subject: Popular Meditation Techniques [print this page] There are several hundred techniques of meditation which are proven to have excellent therapeutic benefits. Meditation techniques differ due to differences in origin, historical development of the techniques, the environment in which they are practiced, and other differences. Most meditation techniques fit into categories of 'expansive' or 'concentrative'. In an expansive type of meditation, one tries to expand his horizons, let go off his mind, the thoughts, and he lets them free flow. On the other hand, concentrative meditation asks for one to concentrate on few objects and get their mind clear of unwanted thoughts. Out of many meditation techniques well discuss the important ones.
Let us talk about one of the meditation techniques that falls under the category of concentrative type. One such meditation technique is Trataka, which is also called Steady Gaze. This is a meditation that is practiced by a range of people from many different religions. In this kind of meditation a person is asked to gaze onto a certain object and focus their attention. This kind of meditation makes a person hold his thoughts and maintain concentration upon specific object, this can be considered to be one of the most basic and simplest of all, yet very effective in learning to focus and concentrate on tasks in daily life, just as avoiding procrastination or improving productivity at work. Usually in this kind of meditation, a lit candle is used instead of an object. Apart from the spiritual and internal benefits of it, this type of meditation also improves the internal and external optic function. It helps a person to develop un-deterred concentration.
Another major technique well discuss today is the Chakra Meditation. This type of meditation technique helps us have better mind control and utilization of internal energy. This is also known to develop a deeper consciousness in a person. In this meditation, one can select and invoke any of the chakra and use it for his own good. The chakra is awakened in a balanced and gentle way. This is also one of the types of meditation that has been found easy to practice. For practicing this meditation, one has to lie down on floor or sit, and then close the eyes, and position oneself for a proper breathing and then allow the chakra to flow through the body, very slowly. This is very effective type of meditation; if performed carefully and under the guidance of a professional.
The third kind of meditation that well be discussing here is mantra meditation. This kind of meditation is practiced while humming a mantra along with your other normal meditation procedure. While a person is meditating, he can accompany it with mantras which are a combination of few or more words and sounds which when played affect the psychic consciousness and mental process in a great manner.
