Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. It is a discipline that anyone can learn and benefit from. It is not about religion or any other belief system. Meditation has been practiced throughout by the ancient Greeks, Romans, Native Americans, shamans and even the ancient Egyptians. People use meditation to get through tough times, find inner peace and find
enlightenment. Meditation involves focusing your attention on one thing at a time like your breath or a mantra. With regular practice, meditation can help us stay calm under pressure and help us to deal with life’s challenges more effectively.
There are many different types of meditation the most common types are:
Mindfulness meditation –
You turn your attention to your thoughts as they pass through your mind. You don’t judge the thoughts or become involved with them. You simply observe and take note of any patterns.
This practice can be done alone and combines concentration with awareness. Focus on an object or your breath while you observe any bodily sensations, thoughts, or feelings.
Spiritual meditation –
Used in nearly all religions and spiritual traditions.
Spiritual meditations are as diverse as the world’s spiritual traditions themselves. Most meditations could be considered spiritual meditation depending on the intention you set.
Spiritual meditation focuses on developing a deeper understanding of spiritual or religious meaning and connection with a higher power.
Spiritual meditation is usually practiced at home or in a place of worship. Spiritual meditation is beneficial for those who seek spiritual growth and a deeper connection to a higher power or spiritual force.
Focused meditation –
Focusing or concentration using any of the five senses.
You can focus on something internal, like your breath, an intention, sound or an object.
Some examples are:
Praying the Rosary
Counting mala beads
Listening to a gong, Singing Bowls etc..
Staring at a candle flame
Counting your breaths
Moon gazing
It can be difficult for beginners to hold their focus for longer than a few minutes at first because your mind may wander, simply come back to the meditation and refocus.
This practice is beneficial for anyone who wants to sharpen their focus and attention.
Movement meditation –
This is an active form of meditation. Movement guides you into a deeper connection with your body and the present moment. This type of meditation is good for people who find peace in action and want to develop body awareness. Walking
Gardening
Qi gong
Tai chi
Gentle forms of movement
Mantra meditation –
This type of meditation is practiced in many traditions, such as Hindu and Buddhist traditions. This meditation uses a repetitive sound, chant or mantra to clear the mind and bring the vibration of the sound in their body. It can be a word, a phrase, or a sound. The mantra can be spoken loudly or quietly. This type of meditation can help you become more alert and in tune with your environment and helps you experience deeper levels of awareness.
Mantra meditations are good for people who don’t like silence and enjoy repetition.
Loving-kindness meditation –
This type of meditation is used to strengthen feelings of compassion, kindness, and acceptance toward oneself and others. It involves opening the mind and heart to receive love from others and to send love and forgiveness to loved ones, friends, acquaintances, and all living beings.
This type of meditation promotes compassion and kindness, and may be ideal for those holding feelings of anger or resentment.
Visualization meditation
This type of meditation focuses on feelings of relaxation, peace, and calmness by visualizing positive scenes, images, or figures. You can imagining a scene using all five senses, add as many detail as possible. You can also hold a beloved or honored figure in mind with the intention of embodying their qualities. Another way to visualize is by imagining yourself succeeding at a specific goal, see it, feel it, smell it, touch it or taste it. This type of meditation can boost your mood, reduce stress levels, and promote inner peace.
What is your favorite way to meditate?
Will you be trying out any of these types of meditation?