What are the Different Types of Meditation?
While there are many different types of meditation, there are two general
classifications: concentrative and mindfulness. In concentrative meditation, you
focus on clearing your mind to provide you with greater concentration, awareness
and clarity. In mindfulness meditation, you open your mind to become more aware
of the things around you, such as scents, sounds and thoughts.
The easiest way to engage in concentrative meditation is to sit quietly and focus
on your breathing. Relax and count your breaths as you breathe through your
nose. Take deep breaths, hold them and let them out slowly. This helps you to get
oxygen into the lowest portions of your lungs.
There are times when you mind may wander, but you refocus on your breathing to
get rid of your thoughts. You can also focus on an object when meditating or you
may want to repeat a phrase or a word. This is called mantra meditation in which
you can choose to repeat the word or phrase aloud or silently in your head.
If you are agitated or worried about something, your breathing will be short and
fast when you first start this type of meditation. As you start to relax, your
breathing will slow down and become regulated. As you focus on your breathing or
on an object, your mind will become absorbed with the regulation of your breathing
and all other thoughts will vanish from your mind.
Zen meditation is one type of concentrative meditation in which you concentrate
on the functioning of the heart.
There are three main aims in this form:
* to develop the power of concentration
* to awaken your inner sense of wisdom
*to recognize the action of the Supreme Being on your inner self
The idea is that once you are able to rid yourself of the thoughts of everyday
life, you can reach that inner sense of peace that exists in everyone. It helps to
calm the mind and body to give you insight into the nature of your existence. You
must be patient and persistent in meditating in order for your mind to become
clear.
Raja Yoga Meditation is another type of concentrative meditation. This form of
meditation helps you to gain control of your mind to enable to you to develop a
sense of peace. The life force of your body moves through the spine so that
awareness is able to move into the “Third Eye” which is a point between your
eyebrows.
Your mind is not passive and there can be many thoughts racing through it. You
try to free yourself of these mindless thoughts and focus on the real meaning of
meditating to achieve a pleasant feeling throughout the body.
Mindfulness meditation involves a passing parade of thoughts, emotions and
images through your mind. You sit in a meditating position and instead of trying to
banish the thoughts from your mind, you allow them to enter. You do acknowledge
that they are present but you don’t concentrate on them. This allows you to
develop a calm approach to your problems so that you don’t react quickly.
Instead of focusing on one individual thought or scene, you allow each though to
become part of the bigger picture. It trains your mind to meditate on things in
your life over which you have no control so that you have a heightened sense of
inner peace that will enable you to go on with your life in spite or extreme
difficulties.
While there are many different types of meditation, there are two general
classifications: concentrative and mindfulness. In concentrative meditation, you
focus on clearing your mind to provide you with greater concentration, awareness
and clarity. In mindfulness meditation, you open your mind to become more aware
of the things around you, such as scents, sounds and thoughts.
The easiest way to engage in concentrative meditation is to sit quietly and focus
on your breathing. Relax and count your breaths as you breathe through your
nose. Take deep breaths, hold them and let them out slowly. This helps you to get
oxygen into the lowest portions of your lungs.
There are times when you mind may wander, but you refocus on your breathing to
get rid of your thoughts. You can also focus on an object when meditating or you
may want to repeat a phrase or a word. This is called mantra meditation in which
you can choose to repeat the word or phrase aloud or silently in your head.
If you are agitated or worried about something, your breathing will be short and
fast when you first start this type of meditation. As you start to relax, your
breathing will slow down and become regulated. As you focus on your breathing or
on an object, your mind will become absorbed with the regulation of your breathing
and all other thoughts will vanish from your mind.
Zen meditation is one type of concentrative meditation in which you concentrate
on the functioning of the heart.
There are three main aims in this form:
* to develop the power of concentration
* to awaken your inner sense of wisdom
*to recognize the action of the Supreme Being on your inner self
The idea is that once you are able to rid yourself of the thoughts of everyday
life, you can reach that inner sense of peace that exists in everyone. It helps to
calm the mind and body to give you insight into the nature of your existence. You
must be patient and persistent in meditating in order for your mind to become
clear.
Raja Yoga Meditation is another type of concentrative meditation. This form of
meditation helps you to gain control of your mind to enable to you to develop a
sense of peace. The life force of your body moves through the spine so that
awareness is able to move into the “Third Eye” which is a point between your
eyebrows.
Your mind is not passive and there can be many thoughts racing through it. You
try to free yourself of these mindless thoughts and focus on the real meaning of
meditating to achieve a pleasant feeling throughout the body.
Mindfulness meditation involves a passing parade of thoughts, emotions and
images through your mind. You sit in a meditating position and instead of trying to
banish the thoughts from your mind, you allow them to enter. You do acknowledge
that they are present but you don’t concentrate on them. This allows you to
develop a calm approach to your problems so that you don’t react quickly.
