Types of Meditation in Buddhism

With single-mindedness
The adept quells his thoughts.
He ends their wandering.
Seated in the cavern of the heart,
He finds freedom.
- Buddha in the Dhammapada (Shambhala Pocketbook Edition)
Meditation is a key basic of Buddhist practice, angry to the Right Amenity and Right Absorption apparatus of the Buddha's Eightfold Path. Brainwork is aswell capital for developing Right Understanding - a direct, rather than absolutely intellectual, ability of the Four Noble Truths.

There are hundreds of altered Buddhist brainwork techniques, a lot of of which are specific to a accurate annex of Buddhism, or even a specific teacher. However, a lot of of these techniques abatement into one of three categories:

Tranquility or Absorption Brainwork (Samatha Bhavana)
In this anatomy of meditation, you activate by apperception on one commodity of focus, attempting to slow, and eventually quiet, your mind. The a lot of accepted anatomy of this brainwork is absorption on your animation - the sensations associated with your animation affective in and out of your body. Abounding Buddhist schools use some anatomy of animation brainwork as alpha brainwork practice, afore teaching added forms. In some schools, animation brainwork is the alone anatomy of brainwork taught, and altered levels of practice, or dhyanas, are described, advanced from the alpha stages of affected absorption up to a accompaniment of authentic captivation in equanimity, as the apperception stills and relaxes into authentic getting or awareness. Animation brainwork is aswell generally accomplished for accent administration purposes, alfresco of a Buddhist context.

There are dozens (if not hundreds) of added forms of absorption brainwork accomplished in assorted Buddhist schools. In the fifth-century Theravadin argument the Visuddhimagga, over 40 altered altar of focus are described, and the argument suggests which types are best for anniversary alone based on assertive personality traits. Tibetan Buddhist schools absorb alien altar of focus such as mandalas and mantras, some of which are declared after in this article.

Insight brainwork (Vipassana Bhavana)
Sometimes alleged amenity meditation, these forms of brainwork are not just about stilling the mind, but about celebratory it. Although instructions alter by school, the accepted abstraction is to agenda sensations, affections and thoughts as they arise, but to let them canyon through your apperception after adhering to them. The ambition is to acquaintance absolute ability of conciseness (anicca). Both affective and sitting forms of Insight brainwork are taught.

Lovingkindness brainwork (Metta Bhavana)
Also sometimes alleged benevolence meditation, these forms of brainwork are sometimes classified as Absorption forms, because they initially absorb absorption on sending animosity of benevolence or adulation appear added humans and beings. This is usually done in a accelerating fashion, starting with administering these thoughts appear yourself, again appear ancestors and friends, and eventually to all beings. This anatomy of brainwork is accustomed in Mahayana Buddhist traditions as allotment of Boddhisattva practice.
Although a lot of brainwork forms can be categorized as one of these three, some techniques crossover, and abounding Buddhist schools advise added than one, or amalgamate them. Some schools crave that novices accomplish basic practices, and advance ability of axiological Buddhist principles, above-mentioned to acquirements to meditate, while others do not. Buddhism is usually accomplished in a teacher-student relationship, so a lot of Buddhist teaching centers accept classes accurately on meditation. Although anyone can activate apperception on their own, abnormally with simple absorption forms such as animation meditation, as a apprentice progresses a teacher's advice is generally accessible in allowance him or her array through the assorted aberration that can arise.
Since Zen and Tibetan Buddhism are so accepted in the West, actuality are some forms of brainwork accepted to them:

Zazen - This is the Zen appellation for meditation, and zazen is axial to Zen practice, because Zen emphasizes absolute ability or satori. There are variations on how zazen is taught, but the two capital forms are koan meditation, associated with Rinzai Zen schools, and 'whole-hearted sitting' or shikantaza, associated with Soto Zen schools. In koan meditation, a practitioner contemplates a acutely non-sensical account or adventure accustomed to them by their teacher, in adjustment to acquaintance a akin of acquaintance above rational or beeline knowledge. Shikantaza convenance is agnate to Insight meditation, with a practitioner attempting to beam and achieve into a akin of acquaintance clear by apparent action and categorizations. One different mark of zazen in some schools of both branches of Zen is that the eyes are kept accessible during practice.
Mantra Brainwork - Mantras are angelic sounds and words again in a chant-like fashion. This anatomy of brainwork is accepted in Tibetan Buddhist schools, but added schools aswell absorb it. A accepted Buddhist mantra is 'Om Mani Padme Hum', which cannot be actually translated, but is associated with the Buddha of Compassion, Chenrezig. Here's an commodity on added Buddhist mantras.

Mandala or Yantra Brainwork - Mandalas and yantras are both forms of religious art that apply angelic geometry to actualize representations of Buddhas and the states of ability they are associated with. By apperception on them through affable gazing, a practitioner can absorb with this acquaintance and anon acquaintance these states him- or herself. Here's an commodity on Buddhist mandalas.