Difference Between Active and Passive Meditation and Which is Better to Learn How to Meditate

If you want to learn how to meditate and haveyou into a meditative state is because when you
been doing some research, you may have heardfocus your mind, it slows down, literally. When a
the terms, active meditation and passiveperson meditates or goes into a trance like state,
meditation. If so, perhaps you are wonderinghis or her brain waves slow down to about 10
which one is best for a person who is trying tobets per second. There are four stages of brain
learn how to meditate. Guided meditation is activewaves and at this rate, you are in the alpha state.
meditation, and therefore, may be the right choiceIn the alpha state, the subconscious mind is more
to start your meditation journey.accessible. It is easier to learn and also easier to
The difference between active meditation andrelax. As the brain waves slow down, outside
passive meditation is that in active meditation, thedistractions and thoughts that cause stress are
person meditating uses thoughts and imagery in aminimized. So the goal of meditation, from a
proactive way to stimulate alpha brain wavesphysiological point of view, is to reach the alpha
activity and to keep the conscious mind busy.state.
For instance, in passive meditation the meditatorWhile passively meditating, unless you are an
is just watching thoughts and pictures that mayexperienced meditator, it may take a long time to
come to mind, but in active meditation thereach the alpha state as thoughts and feelings
meditator is picturing or visualizing a specific scenemay keep dragging you back to the beta state of
or image. During a guided meditation, the guide willfull consciousness and alertness. However, when
direct you to picture and imagine different thingsyou use guided meditation, because you are
in order to bring about relaxation and to help youlistening to the guide's voice, following suggestions,
to focus your mind.and using your mind, keeping it busy, it is much
Why should you focus your mind duringeasier to enter the alpha state, so it is much
meditation and how will that help? The reasoneasier to reach the physiological goal of
that guided meditation is so effective at gettingmeditation, the alpha state.