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Unlock the Secrets of Ancient Meditation Technique

Prakash CVS
Unlock the Secrets of Ancient Meditation Technique

Humans have been on this planet for thousands of years, but meditation is also an activity that is much old. We see across cultures, geographies and times in history that meditation has been used to improve physical health, mental wellbeing and social wellness. Irrespective of the type of meditation, meditation practice has been considered to be an effective technique for improvement

This is because the human brain has not evolved much over the years, so the ways in which human brain can be fine-tuned towards improvement remains the same i.e. meditation. Ancient meditation techniques are also an aggregation of years of wisdom, lessons and insights that have been gained from masters of meditation. So when you follow guided meditation to achieve mindfulness, you are attaining inner peace based on generational spiritual insight.

In this article, we aim to explore this generational wisdom and spiritual insight, by talking about root of meditation in ancient human culture and techniques that have taken hundreds of years to develop

What is Meditation? A Brief Overview

To meditate is to clear your mind or focus your mind by using varying techniques that are physical and mental. Physical techniques include breathing exercises, body posture, walking pace etc. while mental techniques include mantra, Vipassana, transcendence, tantric meditation etc. Regardless of the form of meditation technique you use, main goal is to clear your mind and make it more focused, which by design helps you overcome anxieties and depressive thoughts

Meditation: A Journey Inward for Mental Clarity and Tranquility

There is a term known as meditative stillness, which outlines the basic Buddha teachings around meditation. It means to attain a stillness in body and mind when all thoughts have been stopped, cessation of emotions has occurred and you are simply you. No distractions, intrusions or outside noise to create a barrier for you to understand yourself.

Although, it may seem complicated at first, but as you practice Buddhist meditation as a beginner and go on to routinely following different types of meditation, you will realise that you are in-tuned with yourself and now known yourself better than when you started.

The Benefits of Meditation: From Stress Reduction to Increased Focus

Ancient meditation techniques to get to know yourself better may sound too complex to follow. But, an easier path to tread on as a beginner are the physical and mental health benefits of best meditation practices. It can alleviate stress, help you attain loving kindness, mindfulness, clarity of thought, spirituality and meditation is often correlated with reduction of anxiety and depression.

The Ancient Roots of Meditation Techniques

The ancient practice of meditation is rooted in a deeply spiritual, cultural and religious understanding of meditation as a tool to get out of this world and closer to self and universe, and at large getting to know the real truth of this universe. It is a powerful tool that helps one gain insight, feel correlated to the universe and self-improve through reflection and assessment. The history of ancient meditation techniques is also rich and complex

Tracing the Origins: From the Himalayas to the Modern World

The earliest knowledge of meditation documented comes from 1500 BC from ancient Hindu tradition of Vendantism. Vedanta as a philosophy teaches one to meditate on a lesson until they find the truth. Through contemplation, one attains consciousness of the truth

In 500 BC, we get first documentation of meditation from Buddhist origins. Near Tibetan area and in Taoist China, meditative techniques have been found to gain knowledge, concentration, salvation and liberation from earthly duties and body. By 100 BC, we also see written manuals for meditation, like the Bhagavad Gita, which details philosophy of yoga and practical insights into meditation

Next major development occurs in 3rd century AD, when the Silk Route in Asia helped in exchange of ideas. Plotinus in Greece is said to have developed Christian meditation techniques, while discovery of Zen meditation and development as a meditative practice was done by 8th century AD

From 8th century onwards into modern history, numerous scholars and teachers developed meditation. Buddhism sensation, visualization, mantra meditation, body scan meditation and numerous other types were developed. In modern history, we also see gurus like Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who set the basis for transcendental meditation, which has become the most popular and complex meditation technique for yogis today.

Fun Fact: Did You Know Meditation is Over 5,000 Years Old?

Yes, meditation can be traced back to 5000 years into human history, albeit it wasn’t as developed and finely constructed as we see today. Meditation was still a practice of the yogis, whose knowledge was used as guidance for the people. It is only in modern history of meditation that we see mindfulness and meditation as a tool of wellness.

The 7 Different Types of Meditation Techniques (Ancient)

Ancient meditation techniques are too many and too complicated. Therefore, we have listed down the oldest and most complex meditation program in a manner that is easy to understand and follow

Vipassana: The Oldest Buddhist Meditation (With a 2,500-Year History)

Mindfulness meditation and vipassana meditation are interchangeable types of meditation techniques, as they involve more or less the same practice. In vipassana meditation, your spiritual practice entails an observation of self. You sit down in meditative practice to observe inner self, the thoughts that fill your brain and emotions that flow from one to another. It helps to

Transcendental Meditation: The Vedic Practice That’s Taken Hollywood by Storm

Although, transcendental meditation has roots in the Hindu tradition, but it is largely considered to be non-religious. This is why, it has become quite famous across actors, directors and influencers. Transcendental meditation is also a kind of mantra meditation style, as it requires you to repeat a mantra multiple times to reach a transcendent state. It helps to:

Zen Meditation: The Japanese Art of Finding Enlightenment

Zen meditation is a type of Buddhist meditation that has roots in Ancient Chinese teachings of Zazen. It is a sort of monitoring meditation, where recurring and continuous activities are conducted to get rid of excessive thoughts and focus the brain one thing. It helps to:

