|
|
|
Meditation > 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 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.
Learn about Biofeedback meditation
Learn about the Passage and the Wild Divine Project
|
|
|
|
