Diversity of Meditative Techniques
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years, and is part of every religious faith to one degree or another. There are many different meditative techniques, each with a different goal. Some aim to develop a higher state of consciousness, some attempt to enhance relaxation, creativity or focus, and some seek to treat mental and physical health problems through increased awareness. They also have different beliefs behind them, drawn from religious traditions, psychology or New Age spirituality. Nonetheless, no matter what the goal, meditative traditions all draw from a core set of techniques.
Single-Pointed Focus
One of the most common techniques in meditation is single-pointed focus. The meditator focuses on his breath, on an external object such as a mandala or rosary, or on a phrase or image that is important to his tradition. Gradually, the meditator learns to focus more intently, attains a state of relaxation and gains more control over his own mind. In some meditative traditions, he may also gain insights into the object of contemplation. For example, a believer contemplating a religiously significant object or idea will deepen his perceived relationship with it.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness meditation is a popular current in some Buddhist traditions, and is gaining a following among professional psychologists as well. Mindfulness techniques emphasize passive awareness of what you are doing, thinking and feeling at any given moment. The practitioner could be sitting down to meditate, but she could also just as easily be taking a walk or painting a picture. In mindfulness, the practitioner seeks to liberate her mind from habitual patterns and beliefs. By understanding that a thought is just a thought which she can reject or accept, she can find happiness in everyday things.
Auto-Suggestion and Visualization
Many meditative techniques take advantage of auto-suggestion or self hypnosis. The meditator may, for example, seek to relieve stress or discomfort by visualizing clear white light pouring into his body and driving out any negative energy. This can be used to relieve stress, but it also works very well for tension and psychosomatic pain. Simply by repeating a phrase such as "my shoulder feels warm and relaxed," for example, a meditator might be able to relieve ongoing shoulder pain or tension to some degree.
Tags: meditative techniques, meditative traditions, relieve stress