Kundalini Meditation: Awaken Your Chakras and Inner Energy

In this practice of meditation, views suggest that an energy center lies on the base of the spine, which through yoga can be made free flowing throughout the body. Indian texts highlight the process of releasing energy as a way of creating communication between mind and body. It helps to:

Loving-Kindness Meditation: Cultivate Compassion and Self-Love

A mindfulness meditation technique of living kindness is based on compassion to the self. Different meditation techniques focus on self-realization, but this technique can bring focus towards becoming a better person to others as well. Ancient Indian loving-kindness meditation is a practice that helps to:

Chakra Meditation: Unblock Your Spiritual Energy Centers

Related to the Kundalini meditation, chakra meditation believes that there are 7 energy centers in the body; Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third eye and Crown. The energies of one chakra resonate with certain special properties, which through meditative practice can be made free flowing. It helps to:

Sound Meditation: Harness the Power of Vibrations and Mantras

In mindfulness, you can use external tools to bring about a deeper inner realization. Sound meditation simply used sounds as a tool to foster deep relaxation, focus and concentration. Several different types of sounds can be used from background music to repetitive ringing, based on your personal preference. It helps to:

How These Ancient Techniques Can Transform Your Life

Stress Relief and Anxiety Reduction: The Calming Effects of Meditation

Meditation can help in reduction of anxiety and stress, as you learn to self-reflect, concentrate and focus. As you practice Buddhist meditation practice of mindfulness, you learn to get rid of external anxieties with each breathing meditation.

Improved Focus and Concentration: Unlock Your Productivity Potential

Focused attention meditation often helps in attaining greater mind control over intrusive thoughts and emotions, thereby making you better at concentrating and focusing. There are many different types of meditation that can help in improving focus and concentration.

Emotional Intelligence and Self-Awareness: Understand Yourself Better

Each one of us has a mental image of ourselves, but insight meditation often helps you meet the true you. As you get to know yourself better, meditation helps in spiritual attainment

Meditation Statistics That Will Blow Your Mind

[Infographic/Table] The Rising Popularity of Meditation Worldwide

Globally, statistics show a rising popularity of various spiritual meditation techniques. The infographic shows 6% of the global population meditates, while popular forms of meditation are transcendental and mindfulness meditation

[Data Visualization] The Scientific Benefits of Meditation, Backed by Research

There has been numerous research on various meditation techniques and their benefits. Some findings are:

Getting Started with Ancient Meditation Techniques

There are various types of meditations, like Taoist meditation, walking meditation, breathing techniques to support spiritual meditation and numerous other popular forms of meditation. As a beginner, this can be confusing and complicated for you, so here are a few tips and tricks to get you started

Tips for Beginners: How to Incorporate Meditation into Your Daily Routine

Guided Meditation Resources: Apps, Videos, and Classes to Get You Started

Discover Your Ideal Meditation Style

Take Our Quiz: Find the Ancient Technique That Suits You Best

In order to pick a meditation style that suits you best, we have set up a list of questions for you

S. No.Questions
1After a long and busy day, how do you relax?
2What do you expect meditation to help you feel?
3If you had more time in the day, how would you like to spend it?
4How often do you meditate?
5What would like meditation to help you most with?
6If you could, what place would you choose for a wellness retreat?

Depending on your answers for these questions, you can choose your style. Answers to these question are represented as:

Types of Meditation Used in the Headspace App

The headspace app is great for meditation techniques that put energy indward during meditation and visualization techniques that bring calm to spiritual health. The two main types of meditations that the headspace app uses are:

Final Thoughts: Unlocking the Wisdom of the Ages through Meditation

Meditation is an ancient technique that contains the wisdom of generations of Buddhist and Hindu teachers, as well as cultural elements of the ach region that it entered into. From the Middle East to Europe, some interpretation of these meditative techniques can be seen. Although, changed through times and ages, the core of meditation principles remain the same.

It helps you connect to a being that is larger than the sum of all creation. It helps you align your interests to the reality of this universe. It helps you revisit hurtful memories, happy instances and moments of stress, making you a better person in the process.

FAQ’s:

Q. What is the oldest form of meditation?

Vipassana meditation is the oldest meditation that was taught years ago and was taught in spiritual schools in ancient India

Q. What is the tantric method of meditation?

It uses external tools to help you meditate, like visualization of colors or sound, or even breath

Q. What are the 7 steps of Tantra?

  1. Spiritual tourist
  2. Devotee
  3. Disciple
  4. Adept
  5. Initiate
  6. Siddha
  7. Jivan mukta

Q. How do you meditate like the ancients?

Buddha more than 2500 years ago used to meditate in styles that are today known as Vipassana meditation or Metta meditation.

Q. What meditation technique did Buddha teach?

Meditation is Buddhism can be traced back to the teachings of the Buddha, which have set the Vipassana meditation style today

Q. Ancient texts on Meditation Techniques?

Ancient meditation technique aims to help you reach a deep state of relaxation, for which different meditation techniques have been found in the oldest written texts on Buddhism and yoga. A few of these texts are:

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