| Have you heard of the many benefits of meditating | | | | some of them. The most commonly known meditation |
| regularly? Meditation methods can give us many | | | | methods include Buddhist meditation and Zen |
| physical and psychological benefits. They can clear our | | | | meditation. You may have heard of a combination of |
| thinking and reduce stress. If you have been practicing | | | | the last two, called Zen Buddhism. This is because Zen |
| meditation methods for some time, you can use it to | | | | meditation is essentially the same as Buddhist |
| think creatively about issues or problems which you | | | | meditation with one added step. These are both very |
| are dealing with. This is an extremely helpful thing to be | | | | quiet and introspective. |
| able to do. | | | | With Buddhist and Zen meditation, it is the breath that |
| If you are interested in starting a meditation practice, | | | | is the primary focus. The feel of your breath entering |
| you may want to look at some of the different | | | | and leaving your body and the way it feels when it fills |
| methods that have been used around the world. You | | | | your lungs. You do not let your mind drift. It remains on |
| will find that you may progress from an easier method | | | | the thoughts and sensations of your breath and ties |
| through to more advanced and challenging methods as | | | | you to your body. With Zen meditation however you |
| you become more experienced. By starting with some | | | | also introduce a specific thought that you concentrate |
| of the more basic methods it builds your confidence in | | | | on as well. It may be something as profound as "what |
| yourself. | | | | is the sound of one hand clapping". In Zen meditation, |
| One thing which you will hear about when setting up a | | | | this thought is called a koan. Some meditation uses a |
| meditation practice is the need for a quiet room or | | | | sound or word such as "ohm" or "ahh" in order to |
| area that is free of distractions. You want to make | | | | provide a mental focus. Breathing is important but |
| sure that nothing prevents you from being able to shut | | | | concentration is focused on the sound you are making. |
| out the world around you and concentrate. Often, it is | | | | The precise meditation method you choose really |
| recommended that you always use the same area in | | | | depends on you and your personality. You should |
| your home to meditate and serious practitioners swear | | | | never choose one because it is trendy or popular. |
| by this. | | | | Instead, you need to find the one that gives you the |
| You may find that once you have started looking into | | | | most relief from stress and the everyday pressure of |
| meditation techniques that you have already heard of | | | | your life. |