Types of Meditation
Meditation has become a universal practice giving people a way to cultivate an inner sense of peace and happiness. There are numerous religions that practice meditation, although they practice it in different ways and for various reasons.
While some practice it as a way to connect to God and for being able to listen to God more clearly, others use meditation as a way to enhance their levels of awareness.
Whether you are practicing meditation to overcome depression and stress, find a way to heal from chronic disease, or for self-awareness, it is vital to know the type of meditation that best suits your needs.
Anyone can practice meditation, anywhere they are comfortable. The practice leads you to experience enhanced levels of consciousness and self-awareness, leading to a host of benefits discussed in the previous chapter.
Learning how to practice meditation effectively can help you avoid stress, depression, and anxiety, and the possible death Regularly practicing meditation allows you to get into a state of mind where you are capable of thinking with clarity, without the negative perceptions that often influence your thinking.
There are no specific ways to meditate, and some of the practices can be done while moving, engaging in various yoga poses, or simply sitting quietly. It is vital that you find a meditation practice that best suits your needs.
You will also want to consider the kind of meditation that complements your personality to provide you with enhanced comfort. Here are the different types of meditation that you can practice.
тАв Mindfulness meditation
тАв Spiritual meditation
тАв Focused meditation
тАв Transcendental meditation
тАв Mantra meditation
тАв Movement meditation
Each of these meditation types requires some skill and knowledge to practice. If you are not well-versed with the practice of meditation, it isnтАЩt advisable to try all of them.
Some, like the transcendental meditation, may marshal you into levels of consciousness that, as a beginner, you may not be prepared to process. As a beginner, it is recommended that you start off with mindfulness meditation, which is simple to try out.
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation has its origins from the Buddhist teachings and is one of the most popular forms of meditation. It involves regulating the breath. This leads to the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system.
The process focuses on paying attention to your breathing and the thoughts that pass through your mind. Your thoughts should be allowed to flow freely without attaching any judgment. As you begin to practice and observe your thoughts, you will be able to start to identify the patterns that are involved.
Mindfulness meditation is perfect for those who suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress as it enhances your awareness to the present moment, resulting in increased levels of concentration.
In mindfulness meditation, the breath can be used as the object for enhanced concentration. It requires you to become more focused on the rhythm and sensation of your fundamental life forceAs you focus on your breath, it enables you to begin to observe feelings, thoughts as they pass through your mind, and the bodily sensations. If you don't have someone that can guide you through the process, mindfulness meditation is the ideal practice to begin because you can practice it privately from wherever you feel comfortable.
Various studies have proved that engaging in mindfulness meditation on a regular basis for at least eight weeks has the potential of providing you more prolonged periods of happiness and peace.
Focused Meditation
Focused meditation is the practice of focusing oneтАЩs attention on a given object, sound, or any other stimulus. It entails having to enter into a concentrated focus through the use of the senses.
You can either choose to focus on your breath, staring at a lit candle, counting beads, or listening to sound, like a gong. The focusing should be intense, even as you stay in the moment.
Focused meditation may seem to be easy, but for those who are just beginning on their path, intently focusing your attention for a period can prove to be a challenge.If your mind is used to wandering, then you have to take control and bring it to the practice as you continue to focus on the object. If you find that you are struggling with issues of concentration and focus, then this is the best kind of meditation that you can practice guaranteeing your desired results.
Spiritual Meditation
Spiritual meditation is geared toward enhancing an awakening process and most commonly practiced with the Eastern religions Hinduism and Daoism. Spiritual meditation is aimed at creating stillness and a deeper connection with God or the life force.
It is believed that most of the suffering comes from the wrong belief that we are separate from God. It is thought that by engaging in spiritual meditation, you can make a deeper connection, resulting in deeper peace within oneself.
Spiritual meditation involves using various elements like frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, cedar, and other forms of essential oils. The elements carry some religious significance and are thought to heighten the spiritual experiences during the process.
This type of meditation can be practiced with the help of a guide. It is suitable for those who are seeking spiritual enlightenment, higher levels of consciousness, and increased levels ofawareness. It is also ideal if you are seeking insight and guidance regarding an issue or spiritual growth.
Movement Meditation
You don't have to practice meditation in the seated, lotus position. It is possible to enjoy the practice of meditation as you move around. Movement meditation can be done while walking in the forest, gardening, taking various poses, or engaging in various forms of motion.
In movement meditation, you engage in movements while also being aware of the body's movements. You can still feel the smell of the air, the tensing of your legs as they move, and the sound of your feet as they step on the ground. Movement meditation is suitable for those who find joy in movement and those who grow restless when they sit still for too long.
Movement meditation provides your body with an outlet for your energy while stimulating the circulation of blood and energy into the body. Movement meditation also enhances spiritual exploration and has a way of restoring equilibrium to the mind.
When your mind is in a state of restlessness, as a result of stress or depression, movement meditation can be an ideal way to address both the physical body and mind.Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental meditation is practiced for the main purpose of attaining peace and wellness. It is an extremely popular kind of meditation and entails the avoidance of thoughts that are distracting as one engages in breathing.
This leads to the realization of a relaxed state of awareness. Transcendental meditation originates from the Indian Vedic tradition, which entails having a person sit in a comfortable posture with their eyes closed, while silently repeating a specific mantra.
The purpose of using a mantra is to get the mind focused to various bodily sensations while enhancing concentration. While you are in this meditative state, your thoughts will shift as they relax. This leads to you being able to transcend the physical senses.
As your awareness becomes more enhanced, you are able to connect to your deeper self and pure consciousness better. This is extremely empowering and energetic. It allows you to get to realize a deep level of perfect stillness without any mental boundaries.
While you are in this kind of state of consciousness, you can experience rest, peace, and stability along with a whole hostother benefits. This type of meditation is suitable if you are undergoing chronic pain, chronic depression, high blood pressure, and other health conditions.
Transcendental meditation is the most scientifically studied practice with various reports outlining its effectiveness. Transcendental meditation can either be practiced by oneself or with the help of a guide, especially if you are new to meditation.
Mantra Meditation
This is another type of meditation that has become popular and is closely associated with some religious teachings. Mantra meditation is usually practiced within the Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
It involves the use of repetitive words, sound, or phrases and is practiced with the intent of clearing the mind. The use of a mantra as a way to meditate is also common in the secular world.
Popular words like "aum," affirmations and different phrases are repeatedly used until your consciousness shifts. You can either speak the mantra loudly or softly, whichever way you find to be most comfortable.
There are many mantras that can be interpreted, while there are those where their values are driven by the quality of the soundthat is produced when the mantra is spoken. You can also listen to a mantra rather than reciting it, and it can be expressed at high speed or slow speed.
You can even match the mantra to certain bodily sensations, breathing, or visualizations. When it comes to mantra's, reciting a unique word is not as important as the vibrations that are generated through the sound.
Sound vibrations can cause the cells in the body to vibrate at a particular frequency. It is that frequency that has the potential to restructure the brain, which results in higher levels of that is produced when the mantra is spoken. You can also listen to a mantra rather than reciting it, and it can be expressed at high speed or slow speed.
You can even match the mantra to certain bodily sensations, breathing, or visualizations. When it comes to mantra's, reciting a unique word is not as important as the vibrations that are generated through the sound.
Sound vibrations can cause the cells in the body to vibrate at a particular frequency. It is that frequency that has the potential to restructure the brain, which results in higher levels of awareness.