Stages of Meditation

There are six stages through which we unfold during meditation practice, which may be experienced sequentially or may be moved through almost instantaneously:

a) Settled Meditation posture
b) Harmonizing the body's life forces
c) Internalization of attention
d) Steady concentration
e) Pure Meditation
f) The Peak Experience

Settled Meditation posture: The ideal posture for mediation practice is an upright, seated position, which is comfortable and relaxed and allows contemplation to proceed without any physical distractions. A seated cross legged posture is suitable, if comfortable. When first sitting be alert with attention flowing into the area between the eyebrows and the higher brain.

Harmonizing the Body's Life forces: If devotional ardor is impelling and an inward flow of attention occurs immediately, the body's vital forces will be regulated naturally, relaxation will become deeper and meditation will proceed smoothly. If this does not happen immediately then there are techniques that can be used which will be helpful in harmonizing life forces and inducing physical relaxation and mental calmness.

Internalization of Attention: When attention is successfully withdrawn from environmental and physical circumstances and turned back to the higher brain centers, internalization occurs, allowing concentration and contemplation to be easily experienced. Mental transformations and mood swings may continue for duration, but these will be quieted and transcended as meditation progresses.

Steady Concentration: Concentration is steady when attention flows without interruption to the focus of contemplation.

Pure Meditation: When concentration flows effortlessly to the focus of contemplation, pure mediation is experienced. All the stages that occur prior to this stage is preliminary and preparatory. Meditation is now being perfectly experienced at this stage and results will spontaneously follow.

The Peak Experience: Upon awakening to the clearest level of awareness possible during the meditation episode, which us the peak experience for that session, one should remain in it for as long it is comfortable and compelling. This is the stage during which the highest benefits are actualized. The deep relaxation and mental calmness influence body and mind in constructive ways.

If you are one of the fortunate few who experience spontaneous mediation when you turn your attention to the process, you need not use mediation techniques except for special occasions when mediation does not occur easily. Meditation techniques are practical tools to use when needed. When the purpose of using a mediation technique has been served it can be discarded.

If you have a religious orientation prayer can be a direct approach to mediation practice.

Whatever your approach to meditation, have no anxiety of the outcome. Anxiety causes stress and this interferes with the mediation process. Use any preliminary process you find helpful to internalize your attention, then let the results happen naturally. Another practice to be used when you first sit or whenever you need to collect your thoughts and center yourself is that of watching the natural flow of breathing. For this be still and let the body breathe. Doing this can induce relaxation as well as easily remove your attention from involvements with outer conditions and mental and emotional states.