Kia Ora Nimrata,
From what I gather from a Buddhist perspective, meditation was designed to be the ambulance at the
top of the cliff (prevention and stimulating well being) more so than at the one at the
bottom of the cliff ie, used to alleviate/cure anxiety, depression and pain...
It would seem managing these symptoms through mindfulness is just the modern 'byproduct' of this ancient technique....
However in saying this, the Buddha is also known as the Great Physician, hence why the Four Noble Truths are often stated as follows :
1) The truth of dukkha: identifying the illness and the nature of the illness (the
diagnosis)
2) The truth of origin: identifying the causes of the illness (the
etiology)
3) The truth of cessation: identifying a cure for the illness (the
prognosis)
4)The truth of the path(the Eight Fold Path): recommending a treatment for the illness that can bring about a cure (the
prescription)
1) Right Thought
2) Right Understanding
3) Right Speech
4) Right Action
5) Right Livelihood
6) Right Effort
7) Right Concentration
8 ) Right
MindfulnessAs the old saying goes : "Prevention is
always better than cure !"
Metta Anatta