What is meditation?
Cultivating a beneficial state of mind
Meditation can be defined as the intentional practice of cultivating a focused mind with respect to a specific object with the goal of repeatedly attaining a positive mental state.
By cultivating, and habituating ourselves with wholesome mental states, we are then able to apply them to our daily lives, helping to reduce our stress and anxiety, improve our emotional well-being, increase our self-awareness, and enhance warm-heartedness.
Types of meditation
Generally speaking, there are two types of meditation; Focused meditation and analytical meditation.
Focused or single-pointed meditation is a meditation style whereby the meditator focuses their mind single-pointedly on an object such as the breath, a mental image or the mind itself in order to cultivate an awareness that is concentrated and able to remain on its object of focus without distraction.
Analytical or insight meditation is a type of meditation in which the meditator intentionally investigates phenomena for example the destructive emotions, wholesome emotions, the nature of one’s mind, the nature of impermanence and the nature of oneself.
The goal of analytical mediation is to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, and the world around us, to abandon destructive unwanted mental states and to cultivate positive mental states such as wisdom, compassion, love, and tolerance, ultimately achieving a lasting and stable state of inner peace.
Both types of meditation have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, improve mental clarity and focus, and promote one’s overall well-being.
Some meditation practices combine elements of both focused and analytical meditation. At Peaceful Minds, we offer a diverse library of meditation styles that cater to both types of practices, allowing you to choose a meditation technique that suits your needs and preferences at a particular time.
