By George A. Boyd © 2005
Purpose |
Types of Meditation |
(1) Sensory enhancement and greater self awareness |
Vipassana, mindfulness, Zen |
(2) Relaxation and stress reduction |
Relaxing into the Self, Watching the Breath and
other Pranayama techniques, Hatha Yoga |
(3) Character reformation |
Introspection, monitoring thoughts, words and
deeds, prayer, Dharma Yoga |
(4) Personal insight and self understanding |
Reflection and disidentification, Jnana Yoga techniques
(chords one through four), contemplation of each vehicle of consciousness
of the Conscious, Subconscious and Metaconscious minds and their
centers |
(5) Personal empowerment |
Contemplation of the will, study of martial arts,
self-discipline through pursuit of a life passion (e.g., athletic,
artistic, scientific, business success), centering techniques that
allow you to gain union with the Self |
(6) Psychic sensitivity |
Contemplation of the attentional principle (Purusa
Dhyan), Raja Yoga, contemplation of the centers of the astral body
and the vehicle of consciousness on the Psychic Realm |
(7) Achievement of personal dreams |
Self-hypnosis, affirmation, prayer, self-discipline
and study |
(8) Gaining wisdom and spiritual discernment |
Jnana Yoga techniques (chords five through seven),
contemplation of each vehicle of consciousness of the Superconscious
mind and its centers, contemplating the ensouling entity (Atma Dhyan) |
(9) Awakening the abilities or powers (siddhis)
of the Superconscious mind |
Contemplation of each vehicle of consciousness
of the Superconscious mind and its centers, Kundalini Yoga, Agni
Yoga |
(10) Awakening the spiritual heart and traveling
back to its Source |
Contemplation of the spirit (Surat Dhyan), Nada
Yoga |
(11) Unfolding the spiritual evolutionary potentials
of the ensouling entity and its vehicles of consciousness |
Mantra Yoga (using a transformational mantra),
Guru Kripa Yoga or Light Immersion, and in specific bands of the
Great Continuum of Consciousness, Kriya Yoga (Cosmic and Supracosmic),
and Nada Yoga (Transcendental) |
(12) Gaining union of the attention with the Divine
(Ishta Devata Laya Yoga) |
Chanting, ecstatic breathing, Kundalini Yoga |
(13) Gaining union of the spirit with the Divine |
Nada Yoga, contemplation of the guide upon the
Nadamic path (Guru Dhyan meditation) |
(14) Gaining union of the ensouling entity with
the Divine |
Mantra Yoga (using a transformational mantra),
Guru Kripa Yoga or Light Immersion, and in specific bands of the
Great Continuum of Consciousness, Kriya Yoga (Cosmic and Supracosmic)
and Nada Yoga (Transcendental) |
Purpose (1) through (7) are meditation objectives of
the personal zone. We highlight these meditations in the Stress Reduction
Workshop and the Introduction to Meditation Workshop.
Purpose (8) though (14) are meditations of the transpersonal
zone. We teach these meditations in the Accelerated
Meditation Program, the Mudrashram® Master
Course in Meditation, the Satsang
Program Home Study Course, and the Mudrashram®
Advanced Course in Meditation.
In two programs, we teach both personal and transpersonal
zone meditations: the Accelerated Meditation Program and the Mudrashram®
Master Course in Meditation. These provide the broadest instruction in
meditation, and are suggested for those who wish to gain a strong foundation
in the many uses of meditation.
We recognize that you may approach meditation for different
purposes. For this reason, the Integral meditation system we teach includes
instruction into techniques that allow you to accomplish those aims that
are important to you. Moreover, understanding the particular objective
you wish to accomplish will enable you to identify what to target in a
meditation consultation.
We encourage you to study these purposes of meditation
and to identify those that are relevant for your own life and goals. Then
you may begin to acquire the attentional skills to permit you to accomplish
them.