is a perpetual give and take, a spiritual exchange of love.