Instead of focusing on one individual thought or scene, you allow each though to
become part of the bigger picture. It trains your mind to meditate on things in
your life over which you have no control so that you have a heightened sense of
inner peace that will enable you to go on with your life in spite or extreme
difficulties.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| People in the world cannot identify their own mind. They believe that what they see, or hear, or feel, or know, is mind. They are blocked, and so cannot see the brilliant spirit of their original mind.... ~ Huang-po |
Methods of Meditation
Meditate on a lone cloud on a hill, floating effortlessly through space and time.
Imagine you are that cloud and with every inhale and exhale, you are blowing
yourself gracefully across the heavens, forgetting all sorrow, pain and worry of the
hills below…
The art of meditation takes many forms and titles. Meditation has been
practiced for over 5,000 years mainly in eastern religious traditions such as
Buddhism and Hinduism. Other religions that have used forms of meditation include
Janism, Sikhism, New Age, Taoism and Islam. Christianity and Judaism have forms
of meditation as well that are very different from eastern religions but still
create relaxation and peace in the body.
Techniques are used not only for spiritual purposes, but also health purposes such
as yoga meditation and secular meditation which fight against anxiety, stress and
chronic physical pain.
By clearing the mind, relaxing the muscles and focusing on deep breathing,
circulation, posture and concentration are improved. Yoga is deeply tied to eastern
religions and its goal is to improve health and well-being and reaching Moksha which
is the release from the cycle of life, death and rebirth and all the suffering
attached to it.
There are many different types of meditation techniques including: Mantra,
Trakata, Chakra, Vispanna, Raj Yoga, Zazen, and Nada Yoga. All of them include
focusing on breathing, entering into an alternate state of consciousness and
focusing on a strong sense of self. Beyond being conscious of one’s breathing, there
is a wide variety of techniques that help with reaching the developmental goal that
the person is aiming for which include:
“Upward” which acts to reverse the pull of gravity on the consciousness by lifting
the consciousness out of the body, “Mind-centered” in which the mind is a blank
slate, “Monastic” which involves exploring death’s mystery, “Observer” where you
watch your thoughts and emotions as they happen from an outside perspective,
“Passive” where the mind makes no judgment similar to daydreaming or sleep,
“Fantasy-based” where the person goes to an alternate place in his/her mind,
“Trance” which included rhythmic chanting, “Denial” or “Dualistic” where divisions
in the universe are realized and questioned, and “Religious” where one thinks about
an inspiring religious leader.
Transcendental Meditation was introduced in 1957 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi,
disciple of the Indian spiritual leader, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati. Yogi
developed programs and initiatives to promote transcendental meditation and spent
time touring the world teaching what he had learned. The technique involves sitting
with one’s eyes closed for twenty minutes, twice a day and not contemplating but
setting up a framework for the mind to move inwardly instead of being flooded with
different ideas and feelings.
Music is a tool that is not only used for entertainment but for healing as well.
Certain tones and chords can stimulate brainwaves, produce deep relaxation,
increase the ability to learn, relieve stress, and even heal the body as a result of
listening and feeling the music. Almost everyone has experienced deep feelings from
a song a favorite artist plays or an experience at a concert.
Meditation music is one of many forms of music that can accomplish this. It acts to
correspond with meditation practices to promote self awareness and relaxation as
Music can increase self-growth and fulfillment in certain areas of one’s life.
Meditation music is one of many forms of music that can accomplish this. It acts to
correspond with meditation practices to promote self awareness and relaxation as
well as deep connection. It is also used in spas during massages to help the patient
relax fully.
Meditate on a lone cloud on a hill, floating effortlessly through space and time.
Imagine you are that cloud and with every inhale and exhale, you are blowing
yourself gracefully across the heavens, forgetting all sorrow, pain and worry of the
hills below…
The art of meditation takes many forms and titles. Meditation has been
practiced for over 5,000 years mainly in eastern religious traditions such as
Buddhism and Hinduism. Other religions that have used forms of meditation include
Janism, Sikhism, New Age, Taoism and Islam. Christianity and Judaism have forms
of meditation as well that are very different from eastern religions but still
create relaxation and peace in the body.
Techniques are used not only for spiritual purposes, but also health purposes such
as yoga meditation and secular meditation which fight against anxiety, stress and
chronic physical pain.
By clearing the mind, relaxing the muscles and focusing on deep breathing,
circulation, posture and concentration are improved. Yoga is deeply tied to eastern
religions and its goal is to improve health and well-being and reaching Moksha which
is the release from the cycle of life, death and rebirth and all the suffering
attached to it.
There are many different types of meditation techniques including: Mantra,
Trakata, Chakra, Vispanna, Raj Yoga, Zazen, and Nada Yoga. All of them include
focusing on breathing, entering into an alternate state of consciousness and
focusing on a strong sense of self. Beyond being conscious of one’s breathing, there
is a wide variety of techniques that help with reaching the developmental goal that
the person is aiming for which include:
“Upward” which acts to reverse the pull of gravity on the consciousness by lifting
the consciousness out of the body, “Mind-centered” in which the mind is a blank
slate, “Monastic” which involves exploring death’s mystery, “Observer” where you
watch your thoughts and emotions as they happen from an outside perspective,
“Passive” where the mind makes no judgment similar to daydreaming or sleep,
“Fantasy-based” where the person goes to an alternate place in his/her mind,
“Trance” which included rhythmic chanting, “Denial” or “Dualistic” where divisions
in the universe are realized and questioned, and “Religious” where one thinks about
an inspiring religious leader.
