Types of Meditation

Vipassana meditation was founded and taught by Buddha thousands of years ago. The word vipassana translated means ‘to see things clearly’ or to see things in their true form and was passed on to those who practiced as a means of healing illnesses of the body and mind, by means of cleansing the two of impurities and toxins. In recent days however, this type of meditation is not only practiced by those with a Buddhist background, it is used by many. To exercise this method in order to benefit from the highest level of purification and rumination, it is greatly recommended that professional help is sought.

Another type of meditation acknowledged all over the world is Zen meditation. Zen is an exercise of sitting in preparation for calming the body and mind in addition to opening oneself up to discovering an insight into the nature of your being. This is accomplished by means of sitting in an assortment of positions prescribed, thus closing your mind to thought and images; you will notice after a period of focused concentration, your heart rate will become slower. Breathing will start to become shallow, leading you into a state of meditation.  Thought will develop into isolated and deliberate concentration on the present moment and will be all you are aware of. Thoughts of the past and the future will become void thus focusing and reacting to what is you are experiencing in the now. Rumination on the things you should have done or the things that still need to be done will become void resulting in escape from the constant chatter of the subconscious psyche.

Taoist meditation is a type of meditation which has quite a lot in common with Hindu and Buddhist techniques. Although the method used in taoist meditation is notably less abstract it is far more practical than the contemplative traditions of which originated in India and China. The major characteristic of this type of meditation is the generation, transformation, and circulation of internal energy. As soon as this steady flow of energy is achieved known as “deh-chee”, this can then be of use in promoting good health and longevity and suchlike. Taoist meditation uses Breath and Navel meditation to teach new people wanting to learn. This is the oldest technique on record in China and India and works directly with the natural flow of breath in the nostrils in addition to the expansion and contraction of the abdomen. This type of meditation is a great way to enhance focused attention and one-pointed awareness.

Mindfulness meditation is a very simple type of meditation. Its primary purpose is in teaching us to become mindful and attentive of all that we do in life, giving deliberate thought and reflection to everything we encounter in life. This will stimulate an enhanced awareness of the various situations and ambience we find ourselves in, ensuing a more relaxed body and nervous system. This type of meditation will train the mind and body to meditate on the things in life that you cannot change, with a great deal of contemplation and rumination on the whole idea. It can be incredibly useful in every aspect of life, from eating to exercising, to just breathing and living. A typical example of practicing mindfulness meditation, for instance with a person suffering digestive problems. Whilst eating, give deliberation to all aspects of the meal, why you need it, and the benefit it has for your body. Mindfulness meditation is about being mindful, or attentive, of the things in your life that you have control over.

Imagine for one moment having total power of your mind rather than it being in control of you. Buddhist meditation will teach you that to do just that, if you embark on the apt discipline to do so. This is a type of meditation said to bring your mind, body and soul to a natural balance. Buddha practiced this state of mindlessness through deliberation and rumination throughout his life. The inspiration for this came from the idea of diminishing the mind’s need for selfishness and the longing for material matter to become a more contented person. During meditation, you have complete awareness of your physical body and every movement it makes. You are also indeed very aware of your state of mind and how it can change so rapidly in just a minute. Buddhist meditation is an extremely disciplined practice and should be done so on a consistent and regular basis to benefit the mind, body and soul. If practised correctly and consistently very shortly begin to notice very obvious changes, such as the mind slowly becoming free from fear. Your focus and concentration levels throughout the day, everyday will become heightened. There will be no concerns or worry in your mind, no link to this physical world, no cares.

Amid all the various types of meditation, there will always be some degree of confusion as there is with anything as to questions such as; ‘Is it safe?’, ‘How to decide which technique to practice’, ‘How much does it cost?’ Nevertheless, once a decision is reached and you begin to practice the desired type of meditation suitable for you, it will become an essential part of your new daily life.  You may possibly wonder how you ever survived without it!

By Kiks

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