Best Ways To Meditate?

[Ether]

I do mindfulness meditation, and even doe i know its not the objective, i look for a silent mind. What are some other forms of meditation?

[Shin]

Just close your eyes and focus on your breath, when you're very still, just focus on your own presence.
If you start to think, focus on your breath again, then on your presence again.

You don't necessarily need to focus on your breath, but if you're starting with meditation, I would suggest not to bypass this stage.
If you see that you can't stay in the presence stage for more than 10 seconds, stay at the breathing stage.

Silent mind meditation are extremely frustrating to "newbies", so unless you have some serious experience and stillness already, I wouldn't recommand it.

Edited April 9, 2017 by Shin

[Toby]

Isn't the Mooji guy somewhere in Portugal? Maybe you could check him out. His master's teaching of being still is the most direct teaching to the silent mind.

[Ether]

3 hours ago, Shin said:

Just close your eyes and focus on your breath, when you're very still, just focus on your own presence.
If you start to think, focus on your breath again, then on your presence again.

You don't necessarily need to focus on your breath, but if you're starting with meditation, I would suggest not to bypass this stage.
If you see that you can't stay in the presence stage for more than 10 seconds, stay at the breathing stage.

Silent mind meditation are extremely frustrating to "newbies", so unless you have some serious experience and stillness already, I wouldn't recommand it.

Thats the one I do. I can go without thinking sometimes for 8\9 seconds.. I might join a meditation group

[pluto]

Still think its the best and don't think it could be explained better or in a more simple manner.

 

[Wyatt]

There are 3 Main Classifications of Meditation:
1. Focused Attention 
2. Open Monitoring 
3. Effortless Presence

Here's a long list of the types of meditation and a short bio of their characteristics:

Open Monitoring Meditation:
All perceptions, whether they be internal (thoughts, feelings, memory, etc.) or external (sound, smell, touch, etc.) are recognized and seen as only perceptions

Focused Attention Meditation:
Focusing your attention on a single object during the whole meditation session.

Effortless Presence Meditation:
The attention is not focused on anything in particular, but reposes on itself

Zen Meditation:
Keep back upright while seated.
2 different objectives:
1. Focus on breath, counting backwards from 10 constantly. (Focused Attention Meditation)
2. Shikantaza: Remain as much as possible in the present moment, aware and observing what passes through their minds and around them without dwelling on anything in particular. (Effortless Presence Meditation)

Vipassana Meditation:
Means "insight" or "clear seeing." Focus very intently on all aspects of the breath. You will notice that other bodily sensations begin to appear, but keep them as background noise. When other thoughts beyond the breath arise, note them as: 
-thinking
-memory
-Any of the 5 sensations
-desiring
Note specific sensations (knee pain, motorcycle engine noise, etc) only in those 4 categories.
3 Marks of existence:
-Impermanence
-Insatisfactoriness
-Emptiness of Self

Mindfulness Meditation:
Paying close attention to the current moment and paying attention to the sensations, thoughts, and emotions that arise. There's a big difference between being inside a thought/sensation, and simply being aware of its presence. Must also be practiced in real-life: while walking, talking, eating, thinking, etc.

Loving Kindness Meditation (Metta Meditation):
Sit down and mentally express a sense of loving-kindness towards: Oneself, friends, strangers, enemies, other life, and non-living objects. Wishing happiness and well-being for all.
Benefits: increased empathy, increased compassion, increased self-acceptance, increased feeling of purpose in life. Can treat problems with anger.

Mantra meditation:
While sitting, repeat a mantra throughout the meditation. This creates a mental vibration that helps release our minds from the ego's thoughts. May be easier to focus on the mantra than breathing. Practice repeating the mantra during non-meditative times

Third Eye Meditation:
Focus on the spot between the eyebrows, and keep the attention focused there. Increases control over thoughts

Chakra Meditation:
Focus on specific parts of the body while practicing mantra meditation

Gazing Meditation:
Watching an object intently for a long period of time, then closing your eyes and imagining the image.

Kundalini Meditation:
Complex, requires more reading

Kriya Yoga:
Following the teachings of Paramahamsa Yogananda. More on the spiritual side of enlightenment.

Sound Meditation:
Focus specifically on external and internal sounds. Advanced levels get to the "Ultimate Sound," which usually manifests an "OM"

Tantra:
Vijnanabhairava Tantra- 108 meditative techniques. More advanced techniques.

Pranayama:
4in-4hold-4out-4hold technique with the breathe. Used for focus.

Self-Inquiry/ "I Am" Meditation:
Finding out who the true "I" is, yhou need to ask yourself "who am I?" Soon, you will realize that all the labels you put on yourself are only beliefs, and the real you is pure presence. This is pure existence with awareness. Intermeidate technique, use Mooji's guided meditation.

Emptiness Meditation:
Allow all sensations and thoughts to arise without reacting to them or following them.

Neiguan:
Visualizing inside one's body and mind, includingh the organs and thought processes. Good book or teacher is required.

Qigong:
A body-mind exercise for health, meditation and martial arts. Thousands of different exercises. Inlcudes Tai Chi, gets the body involved.

"Sitting with God":
A silent meditation in which the focus of the mind, heart and soul are on the presence of god

Guided Meditation:
-Imagery
-Relaxation
-Affirmations
-Binaural Beats