Comprehensive Guide To Worldwide Meditation Techniques. By: Anmol Mehta . here are as many types of meditation techniques as there are wonderful flavors of ice cream. This allow each person to find a flavor that is delicious to them. In this article series I will provide an overview of many of the different meditation techniques that exist and hopefully this will help you find the style that is sweetest to you. Some meditation styles suit those of an intellectual disposition, while others are more attractive to those who prefer the path of love and surrender. Still others, with an active approach to life, may like the meditation techniques involving movement, while those with a strong mind would enjoy the approach of visualization and concentration. Overall, there are several broad categories under which we can capture most of these various meditation practices and in Part 1 I will explore Insight Meditation Techniques and Sound (Mantra) and Intention Meditation Techniques. 1. Insight Meditation Techniques: These are the meditations of choice for the Gyan Yogis or those drawn to the intellectual path. It incorporates the advanced meditation techniques from the Zen school of Buddhism, Bud dhism, the Advaita Vedanta school of Hinduism, certain schools of Western Religions among others. A. WHO AM I Meditation Technique: This techniques comes from the school of Advaita Vedanta (Non-Dualism / End of Knowledge). The meditation was popularized by Shri Ramana Maharishi and is based on negation of the false self in order to realize one's True Nature. Here is an example of my experience with WHO AM I Meditation Practice. B. Koan Meditation Technique: These meditations come from the Zen school of Buddhism and are designed to break down the ordinary pattern of o f conceptual, dualistic thinking. By breaking down the interference created by the thinking mechanism the practitioner is brought to confront the non-dual reality of "what is" directly and thus Awaken. C. Contemplation Meditation Technique: These meditations utilize introspection, selfstudy, reflection, self-dialogue and contemplation to cut through the layers of false conditioning and false understanding that deludes the mind. These meditations have their roots in many Western Religions and are also a part of Eastern philosophies. D. Silent Mind Meditation Technique: This meditation technique is my contribution to this category and it involves directly perceiving the fact of what is by acute observation of the thinking process. This is the flavor that I enjoy best and I have explained it in detail in the The Silent Mind Meditations, which are part of the Silent Mind Meditation Program. These meditations are an extension of the teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti. 2. Sound (Mantra) & Intention Meditation Techniques: The meditations that fall under this category use the science of sound and thought vibrations (Naad Yoga), along with
rhythm and music (Laya Yoga) to purify the heart and mind. These meditations have a wide range of applications, from bestowing Enlightenment, to improving health, wealth, happiness, peace etc... A. Mantra Japa Meditation Technique: This meditation method uses the repetition of a mantra (a particular sound, word or phrase) verbally or mentally to create the necessary conditions for purification, refinement or expansion to take place. Mantras are essentially keys which allow one to tune into the individual energy field or tune into the Universal Energy field to produce certain desired results. Here is an example of using OM Mantra to activate the Third Eye Chakra. B. Rhythm Meditation Technique: This form of meditation uses the combination of rhythm, chanting, music and breath to calibrate and perfect the system. The excellent Three Step Rhythmic Breathing (3srb) meditation technique of Sage Pantanjali and many Kundalini Yoga meditations fall under this category, among others. C. Meditation via Song: Most of the meditations from the path of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga) and Love, designed to dissolve the ego belong in this category. This is a path most dear to those who are emotional in nature and feel a deep love for the divine. Christianity, Gospel, Sufi Meditations, Hare Krishna Meditations, Kirtans and Bhajans are some examples of techniques in this category. D. Meditation via Prayer & Intention: All religions have meditations involving p rayer and worship. The meditations that also use the power of intention to manifest desires fall under this category. So you can see from above, these is a rich diversity to the Art of Meditation and certainly something for everybody. If one of the styles above does not catch your fancy, not to worry, I will be serving up more tasty flavors in part 2 of this series.
