| |
Meditation Guide
Robin Darch
There is absolutely no way I can possibly tell you about all
the different types of meditation in just one article. My
intention is to tell you about some of the general benefits
of meditation the different types have in common and introduce
you to a few popular forms of meditation.
Many people have never tried meditation and they truly do
not know what they are missing. Our world is full of sounds,
sights, and other distractions. We are bombarded with these
things every day of our lives. Meditation allows you to escape
from this for awhile. A chance to truly relax.
Through meditation can you truly get to know yourself, organize
your thoughts, relax, and even improve your health. That quiet
time can give you time to hear your own soul.
It takes practice. We are so used to living in a rush, it's
actually difficult for us to learn to totally relax and release
all of the pressure we place on ourselves.
The things that must be considered include the length of time
you need to devote to meditation, where you will meditate,
your posture and your eye position, and very important, how
to control your breathing.
There are many guides and books on proper meditation techniques
and I suggest you research this. This one article is much
too short to cover all of the proper meditation techniques.
Here, I will stay focused on the many types of meditation.
One type of meditation that is definitely designed to help
you stay healthy is called HRM, or Heart Rhythm Meditation.
This type of meditation is used to coordinate the rhythms
of your heart, your breath, and your brainwaves. It is supposed
to help you create harmony within yourself. HRM incorporates
several types of meditation into one.
Others include what are generally referred to as upward and
downward meditation. As an example, HRM above incorporates
several types of downward meditation. Other types of downward
meditation include reality meditation, active meditation,
lover meditation, meditation centered on the heart, in-life
meditation, inclusive meditation, and awakening meditation.
Upward forms of meditation include religious meditation, meditation
centered on the mind, monastic meditation, denial meditation,
dualistic meditation, trance meditation, observer meditation,
passive meditation, and fantasy meditation. Upward meditation
is described as drawing energy upwards and consciousness out
of the body. That is where the term out-of-body experience
is used. Downward meditation invites energy down into the
body through the body's third eye, or heart.
There are types of meditation that utilize both upward and
downward meditation, but for the purposes of this article
we will focus on those that are more specific.
Reality meditation has an obvious definition. It is based
on reality rather than fantasy or imagination, while fantasy
meditation relies on your imagination. In fantasy meditation
you may imagine you are in another place, have become another
person, or maybe even another type of existent or non-existent
being.
Another two types of meditation that are the exact opposites
of each other are passive and active meditation. In passive
meditation, the type most people assume is the right way,
the person tries to be absolutely still and do nothing, emptying
their mind as much as possible. They may seem or actually
even become asleep. If this was the goal, it is a perfect
way to achieve sleep.
Active meditation is goal-oriented. The person focuses his
or her mind outwardly toward that goal. The person attempts
to remain in a state of meditation sending out waves to achieve
the goal, usually used to bring peace to an otherwise tumultuous
situation.
Denial and dualistic meditation are approximately the same.
Many times the person is using this form of meditation to
overcome pain or suffering. They focus their mind and tell
themselves that they are not really suffering or in pain.
Belief can heal, therefore they strive to create a reality
where the suffering and pain are gone or it has no effect
on them.
Trance meditation is used to diminish sensory capacity. The
person uses it to achieve an ultimate calmness. This usually
entails rhythmic chanting, suggestions of deep sleep, or submission.
Hypnosis is an example of the use of Trance meditation.
The opposite of trance meditation might be alertness meditation
or awakening meditation. The person won't become sleepy as
in trance meditation, but their senses will be heightened.
The rhythm of the chants are usually faster and the rhythm
changes. In a group it may change to keep in harmony with
the others in the group.
As I said earlier in the article, this is written just to
introduce you to the fact that there are various forms of
meditation and each has it's own uses. You may want to study
the different types and look for the one that is right for
you before you start.
Meditation isn't something you should just do because someone
recommended you do it. It isn't something you should start
doing because someone wants you to go to meditation group
sessions with him or her. What works for them may not work
for you. You need to explore the different forms of meditation
that are out there and find one that specifically helps you.
Robin Darch has a website, Meditation
Tips, to help you find all the information you need about
meditation and related topics.
Article Source:
http://www.articlerich.com
Return to The Mental
Game of Meditation Articles directory.
|
|
