The Meditation Types

Types of meditation

Using meditation you can employ the connection between the mind and the body to achieve specific developmental goals. Meditation is particularly good in reducing the stress that you encounter and develop in everyday life. When you decide to make meditation a regular part of your life, you need to decide which type of meditation technique and or philosophy best suits you. If you wish to learn more about Transcendental Meditation then check this page.

How you mediate can mean the difference between trying to become detached from your stress or from trying to build on the problems that are stressing you to form the basis of personal growth, often in a creative way.

There are many types of meditation, some ancient, some newer, each with its own, different style. Meditation teachers classify meditation as focusing on four different ways:

Focused on Concentration - this means basically focusing your attention on one object only. Totally concentrating on it. For example, concentrating on the flame of a candle, or simply focusing on your breath. See my Concentration example

Focused on Generation (generative meditation). This type of meditation helps you meditate to achieve a state of loving kindness by using your memory, your imagination and the sensations of your body.

Focused on Receptivity (receptive meditation). This means basically becoming receptive to any experience arising. An example of this is the zen meditation, zazen.

Focused on Reflection (reflective meditation). This meditation type involves constantly focusing on an object, but also being aware to whatever emotions, feelings and sensations come forth from the experience.

Meditation final step learning meditation

the FINAL, the last, the SIXTH step. In this step you breathe out peace and happiness, goodwill and bliss to all. May all be happy and full of peace and bliss. Think of all who dwell in the Northern lands and pray in the heart within: “may all who dwell in the Northern lands be happy and full of peace and bliss.” Then think of all who dwell in the Southern lands and offer the prayer “may all who dwell in the Southern lands be happy and full of peace and bliss.” Likewise, “may all who dwell in Eastern lands and all who dwell in Western lands, may they all be happy and full of peace and bliss.” Breathe out peace and goodwill to all. May all be happy and full of peace and bliss. All living things whether they be near or far, tall or tiny, rich or poor, educated or illiterate, whether they be born or are still in the womb unborn, may all, all, all be happy and full of peace and bliss. May those that love and those that for some reason or the other are unable to love you, may those that speak well of you, and those that for some reason or the other are unable to speak well of you, may all, all, all, without exception, be happy and full of peace and bliss. You are in them all. It is only when they become happy that you are happy. May all be free from disease, ignorance, sorrow. As you get up from this meditation, you will find that you yourself are happy and full of peace and bliss.

And now if you are ready, we shall begin with the meditation. Sit in a relaxed posture; as far as possible, the back, the neck and the head should be in a straight line. In the beginning you may find it difficult to bring them all in a straight line but do it as far as possible. Above all, be relaxed. Relax your body. Relax your muscles. Relax your limbs and now let us embark on this interior journey, a journey that takes us within, a journey that in due course may change our lives and fill us with tranquillity, with peace and bliss and make us instruments of GOD’S help and healing in this world of suffering and pain.

steps of meditation 6th step

Meditation 5th step

The FIFTH is meditation on your immortality. In the fourth step you have realized that you are not merely in your physical body. You are in all that is, in the experience that we call death. It is the body that drops down, the physical body. But you will continue to be, even when the body has dropped down, you will continue to be in every grain of sand, in every drop of water, in every ray of sunshine. Death cannot touch you. You are immortal. If you are at one with all humanity, then even if there is one human being alive, you are alive. If you are at one with all living creatures, then even if there is but one creature breathing the breath of life, you are alive. Yes, you are immortal, immutable, eternal, deathless!

Meditation third and forth Step

Third Step

Then we come to the THIRD step. The third step is the step of serenity, the step of peace. In this third step, you may imagine yourself as a rock in the midst of an ocean. Waves arise. They dash against the rock. The rock is unaffected, is calm, tranquil, peaceful, serene. Waves arise. Waves are the distracting thoughts. They dash against the rock. The rock is unaffected, calm, tranquil, peaceful, serene.

Fourth step

Then we come to the FOURTH step. It is the step where you realize your oneness with all that is, all men, all creatures, all things, all conditions. You are not apart from others. The others & you are parts of the one great whole. You are in every man, in every woman, in every child. You are in every unit of life, in every bird and animal, in every foul & fish, in every insect, in every shrub, in every plant. You belong to all countries and communities, all races and religions. You are at one with the universe. This type of meditation will fill your heart with loving kindness & a spirit of compassion so that a stage may come when you will not wish to snuff out the life even of the smallest insect.

Meditation Second Step

The SECOND is the step of detached observation. In this step, as an observer you have to watch the movements of the mind. Detach yourself from the mind. This is very, very important. You are not the mind. You are only watching the mind. What is the mind doing? What thoughts is it entertaining? You are not the mind. You are not thinking those thoughts. Just watch the mind. Observe the mind without any judgment, without any criticism. You are but a silent observer; observe without judgment, without criticism. You will find that as you detach yourself from the mind and just keep on watching it, its movements, gradually the mind will cease its activities.

Meidtation step one

Meditaion steps

First Step

This meditation lasts 15 to 20 minutes. It is a meditation of SIX steps. Each step

will take roughly two and half to about three minutes. I will first explain to you

all the steps and then you can start.

The FIRST is the step of rhythmic breathing. Breathe in slowly, easily, evenly, and

deeply and then breathe out slowly, easily, evenly, and deeply. Within three minutes

you should be able to breathe in and out about ten times. But you need not count. I

will do the counting for you. And when the three minutes are over, shall ask you to

move on to the second step. As your breathing becomes rhythmic, your tensions will

relax.

Purpose of Meditation

Meditation purpose

The purposes for which people meditate vary almost as widely as practices. It may serve simply as a means of relaxation from a busy daily routine, or even as a means of gaining insight into the nature of reality or of communing with one's God. Many have found improved concentration, awareness, self-discipline and equanimity through meditation. The disciplined self-cultivation aspect of meditation plays a central role in Taoism, Sikhism, Hinduism and Buddhism. Generally, there is religious meditation, where one meditates to commune with or on the Divine, and focus meditation, where one meditates to improve health or mental faculties. Very often there is significant overlap between these two positions in many meditative traditions.

Muraqba, Meditation

Meditation generally involves discounting wandering thoughts and fantasies, and calming and focusing the mind. Meditation does not necessarily require effort and can be experienced as "just happening". Physical postures include sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and walking (sometimes along designated floor patterns). Quietness is often desirable, and some people use repetitive activities such as deep breathing, humming or chanting to help induce a meditative state.

Meditation can be done with the eyes closed (as long as one does not fall asleep), or with the eyes open: focusing the eyes on a certain point of an object or image, and keeping the eyes constantly looking at that point.