Photos showing a roomful of Canadian police officers seated peacefully in a cross-legged position with captions describing them as meditating before work went viral recently. They were taken at a temple in Ontario, Canada, where police from the Peel Regional Police department were engaged in a meditation session. They were also there to attend a lecture on mindfulness meditation and Buddhist philosophy.
Canadian police meditate before work.
“They’re doing a stressful job. I’m delighted I was able to share some insights, giving spiritual support to help them continue their daily service with a peaceful mind,” said the temple’s deputy abbot.
This approach to calm the mind is nothing new, but these images of police officers meditating before work have put it under a brighter spotlight. In Thailand, badminton star Ratchanok Intanon also recently credited meditation for her recent success. The 21-year-old won the Singapore Open last week after recent triumphs in the India and Malaysia championships.
Ratchanok Intanon.
She is now ranked the world’s No.1 women’s singles player. On top of that, she is the first woman in the world to complete a hat-trick of badminton titles.
Nobody has questioned her improved tactics and physical fitness, but her ability to grind it out in long matches, three weeks in a row, has amazed many. She revealed that meditation is the secret to what makes her calm and better able to concentrate during games.
“I’ve learned to meditate before I sleep every day. I’m getting better at it,” said Ratchanok. “It helps when I’m in a difficult game and my mind is strong and smart.” She’s confident that her daily meditation will help win her an Olympic medal — her next big goal, at Rio de Janeiro in August.
Ratchanok was introduced to meditation by her coach Patthapol Ngernsrisuk, who had picked it up during three months of training the previous year. He also teaches his other players how to meditate. “I think meditation is important for athletes. That’s why a lot of foreign athletes come to Thailand to learn meditation,” he said.
It’s no secret that some of the best professional athletes in the world have turned to meditation, as it evidently helps to reduce stress, improve focus and ease the anxiety of high-pressure performances. One of the most prominent examples is the half-Thai, half-American golf star Tiger Woods.
But looking at those photos of the police officers, it’s made plain that the practice can be popular in a world of crime busters, too. According to Buddhism, meditation is an active training of the mind to increase awareness. There are also countless studies demonstrating that it brings about a peace of mind that benefits emotional and physical health.
As a matter of fact, meditation is suitable for anyone, of any profession, and regardless of religious faith. Hopefully, the secret of Ratchanok will inspire the many who struggle in this busy world to turn to meditation to their own benefit.
If it works for Ratchanok, it might just work for us as well.
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.