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RAMAKRISHNA ANANDA

The Two Main Approaches to Meditation

Which type of meditation is best for you?

Meditation is based on the Latin term meditari, meaning to center in your true nature. Meditators use one of two general approaches, both which can bring marvelous experiences of higher awareness. Allow your nature to guide you — pick the one which is easiest for you. Either approach can lead to ecstatic experiences of higher consciousness and the discovery of your true self.

Spiritual Development

Gather or Release

When we meditate, we usually choose one of two general approaches. Either we gather our awareness or we release what is blocking it. Both approaches lead to experiences of atman (soul) and Spirit. In the first process we gather our awareness on a meditation object which represents God. In the second we release the thoughts and feelings which block awareness of higher consciousness.

Both of these approaches calm the mind and heart to allow access to the buddhi (witness consciousness), a beautiful state of peace. We begin to have bliss and sense our oneness with all. This generally leads to soul awareness, discovery of the spirit within. We then experience the atman, our true self, which reveals Spirit everywhere.

  • The two main approaches to meditation are:  1) focusing the mind through gathering the awareness or 2) releasing the obstacles which block awareness
  • The gathering approach:  develop a growing focus on a meditation object which represents Spirit, love and light
  • The releasing approach:  repeatedly release whatever comes into your mind and heart until you are only aware of Spirit
  • Both approaches lead to high spiritual states of buddhi (witness consciousness), peace, bliss and ever-new joy
  • The releasing practice of neti, neti (not this, not this) is a formless meditation. You can find other meditations of this type in the video Guided Formless Meditations

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“Higher consciousness (also called spiritual awareness) is the main component missing in the lives of people. We humans are spiritual beings, enlivened by Spirit. We’d have a much better world if more people discovered the already present Spirit within them.”

— Ramakrishna Ananda

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