Meditation from Norway?! exclaimed an American when first introduced to Acem. Not exactly what he expected from the home of the Vikings and their descendants.
And yet, the spirit of silence and exploration has defined the psyche of many on the Arctic borders of Europe. Living close to the silence of nature has shaped parts of existence in this corner of the world: from Norway, the remote coasts of Iceland, Greenland and North America were explored; on skis, the Poles; and on a raft, the Pacific Ocean. For others, listening to the wind while tending to chores at the homestead was a kind of contemplation. In the Nordic countries, silence and nature has been a formative experience for most. Not so strange, after all, that a type of meditation in part shaped and developed in Norway has explored the depths of the psyche.
Since the 1960s, several meditation movements originating in Asia have come to the West, and for more than half a century, meditative practices are now being taught in most parts of the world. Some of them make quite incredible claims: the cure of all diseases, magic powers, instant enlightenment, world peace, etc. In addition, there are usually some implicit claims about the guru and his teaching; the master is often assumed to hold messianic qualities and his teaching contains ultimate truths. Asian traditions often reflect world-views, philosophies and values that substantially differ from those of the West, and even from those of modern Asian cultures. A few individuals from the West have fully or partially embraced traditional Asian orientation and lifestyle. However, for most, the distance from their own culture and heritage seems too big. Nevertheless, after varying degrees of transcultural adaptations, several of the Asian meditations have captured the minds of many in the West. Christian, Judaic and Islamic meditations have never inspired a similar interest, probably because such meditative practices are highly content-oriented and religious. They cannot readily be de-contextualized and re-contextualized in new environments without losing their essence.
Acem was started in Norway in 1966. At the outset, the organization collaborated with an Indian guru, Mahesh Yogi. However, that collaboration came to an end in 1972 after a period of differences. Acem continued to develop its practice in a non-cultic way, based on observations of meditation in people’s daily lives, and particularly in long meditation. Reiteratively, this has led to new developments in the understanding of meditation within the framework of modern psychology and the health sciences. Today, beginners have an easier start, the experienced go deeper, and the advanced learn faster how to deal with the inner hurdles of preconscious and unconscious actualizations, the process in which the mind is swayed by derivatives from its unresolved issues. Over time, the organization has grown, and today it is an international institution for the teaching and practice of Acem Meditation.
Some individuals learning Acem Meditation experience progress right from the start. Others obtain good results initially, but after a while, the outcome seems to taper off even though relaxation is achieved. When that happens, there is usually a need to adjust some aspects of how meditation is practised. In subtle ways, regular meditation may activate processes that interfere with the flow of the practice. Still others experience good meditation and no major difficulties even after quite some time. Some have problems in ever establishing the necessary habits for regular meditation. Each person has his and her unique starting point and progress, and this may account for some of the differences.
Gradually, Acem went from being a mostly Scandinavian organization to an international one with activities in many countries. Acem Meditation was well received even in countries with long meditative traditions such as India, China and Taiwan. The internationalization contributed to further development of the universal aspects of Acem Meditation; the beginner’s courses were made more suitable for people with diverse backgrounds and views of life.
From the mid-1990s, Acem Meditation has been subject to studies published in international scientific journals. The findings indicate deep relaxation, a modest reduction of the blood pressure, and regulation of aspects in the waking-sleep cycle. Distinct activity has been found in brain areas involving autonomic, emotional and cognitive functions. Some preliminary aspects of research on meditation have been summed up in the book Fighting Stress. Further studies are currently underway, particularly regarding the influence on brain and heart activity during and after Acem Meditation.