The First Thing Is To Know What Meditation Is:

Meditation is a state of being arrived at through understanding. Meditation does not need techniques, but requires intelligence as well as dedication. It is all about understanding the subtle workings of the subconscious mind.

• The only way to know what meditation truly starts with experiencing the silence that one can achieve through meditation. • Meditation is a state of no-mind. The mind is not the medium to meditate because mind perpetuates itself, leading to distraction and anxiety if unchecked. • To meditate, you need a peaceful and calm mind. You will have to detach yourself from your mind to experience meditation. This requires practice and dedication to achieve fruition. • The true state of meditation realizes “I am not the mind”. • Through meditation, you can experience the beautiful moments of life such as silence, pure space, transparency, stillness, etc. • During meditation, you can experience yourself as you truly are instead of how you perceive yourself to be, and the mystery that lies at the core of our existence. • Mediation is the natural state of every being. The mind is unnatural. It is never in the absolute or the natural state. This natural state is similar to a lost paradise. However, it is possible to bring this paradise of in-the-moment consciousness back by practicing meditation.

Difference Between Meditation And Concentration

Many people are of the notion that mediation is nothing but concentration. The fact is that practicing meditation allows one to know the self, while concentration simply focuses on an external/internal object. Put another way; concentration allows one to know what is under a microscope of focus, whereas meditation allows one to understand fully one’s own life, and how it fits into the cosmic tapestry. • Concentration is dual while meditation is singular. • One who meditates experiences the all-pervading Consciousness which connects all living things, while concentration simply focuses on one aspect of reality. • Meditation is experiencing the beyond – from all the boundaries. • Concentration makes the person tired after some time, but meditation does not. • The concentration requires rest for the mind and body, but meditation is oneness, merging with the Consciousness and there is no mind at all! • Meditation is beyond time, place, etc. It is complete with all dimensions bringing relaxation for the mind, body, and soul. • While concentration is a forced action, meditation happens naturally. It is realizing the being, one’s own being. • Meditation is just the present, beyond all the pasts and all future. In meditation, it is just the happening, witnessing the happening naturally.

Choosing A Meditation

• Go through the list of meditations techniques and try a few of them to identify that which appeals you. • I suggest trying all breathing meditation first as it gives many benefits physically, emotional & mentally. • If you are rushing yourself to learn many forms of meditation, you are missing the point. One should strive for simplicity, not complexity. About Active & Passive Meditation Active Meditation – (Awareness through Movement and Expressive Arts) Active Dynamic Meditation is the process of inner witnessing presence while being engaged in activity. Since Modern men cannot sit down & meditate easily. That’s why active meditation is very important as active meditation is the preparation for passive meditation. To experience the meditative state of self-aware consciousness, we need to disengage completely from our thoughts, stressful ideas about past or future, emotions, and body at every given moment. A lot of time this is difficult, or almost impossible to achieve when the person is mentally, physically and emotionally stressed. Through different activity and body movement such as dance, chaotic or rhythmic breathing techniques, catharsis, expressive body movement, crying, laughter, jumping, shaking, free dance movement, whirling, gibberish, mantra chanting. Active Meditation helps to first release physical, mental or emotional stress, rebalance the mind and clean the body of the many layers of repressed thought, feelings and emotions collected in the body. Free expression of active body action practiced in a well-considered and organized way generally brings about physical, mental & emotional relaxation, which then helps us to prepare the required ground for self-observation and witnessing to happen naturally. As far as the principal goal is concerned, there is no difference between active and passive meditations. The purpose of both is the same – to prepare the body, empty the mind which leads to helping us connect with our inner witnessing presence. Both passive and active states are beautiful. Both has a balancing nature. It is ideal to be active originally so that the passivity is followed naturally. Human mind or body can rest simply if there is an activity. Without any action, there is no need of rest. When used in tandem the active and passive states have a effect which allows for a greater clarity of mind and value from meditation.

Few Characteristics Active Meditation

• In Active meditation, the objective of watching the movements helps people to come out of the negative thoughts that have been gathered during their daily activities. • These negative thoughts will create disturbance in the mind and therefore have to be expelled from the mind. The act of movement helps some to visualize expelling from the body, and therefore the mind. • Through active mediation, the energy is dissipated and channelized properly. This will allow the natural silence and stillness of mind back, thereby improving wellness. • Active meditation is helpful for people who find it tough to sit still and meditate. It is ideal for people who learn to increase awareness through movement and action. Exercise can be a form of active meditation, and is certainly one that many people use. • The movements and physical exercises help to awaken the energy, release it by relaxing the tensed muscles and then making the mind calm. • Active meditation allows us to reclaim the joy of simply being alive as we are and to live the present moment, here and now.

Passive Meditation

Passive meditation is just the opposite of Active one. While the previous techniques are practiced with the help of body movements and actions, passive one is for those who wish to take the time to settle physically. In this technique, the mind is made calm by choosing a silent place, sitting calmly by withdrawing our senses from external objects and concentrating on the self. It is introversion where the focus is to see what is inside. This happens only when the mind is calm. One of the easiest ways of doing passive meditation is to watch the breath. Watching the gap of the breath is also a good technique. Watching the gap between two breaths can give you a good experience of stillness. There are few passive meditation techniques mentioned in this book try all of them see which one you like.