Secrets, Tips and Advice to Master Meditation By: Michaiel Bovenes. Understanding the true nature of meditation c an help you add this valuable skill to your daily stress reduction routine. Meditation isn't about the many rituals that people practice, but is a process of centering and focusing your mind. You do not need to do any bizarre postures or wear a turban in order to master your ability to meditate Meditation is about connecting with your inner self by slowing down your activities and quieting your mind. Meditation is making time to listen to your inner being. Meditation is a process that has many forms. Meditation has many forms. Jogging, tai-chi, yoga, and even weight training are a few examples of moving meditation. These forms allow your thoughts to slow down and your mind to become reflective.
We all have the capacity to train our minds to have the same effect without running ten miles or driving to the beach. Moving while meditating has limitations. You must pay attention to the physical world and are unable to focus 100% on your inner realms. Guided meditation is about being comfortable and undisturbed for a set period of time. You will close your eyes and draw your attention inward. This becomes what I call the art of meditation. I have a powerful line of guided meditation CDs and MP3 downloads that can assist you in quickly achieving the results you desire. Regardless which form of meditation you decide, it becomes helpful to understand the function of meditation. The function is common to all the many different forms that meditation. The first function of meditation is to slow down your brain wave activity which in turn, slows down your thinking process. Notice I didn't say to eliminate or to stop thinking. It is impossible to eliminate your thoughts. I find this myth, one of the most common reasons beginners give up this wonderful skill. They erroneously think if they have one thought pop into they're head, they have just ruined the experience. Meditation allows you to shift your attention away from your thoughts and to slow down your thinking process. As your thinking slows down the silent space in-between each thought is where you can receive a flash of insight from your Soul. The insight would always have been there, but you wouldn't have noticed, due to the steady stream of thoughts that often dominate the mind. It is natural to have many thoughts enter your mind when you first begin to meditate, don't become frustrated, just accept this as a normal part of the process. Here are some effective ways to remedy the situation. For example, when you attempt to meditate and your mind keeps worrying about a report due at work. It seems difficult to take your mind off it. The first thing to do is don't fight it. Listen to your inner concerns and then release it. If you can't stop your mind from thinking ( I have to finish that report by Tuesday morning), simply take in a deep breath and as you exhale imagine your blowing that thought out of your head. Perhaps see the words written on a chalk board and imagine you are blowing the message off the board with your exhale. Or imagine you are erasing it. This gives the subconscious mind a very clear message. Then focus your attention on going deeper. Remember it is a very natural to have thoughts in your mind as you are learning how to meditate. Another technique to end the distraction is to mentally tell those pesky thoughts, "I hear you, thank you and you can go now." Thinking those words silently to yourself, will confirm to your subconscious mind, I've got the message now, the messenger can leave. Be patient and remind yourself that the goal of meditation is not to eliminate thought, but to slow it down. The pause between, is the space where you can resolve your personal problems and find the solutions. Meditation is a powerful technique to gain mastery over your life, and to become more conscious of your truer self. Meditations' true purpose is to shift your consciousness from
the outer world to your inner world, where all change begins. Meditation offers you a way to create a pause in your daily activity to consciously connect with your inner power. On a spiritual level meditation offers a ritual to commune with your Soul to receive guidance, healing and wisdom from within. On a mental level, meditation will bring you clarity and can reveal deeper understanding about the way you're living you life, and what thoughts and beliefs are holding you back. On an emotional level, meditating offers a way to get in touch with your feelings and to resolve them co nstructively producing profound inner peace. On a physical level, meditation is a stress reducer, as you practice it on a regular basis, you will renew your physical energy and stamina. The siesta times many countries honor is a great way to bring balance back into a busy life-style, even if it's only a fifteen minute meditation on your lunch break at work. Lily Tomlin says some of the wildest things and she o ffers us this profound thought, "Why is it when we talk with God it's called praying, but when God talks to us, we call it schizophrenia?" Meditation is a way to listen to the still small voice of the spirit of truth. Whether you practice silent, moving or guided meditation you will soon discover the infinite wisdom that dwells within you, waiting to offer you guidance and inner peace.
