Meditation

Meditation encompasses an extremely broad arraypractices connectedmany ofworld's religiousphilosophical traditions.

Meditation generally includes avoiding (though not harshly) random thought processesfantasies, andcalmingfocusing ofmind. Itnot effortful,can be experienced as just happening. Different practices involve focusing one's attention differently, andvarietypositionspostures including sitting cross-legged, standing, laying down,walking (sometimes along designated floor patterns).

The stated purposemeditation varies almost as much aspractices. It has been seen asmeansgaining experiential insight intonaturereality (religious/spiritual or not), or communing withDeity/Ultimate Reality. Even withoutspiritual aspects, many have gained concentration, awareness, self-disciplineequanimity.

Insamadhi or shamatha, or concentrative, techniquesmeditation,mindkept closely focused onparticular word, image, sound, person, or idea. This formmeditationfoundBuddhistHindu traditions including Yoga,Medieval Christianity, Jewish Kabbalah,in some modern metaphysical schools. Relatedthis method ismethod developed by Eknath Easwaran. He called"passage meditation" -- silent repetition inmindmemorized inspirational passages fromworld's great religions. As Easwaran says, "The slow, sustained concentration on these passages drives them deep into our minds;whatever we drive deep into consciousness, that we become."

In Vipassana (insight, or seeing things asare) meditationmindtrainednotice each perception or thought that passes, but without "stopping" on any one. This ischaracteristic formmeditationBuddhism, especiallysome Theravada traditions,is alsocomponentzazen,termmeditation practiceZen. In at least some formsvipassana, you do not attendwhatever perceptions arise, but purposely move your attention over your body part by part, checkingperceptions, being awareequanimousthem,moving on. This formmeditation has some resemblance"choiceless awareness"kindmeditation that Jiddu Krishnamurti talked about.

In annapuna meditation attentionfocused onbreath.

See also: Qi, Qigong, Transcendental Meditation, Zen Meditation

External links

• 40 meditation practices4 positions http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/meditation.html
• http://www.dhamma.org/
• Blue Mountain CenterMeditation http://www.nilgiri.org/
• Jiddu Krishnamurti on meditation http://www.katinkahesselink.net/kr/meditate.htm
• Kanshoji Zen Tempel http://www.kanshoji.org/
• International Zen Association http://www.zen-azi.org/
• Onbenefitsmeditationgeneral andOsho's dynamic meditationsparticular

References

• Meditation The First And Last Freedom, by Osho
• The Book ofSecrets, commentaries on112 meditation techniques given by Shivahis consort Devi, by Osho