“To understand the immeasurable, the mind must be extraordinarily quiet, still.”

Jiddu Krishnamurti

Meditation is a subtle exercise, and a good instructor acts as a coach in every area, guiding you to your goals and correcting your errors. Many people seek inspiration from meditation books. Hundreds of great meditation books have been published over the years.

Some texts are more instructive, focusing on just what you should do in your meditation session, such as how to sit, relax, and recite mantras, among other things.

When someone is both a good teacher and a skilled writer, their words have the power to change our minds and bring us peace. This is particularly important when we’re going through a stressful time in our lives and our meditation practice doesn’t seem to be helping us relax.

Meditation is an essential part of the Buddha’s teaching. The Buddha was the world’s greatest mediator, and his typical pose, as portrayed in statues and other art, is the cross-legged meditative posture. Deep reflection, reflective observation, and analysis of the mind and the material body – especially the mind with all its illusions – helped him understand the truths he learned.

Meditation can be achieved in three different ways:

• As a Key Activity, Relaxed Meditation (Samatha)

Deep concentration, mental Ataraxia, and ecstasies arise from relaxed meditation. This form of meditation is practiced by a mediator the one who takes tranquillity as his vehicle.

Concentration (samadhi) or “mind focus” on an object or an idea for a prolonged period of time is the basic principle of relaxed meditation. This attention can lead to ecstasies, which can be used as a base for insight meditation (Vipassana), which the Buddha learned and used to attain his final Enlightenment.

• Jhna (ecstasy) is a term used to describe a state of ecstasy.

The word jhna is derived from two roots: jhe, which means “to read, meditate,” and jh, which means “to burn,” according to Pli’s commentators. As a consequence, jhna may refer to either “meditation on an object” or “burning of opposite states”.

The five mental hindrances are the opposite states that oppose concentration: (1) sensory desire, (2) rage, (3) lethargy and drowsiness, (4) restlessness and guilt, (5) doubt.

• Insight Meditation (vipassanā) as a Primary Practice

This form of meditation contributes to an understanding of existence’s three fundamental characteristics: impermanence, misery and non-self. “The one who has insight meditation as his vehicle” (vipassan-ynika), or “the one who practices in bare (pure) insight,” is the name given to the meditator who practices this form of meditation (sukkha-vipassaka).

• Calm and Insight Meditation Combined

This style of meditation integrates both relaxation and insight meditation. As previously stated, while calm meditation produces ecstasies (jhna), which are blissful experiences, it does not lead to Nirvana, absolute liberation and enlightenment. As a result, the meditator must use it in conjunction with insight meditation.

Though meditation can be done on an individual level learning some basic principles and practising pranayama. It is always best to get trained by a person who is already on the path and has gained experience. In every area of life, we seek the guidance of people who are experiencing or role models in the field. In the spiritual path also following someone who is already on the path and has attained a goal will help you achieve your goal.

Praying to the almighty to show you the right Master to follow, will be the right thing to do. May the almighty show us the path and the guide who will lead us to our purpose of life, May it be so.