Before you jump into the warm waters of meditation, there are a few things you should consider first. Reading this article will help you better understand what meditation is all about.
Meditation can be broken down into many levels. Each level has its own set of benefits and requires a different approach in order to receive the benefits. Some basic meditation levels include focused attention, expanded awareness, individual relaxation, and insight.
Everyone begins their meditation journey with one of these levels, but not everyone meditates the same way. The purpose of this article is to give you an idea as to how each type of meditation is used and some tips on how to start your own personal meditation journey.
The second type of meditation you will find that most individuals meditate at this level is ‘Focused Attention’. This is the ‘open’ meditation level and is the most commonly used meditation practice. At this level, your body and mind become fully aware of the moment.
This level of meditation requires that you close all your eyes but still remain aware of the surroundings. Focus on the sensations in your body instead of on the outside world. Focus on the body as it moves and feels as it normally would – when it has been affected by a certain event, for example.
The third type of meditation is called ‘Expanded Awareness’ and this is the relaxation level. This is where you open your senses up and allow your mind to take a vacation from the cares of the world. The more relaxed you become, the better you will become at the meditation. At this level, your mental state is completely relaxed.
The fourth level of meditation is called ‘Individual Relaxation’ and the only time that you are allowed to really relax is when you are meditating. When you feel the tension in your body or mind becoming too much, take a break from the mediation and allow yourself to be completely comfortable. At this point, you will learn that being completely comfortable is a sign of your own success.
The fifth level of meditation is called ‘Seen and Unseen’ and this is the type of meditation that teaches you how to be a bit detached from the everyday events that happen around you. For example, you may be walking down the street, and you see an attractive woman.
You then proceed to talk to her, buy her a drink, and perhaps even give her a small peck on the cheek. Then you realize that you may have been attracted to the beautiful woman and even had butterflies in your stomach at the same time. So while you were speaking to the beautiful woman, you had forgotten about your problems in the present.
Your deep breath and focus momentarily leave the ‘unseen’ situations and your body and mind go back to be fully alert and attentive. As a result, you may discover that you have become happier, calmer, and generally happier. In fact, you probably have a greater awareness of the world around you.
The great thing about meditation is that once you are familiar with the benefits of it, you can always expand your awareness further. If you’ve been interested in learning more about meditation, keep reading, and you’ll learn how to grow in this way!
