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WHAT IS MEDITATION ANYWAY?

What is meditation anyway?
Here are some definitions that might put different practices and activities into some context. If you have terms to ask about or different definitions to offer, send to Ray

First, here's an amazing diagram that shows the relation between many different forms of meditation, or what they call "contemplation"



DEFINITIONS (...a work in perpetual progress)

asana
the Indian word for a body posture, such as padma-asana, the lotus posture


bodhisattva
in Buddhist teaching, a being who turns back from full Awakening to serve all beings


chanting
  • a contemplative practice which builds on repetitive silent or verbalized recitation of a formula phrase, such as om namu amida butsu, maranta, om mane padme hum, hail Mary full of grace, and hundreds more
  • also called mantra, kirtan or, recitation practice
  • sometimes combined with visualizations
contemplation
  • a varied collection of practices whose purpose is to facilitate reflection and insight and its expression, 
  • the act of reflection or attending to the activities of body, breath and mind

insight
another name for vipassana, see below)

karuna
the Buddhist term for compassion

kinhin 
the Japanese word for formal, indoor walking practice

ki
the East Asian term for the fundamental energy of the universe, also chee or chi


kirtan
see chanting above


mantra
see chanting above

meditation
there are so many styles, forms and contexts, we hesitate to offer any one definition;
Asian practices distinguishe a division between concentration and awareness, or inwardly VS outwardly; 
suggestions welcome

metta
the Buddhist term for loving kindness

mindfulness
Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally, (from Jon Kabat-Zinn);

tanden
the energy centre of the body, located between the hips, below the navel; also tantian
 or hara
vipassana

yoga
1.  the theory and practice of body-mind development established by ancient Indian masters and taught all over the world
2. a way to awakening, such as bhakti-yoga, the way of devotion


zen
  • a style of Buddhist meditation, also known as Chan, Dhyana or Son
  • 2 main schools - sudden(Rinzai) and gradual (Soto)
  • teaches that enlightenment comes most effectively, but not exclusively, through intense meditation practice.

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