WAYS TO MEDITATE

Image by Moyan Brenn Flickr.com

There are countless ways to meditate, but all boil down to four basic techniques.

The first way involves focusing your concentration on something.  For example, you can focus all of your attention on an object such as a candle, or on an image, or on a sound, or on your breathing, or on walking.

The second way involves learning about yourself and your world by observing your thoughts about a topic without judgement or emotion.  This is called mindfulness, insight or awareness meditation.  

The third way involves thinking deeply about a topic, for example it could be a passage in a book or on a virtue such as compassion.  This is called analytical meditation.

The fourth way involves visualisation using your imagination. For example you can visualise a peaceful scene, such as gazing out on the ocean when you meditate.  You can even buy a CD which guides you through a visual meditation if you wish.   Visualisation can also be used in a practical way to help you achieve your goals.    

Happy meditating!