A few months ago I had purchased a book by OSHO: Meditation The First and Last Freedom. I had only intermittently used meditation in my life for times when I was feeling overwhelmed or anxious and believed I could incorporate deep breathing techniques with a blissful nature background music selection to help my nerves unwind after a stressful day. I have found this book to be very poignant and allow me to better understand the quietness and art of "just being" to a degree of value that far replaced my conventional notions of meditation. I would highly recommend checking out this book if you are looking for a well-written and clarifying read on the unique health benefits of meditation. I will now leave you with just one quick excerpt from this motivational book.
Aloneness: Your Self-Nature
Aloneness is a flower,
a lotus blooming in your heart.
Aloneness is positive, aloneness is health.
It is the joy of being yourself.
It is the joy of having your own space.