| Meditation methods are as varied as are people | | | | of the session. |
| who practice them. These methods may vary in | | | | 3. Sound Meditation: This method of meditation |
| their intensity from total silence to group chanting; | | | | involves the use of meditative music or sounds in |
| or vary in their flexibility from a rigidly sitting | | | | the background such as a waterfall, a trickling |
| position to group swaying. There are several | | | | stream, birds singing, or falling rain. Sound |
| methods of meditation for several reasons, and it | | | | meditation is especially beneficial to those people |
| is a known fact that meditation is not a 'one size | | | | who just cannot stand the sound of silence; it |
| fits all'. | | | | makes them feel very uncomfortable. |
| Four Very Basic Methods of Meditation: | | | | 4. Chanting Meditation: This method is mostly used |
| 1. Silent Meditation: This is a mantra-based | | | | by people who practice their meditation in a |
| meditation with the personal mantra repeated in | | | | devotional manner or with chants of gratitude. In |
| silence. It may also be a breath-based meditation | | | | expressing their appreciation to a Power greater |
| focusing on the breath as with a mantra. This | | | | than themselves, their intent is to align their own |
| method of meditation is primarily used by the | | | | will with the will of their God or the Universe. |
| seeker to get in touch with the 'witness' or | | | | Each and every one of the above meditations |
| unchangeable spirit within. | | | | may be done on an individual basis or in group |
| 2. Guided Meditation: This is an audio guided type | | | | settings. The many benefits derived from any of |
| of meditation with the use of some type of audio | | | | these practices all depend on the sincerity of the |
| guidance in a step by step guidance to meditate. | | | | practitioner and the effort put forth. As |
| The guide may be a real person or a | | | | mentioned earlier, when it comes to meditation, |
| pre-recorded audio leading the practitioner into the | | | | there is no such thing as 'one size fits all'. |
| meditation session and also guiding him or her out | | | | Thankfully, there is variety. |