Transcendental Meditation was introduced in 1957 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi,
disciple of the Indian spiritual leader, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati. Yogi
developed programs and initiatives to promote transcendental meditation and spent
time touring the world teaching what he had learned. The technique involves sitting
with one’s eyes closed for twenty minutes, twice a day and not contemplating but
setting up a framework for the mind to move inwardly instead of being flooded with
different ideas and feelings.
Music is a tool that is not only used for entertainment but for healing as well.
Certain tones and chords can stimulate brainwaves, produce deep relaxation,
increase the ability to learn, relieve stress, and even heal the body as a result of
listening and feeling the music. Almost everyone has experienced deep feelings from
a song a favorite artist plays or an experience at a concert.
Meditation music is one of many forms of music that can accomplish this. It acts to
correspond with meditation practices to promote self awareness and relaxation as
Music can increase self-growth and fulfillment in certain areas of one’s life.
Meditation music is one of many forms of music that can accomplish this. It acts to
correspond with meditation practices to promote self awareness and relaxation as
well as deep connection. It is also used in spas during massages to help the patient
relax fully.
Being able to stay focused when you meditate is one of the main challenges that you
face when you first engage in meditation. In meditation, you focus on your breathing
or an object and try to clear your mind. Thoughts will start to come to mind, which
you should acknowledge and then let them pass on.
Sometimes, if you are feeling stressed about some situation, thoughts of this may
overpower you and you feel as if you should dwell on these to try to find a solution.
Forcing the issue is not the way of meditating and will keep you from the true
purpose.
When you first start your meditating session, you need to have a place where you
will be free from distractions. This includes noise and images. You can block out the
images by closing your eyes, but the daily sounds are often more difficult to block
out. This is why most people choose the early morning hours to practice spiritual
meditation. The rest of the household is asleep so you have some time to yourself
when you won’t be interrupted.
Learning the various positions and being able to hold them for a length of time is a
challenge for beginners. While most people have the idea that you have to be in a
sitting position to meditate, you can meditate when you are walking, lying down,
kneeling or standing. The sitting positions are the hardest to master, even when you
sit on a chair because it is hard to maintain the same position for up to 30 minutes
at a time.
The half lotus position is the one most prefer to use when meditating in a sitting
position. To do this, you sit cross legged with the foot of one leg resting on the
thigh of the other leg. The other foot is resting on the floor under the opposite
thigh. The most difficult sitting position is the full lotus in which you have both
feet resting on the thighs of the opposite legs and your knees touching the floor.
When you start to meditate, you also have to give yourself a few minutes at the
beginning for your mind and body to relax. It takes a few minutes for this to happen
and for your breathing to become regular. You have to let the tenseness out of the
muscles in your back and neck and learn to breathe deeply. This means breathing in
through your nose so that you take in the maximum amount of oxygen which can then
get to the deepest portions of your lungs. Hold the breath for a second and let it
out slowly.
There are no rules for meditating. The main goal is for you to see results from
the session – whether this is simply a way of relaxing, finding a solution to your
problems or finding a way of reaching a state of inner peace and calm. During the
session, you do not allow your thoughts to consume you and through this you can
learn to see and understand them in a different way.
The object is to meditate so that you become more effective in the way you handle
the stresses of life so that you don’t act impulsively and become angry over every
little thing. Once you grasp this concept, you will be able to have a happier life.
Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning wheel, or vortex, and it refers to each
of the seven energy centers of which our consciousness, our energy
system, is composed. These chakras, or energy centers, function as pumps
or valves, regulating the flow of energy through our energy system. The
chakras are not physical. They are aspects of consciousness in the same
way that the auras are aspects of consciousness. Understanding the
chakras allows you to understand the relationship between your
consciousness and your body, and to thus see your body as a map of your
consciousness. It gives you a better understanding of yourself and those
around you. Divine Art Wall Hanging Collection Chakraman Gold Wall
Hanging 18" x 26" lined wall hanging includes wooden dowling rod.
Designed in mind for the healing arts. As a sacred art accent wall hanging.
Artist and copyright Paul Heussenstamm. Made in the USA.
**FREE Shipping in the continental USA
of the seven energy centers of which our consciousness, our energy
system, is composed. These chakras, or energy centers, function as pumps
or valves, regulating the flow of energy through our energy system. The
chakras are not physical. They are aspects of consciousness in the same
way that the auras are aspects of consciousness. Understanding the
chakras allows you to understand the relationship between your
consciousness and your body, and to thus see your body as a map of your
consciousness. It gives you a better understanding of yourself and those
around you. Divine Art Wall Hanging Collection Chakraman Gold Wall
Hanging 18" x 26" lined wall hanging includes wooden dowling rod.
Designed in mind for the healing arts. As a sacred art accent wall hanging.
Artist and copyright Paul Heussenstamm. Made in the USA.
**FREE Shipping in the continental USA