ABSTRACT

There are almost as many different types of concentrative meditations as there are spiritual disciplines. The “object of meditation” can be located in either the external or internal environment. During the act of meditation an attempt is made to be directly aware of the object in a non-analytical way rather than indirectly, via thought. Some meditation techniques integrate elements of both concentrative and opening-up types. Informal meditation is practiced throughout the day, in no specified posture or specified place. It involves an attempt to be conscious of everything that one does, to attend very closely to one’s everyday actions, without judging or evaluating. Meditation was originally conceived within the religious philosophical context of Eastern spiritual disciplines. Literature on meditation as altered state suggests that meditation may provide individuals with a new sense of meaning and purpose, a new perspective on personal reality. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.