The 8 Types Of Meditation (and Their Characteristics)
Meditation is an ancient practice that has experienced a surge in popularity in Western countries in the last decades. For those people who are new to meditative practice, they can be a bit confusing associated with meditation: mantras, chakras, Vipassana Meditation, Tonglen Meditation, etc.
In this article you will be able to find the different types of meditation and their characteristics so that you understand what differentiates them and can know what their benefits are.
Meditating is not always easy, especially at the beginning, as it requires discipline and practice for perfection. Therefore, it requires effort, but in the long run its health benefits are numerous.
In the fast-paced world in which we live, many people find in meditation a way to reconnect with themselves, away from Western culture, where consumerism and materialistic values govern the lives of the vast majority of citizens. Meditation is a way to recover the essence of oneself and achieve inner peace.
In summary, These are some benefits of meditation n:
Types of meditation
Whether to calm the mind, to find yourself or to reduce anxiety or stress, it is interesting that you introduce this practice into your daily life, as it is a way to improve the quality of life.
But… What types of meditation exist? What do the different ways of meditating give us? You can learn more about the different types of meditation in the following lines:
1. Primordial Sound Meditation
Primordial Sound Meditation is a mantra-based meditation technique , rooted in the Vedic tradition of India. A mantra is a repeated phrase that helps us reach the state of relaxation and internalization that promotes the meditative state. Mantras are not random phrases, but are sacred sounds that ancient sages used for their meditative practice, because they have great harmonizing power.
Although this type of meditation is ancient, Deepak Chopra and David Simon revived this ancient practice and created a meditation program based on mantras that anyone can practice, which is why it currently enjoys some popularity in the West. During meditation, it is necessary to repeat this mantra silently, as it creates a vibration that allows you to place yourself in a place away from the noise of the mind, reaching calm and pure consciousness. This type of meditation is ideal for those looking for structure in their meditation practice.
2. Vipassana Meditation
Vipassana meditation is often known as insight meditation and allows you to see things as they really are It is also a traditional Buddhist meditation practice, which is widely used in the West thanks to Mindfulness. This type of meditation emphasizes awareness of breathing, tuning into the air coming in and out through the nose. It also focuses on labeling thoughts and experiences as they arise.
Every time a thought or emotion is identified, it is necessary to identify it and let it pass with a non-judgmental attitude. There are several different types of Vipassana meditation that have evolved from the traditional style over the years.
3. Zazen Meditation (Zen)
The translation of the Japanese word “Zazen” means “sitting meditation.” Many people, when they visualize meditation, imagine a person on the floor with their legs crossed, eyes closed and fingers in the Mudra position. This does not happen with Zazen meditation.
Although this type of meditation focuses on breathing and observing thoughts and experiences as they pass through the mind and observing experiences in the environment, as occurs in Vipassana meditation, there are some differences between both types of meditation. A main practical difference is that in Zen meditation, the emphasis of the breath is on the belly, rather than the nose (as in Vipassana).
Another big difference is that the posture is much stricter in Zen meditation than in Vipassana, with special attention to a straight spine, lowered chin, and hands placed in a special position on the belly. In Zazen meditation, the eyes should always be open, with a lowered gaze, and in Vipassana, there are no strict rules for the gaze, although it is common to keep the eyes closed. Zen meditation is recommended for those people who already have previous experience with meditative practice.
4. Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation is another type of meditation based on mantras Like Primordial Sound Meditation, its origin dates back to ancient India and each person is given a personal mantra employed for vibrational qualities to help calm the mind. Although the purpose of meditation in both forms is similar, there are quite a few differences, including the mantras themselves and how they are selected, the meditation instruction, and the recommended time to meditate.
5. Metta or Benevolent Love Meditation
Metta or Benevolent Love meditation has its meaning in unconditional kindness and friendship This style of meditation also has its origins in Buddhist teachings, primarily Tibetan Buddhism. As scientific studies show, compassion and this form of kind and loving meditation has proven to be particularly useful in boosting empathy, positivity, acceptance and compassion towards oneself and others. Anyone with low self-esteem, high levels of self-criticism, and a desire to be more empathetic toward others can benefit from this practice.
6. Kundalini Meditation
The main idea of this type of meditation is that thanks to this technique one awakens one’s Kundalini energy , located at the base of the spine. When this energy is released, it travels up the spine and leads to an experience commonly known as Kundalini awakening, which ultimately leads to enlightenment. Kundalini meditations can include breathing techniques, mantras, mudras, and chanting to harness the power of the unconscious mind. It is an energizing way to awaken the mind.
A chakra is an energy center in the body, and we have seven of them , each located in a different area of the body and each associated with a different color, sound and energetic purpose. Chakra meditations can be very powerful, especially when focusing and connecting with one element in the physical or emotional body at a time. Many chakra meditations use sound, specific hand placement, and visualization techniques to connect with the chakras and their healing energy.
8. Tonglen Meditation
This type of meditation is Tibetan Buddhist and is characterized by the fact that the person who practices it connects with their own suffering in an effort to overcome it. Our culture teaches us to avoid suffering and flee from it, the exact opposite of what Tonglen meditation does.
This type of meditation teaches you how to handle difficult situations in life, allowing you to cope with them by developing an attitude of openness towards suffering and letting go of negativity. It is also called giving and receiving meditation, and cultivates compassion and empathy through breathing and visualization. The practice can be done in any comfortable position, whether sitting or reclining.
