Stabilizing versus Analytical Guided Meditation

There are two different ways that people can exercise when meditating. Stabilizing guided meditation is a form of guided meditation where the person meditating repeats one word or phase over and over again. Analytical guided meditation uses the same repetition of one word but has the user focus on the word that is being repeated. The user is then advised to focus on all things that relate to this word. The method that is preferred by many guided meditation groups and instructors is the analytical method of guided meditation. These types of guided meditation is usually preferred over stabilizing because it makes the user focus on the word and develop complete thoughts instead of performing the mindless chant of a single word. Stabilizing guided meditation is still a method of guided meditation that is used by many people in order to relieve stress, however, analytical guided meditation has gained more popularity in the guided meditation field than the stabilizing method.

In order to use the stabilizing method of guided meditation, a person should first sit comfortably in their normal guided meditation position. This should be a sitting position and generally involved the crossing of the legs and relaxing on the muscles. However, the spine should stay relatively straight in whatever position the person chooses to sit in. The person should sit with eyes closed in a normal meditative state of mind. The person will then repeat a word or phrase such as “peace”. Another way to perform stabilizing guided meditation is to perform an action over and over again instead of repeating a phrase or at the same time as repeating the phrase. This repetitive action can be whatever the person may feel comfortable performing. One of the most popular actions that are used with stabilizing guided meditation may be yantra. Yantra is the simple gazing at an object, such as a picture of a deity, the flame of a candle or the symbol for OM. The stabilizing method of guided meditation may help a person to relax or escape from the world but may not be recommended by many instructors and guides for a true guided meditation experience. One of the main reasons that stabilizing guided meditation is not endorsed by many guided meditation guides is that the person meditating does not get a full grasp of the word that is being repeated. If the person repeats the word “peace” while meditating in a stabilizing form of exercise, he or she is not focusing on the word’s meaning but is focusing on going into a mindless state.

The use of analytical guided meditation, however, forces the person to explore the meaning of the word that is being repeated. In analytical guided meditation, the person is also told to sit comfortably in a normal guided meditation position. The person is then asked to start repeating a word. The person starts to obtain the meditative state inside the mind; he or she should start concentrating on the actual meaning of the word that is being repeated. If the word “peace” is being used in an analytical guided meditation session, the person meditating may start to focus on the word peace, all of its meanings and how it relates to life in general. The person’s thoughts may flow from “peace” to the “things that bring me peace”. These thoughts can include memories of pleasant times such as Ferris wheels, swimming or playing as a child. With enough time and enough connection to the higher mind, the person experiencing the analytical guided meditation session and using the word “peace” may soon relate all things in the universe. This revelation of thought and continued deeper thinking can bring about life revelations or a feeling of peace about he world.

Although the stabilizing method and analytical method of guided meditation may seem similar, they can bring about very different results. Stabilizing guided meditation can allow a person to slip into a blank mind without thought, which can be peaceful. However, the analytical method of guided meditation can bring a person related thoughts, which can peace together solutions to problems and bring inner peace and truth. A person should examine what he or she wants to achieve with the meditative session before choosing which type of method to perform. Both methods may be good at allowing the guided meditation person to feel peaceful and quiet, but most guides and instructors prefer the analytical method.

Our Meditation CD Series can assist you with these techniques.