Different Types of Meditation

Meditation is the best way to train the brain and increase the mental focus. It makes you aware of what is happening in the moment. This practice will bring your thoughts under voluntary control. It is believed that meditation is the basis for all the real knowledge. Meditation has its roots in an old French terminology – which means thought, study, knowledge, or reflection. It originated from the Latin word meditationem – ‘which means thinking over’.

There are many meditation techniques influenced by traditions such as Buddhist, Hindu, Chinese, Christian Meditation as well as there are Guided Meditation. Not just this, but meditation has several forms including Concentration Meditation, Creative Meditation, Reflective Meditation, Mindfulness Meditation and Heart-Centered Meditation.

Concentration Meditation Techniques

Concentration meditation is believed to be the foundation of all other kinds of meditation. The basic principle of meditations is that you must have the ability to keep your focus at one place and hold it without any distraction. A scattered mind is less powerful, less creative and has less knowledge. This meditation technique helps in developing concentration power, using which you can construct your capability to overcome disturbances and to maintain mental focus. By practicing this you will become aware of now and can control your thoughts.

Reflective Meditation Techniques

Reflective meditation practice is a practice in which a topic of meditation is selected and then analysis is made on it. Reflective meditation makes you aware about the true meaning of life and death. By practicing this meditation, you will develop a strong sense of focus and faith. It will also help you in finding better solutions to your day-to-day personal or professional problems.

Mindfulness Meditation Techniques

This meditation technique is the best way to cultivate an amenable, fixed quality mindful attention. This type of meditation is experienced naturally. This meditation strengthens your power to control mind and improves sense of appreciation. Vipassana meditation, self-remembering, zazen, Mahamudra, Dzogchen, and choiceless awareness are linked to mindfulness meditation.

Creative Meditation Techniques

Creative meditation consciously cultivate and strengthens the mind’s specific qualities. Through this meditation technique you can cultivate qualities like joy, appreciation, love, patience, compassion, fearlessness, and tenderness. All these strengths are developed by day-to-day activities like speaking, thinking, and acting.

Heart-Centered Meditation Techniques

Heart-centered meditation makes the heart more kind and generous. It helps in developing love, kindness, fellow feeling and empathy. This meditation technique teaches you how to accept others and also upsurges the feeling of understanding in you. This meditation method like other meditation techniques draws inspiration from other types of meditations that we have discussed above.

The Bottom Line

Having said all, I would say that all types of meditation discussed are interrelated and mutually enhancing. Meditation is a way to life, which helps you to know who you are. Meditation takes is more than a brain exercise, it is a way of life. It takes you closer to the realities of life. So practice meditation to know the real meaning of life.