How to Compare Meditation Techniques

Sarah Kalvin, at Calm Awareness, explains the purpose of meditation as the method by which we find our center in "calm awareness and inspired intuition." Meditation requires focus and attention to reach this center.

There are many styles and traditions of meditation. Adam Chalker at Personal Growth Resources employs four categories to compare the many styles of meditation. In order of difficulty they are:

1) Basic Breath Mindfulness Meditation

2) Loving-Kindness Meditation

3) Heartmath

4) Natural Meditation

Instructions

Comparing the Four Types of Meditation

• 1

  Step 1 - Compare the level of difficulty.

  • Breath Mindfulness is the simplest to learn and the easiest to practice.

  • Loving-Kindness is simple to learn but requires a level of emotional clarity and discipline. Loving-Kindness incorporates and adds to Breath Mindfulness Meditation.

  • Heartmath has many steps, but is not difficult to practice once you have learned the steps.

  • Natural Meditation requires a great deal of mental discipline and patience.

  • All four require dedication to receive optimal results.

• 2

  Step 2 - Compare the potential benefits.

  • Breath Mindfulness provides benefit over time as personal practice increases and improves.

  • Loving-Kindness provides some immediate benefits and some that increase with time.

  • Heartmath provides techniques that are useful in a variety of situations as well as the long term benefits of meditation.

  • Natural Meditation is renowned for both its personal development and spiritual benefits.

• 3

  Step 3 - Compare the resources required.

  • Breath Mindfulness requires only time and a quiet place to sit.

  • Loving-Kindness requires only time and a quiet place to sit.

  • Heartmath requires the book "The Heartmath Solution" or Heartmath instruction. Heartmath also has a number of computer and handheld devices that can assist your meditative practice. These additional items are optional.

  • Natural Meditation requires only time and a quiet place to sit.

• 4

  Step 4 - Compare the flexibility of application.

  • Breath Mindfulness requires a quiet place and time to reach an effective level.

  • Loving-Kindness requires a quiet place and time to reach an effective level.

  • Heartmath can be practiced anywhere in a matter of seconds once it is mastered.

  • Natural Meditation requires a quiet place and time to reach an effective level.

  • They each provide on-going shifts in health, perception and world view.