Types Of Meditation

How many different types of meditation are there? Who knows, but there are enough that you can find the one that is right for you. Here are six types of meditation to get you started.

1. Simple breath watching. Meditating can be as simple as paying attention to your breath for a few minutes. Just relax in whatever position works best for you, close your eyes and begin to pay attention to your breathing. Breath through your nose to get your diaphragm involved and get oxygen all the way to the bottom of your lungs. When your mind wanders, just re-focus your attention on the air going in and out of your nose. Do this for several minutes, or longer as you get used to it.

2. Mantra meditation. Some people find it easier to keep their mind from wandering if they concentrate on something specific. This is where a mantra can help. Mantras are chosen for you by an experienced master in some traditions, but you can use any word or phrase or sound that works for you. You can also choose to either repeat the mantra aloud or in your head as you sit in meditation.

3. Walking meditation. Walking meditation gets the body involved. It can be done outside or simply as a back and forth pacing in a room. The idea is to pay attention to the movement of your legs and breathing and body as you walk. When your mind wanders, you just keep bringing it back to the process of walking and breathing. Meditating outside in this way can be difficult because of the distractions. If you do it outside, find a quiet place with level ground.

4. Mindfulness meditation. A practice Buddhists call vipassana or insight meditation, mindfulness is the art of becoming deeply aware of what is here right now. You focus on what's happening in and around you at this very moment, and become aware of all the thoughts and feelings that are taking your energy from moment to moment. You can start by watching your breath, and then move your attention to the thoughts going through your mind, the feelings in your body, and even the sounds and sights around you. The key is to watch without judging or analyzing.

5. Empty mind meditation. Meditating can be an awareness without object, an emptying of all thoughts from your mind. The techniques for doing this involve sitting still, often in a "full lotus" or cross-legged position, and letting the mind go silent of its own accord. It can be difficult, particularly since any effort seems to just cause more business in the mind.

6. Meditating on an idea. Some meditations involve contemplation of an idea or scenario. An example is meditating on impermanence, focusing on the impermanent nature of all things, starting with your thoughts and feelings as they come and go. In the Buddhist "meditation on the corpse," you think about a body in the ground, as it slowly rots away and is fed on by worms. The technique is used to guide you to an understanding that your rationalizing mind might not bring you to.

There are other meditations you can try too, such as the "meditation on loving-kindness" or "object" meditation, or even meditating using brain wave entrainment products. Each has its own advantages and effects. Because of this, you may find that at different times and for different purposes you want to use several different types of meditation.

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