Meditation does not have to be elusive. Although Zen Buddhists practice a particular form of meditation, there are many different forms of meditation…and the purpose of all of these is the same: to quiet the mind. By quieting the mind, you can begin to notice the world around you in a different way. You are able to “see” the world without the mind’s constant commentary on what you are seeing. This may sound trivial, but I assure you, it is a wondrous experience…an experience of life itself, of living itself.

So here’s a quick overview of the different forms of meditation, beginning with Zen Buddhist meditation techniques.

Zen Meditation

Zen Meditation comes in two primary forms: contemplation and emptiness. The mind that contemplates a trivial or unimportant question can sometimes silence itself in the process. This is what the strange and wonderful Zen Koans are designed to do…set your mind into a light contemplative state to explore the meaning of the universe within a single question. This reflects the Zen philosophy that the entire universe can be seen in a single leaf of a tree.

The second type of Zen Meditation is to completely empty the mind. This is a form of meditation that eludes most people, since the mind-chatter is constant and almost impossible to remove completely. For those who find it difficult to empty the mind completely, a mantra meditation might be a good method to try.

Mantra Meditation and Transcendental Meditation

A common form of mediation is to focus on a mantra…which can be a single sound or an entire phrase. Like the contemplation of a Zen Koan, the mantra meditation strives to focus your mind on a single thing…thus bringing the chatter down to a minimum. The mantra method also incorporates other meditative tools, including toning or vibrational forces (by using your voice to say the mantra) and positive affirmation, by repeating the mantra phrase over and over. In these ways, it’s different than the Zen Koan meditation.

Meditative Activities, The Meditation Zone

Meditation can also be accomplished through activity that puts you into a meditative “zone” or state. This is perhaps the easiest way for westerners to practice meditation, since the West is familiar with getting “into the zone” with sports, music, and other activities. If you really experience the “zone” when you jog or play an instrument or paint or cook…then you are truly meditating. You are quieting the mind and focusing on one thing.