Editing Meditation (section)

==Technique==

===Posture===
[[File:1590-MT-au-Peru-2011-Consciousness-Based-Education.JPG|thumbnail|right|Young children practicing meditation in a [[Peru]]vian school]]
{{Main|Meditative postures}}

[[Asana]]s or body postures such as ''padmasana'' [[Lotus position|(full-lotus]], [[Ardha Padmasana|half-lotus]]), cross-legged sitting, ''[[seiza]]'', and [[kneeling]] positions are popular [[meditative postures]] in Hinduism, Buddhism and [[Jainism]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mallinson |first1=James |author1-link=James Mallinson (author) |last2=Singleton |first2=Mark |author2-link=Mark Singleton (yoga scholar) | title=Roots of Yoga |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-241-25304-5 |oclc=928480104 |pages=86–87 |title-link=Roots of Yoga}}</ref> although other postures such as sitting, supine (lying), and standing are also used. Meditation is also sometimes done while walking, known as ''[[kinhin]]'', while doing a simple task mindfully, known as [[Samu (Zen)|''samu'']], or while lying down, known as ''[[shavasana]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mindworks.org/blog/meditation-positions-lying-down/ |title=Meditation (savasana) |date=14 August 2017 |access-date=23 February 2020 |archive-date=23 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223165233/https://mindworks.org/blog/meditation-positions-lying-down/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ng |first1=Teng-Kuan |title=Pedestrian Dharma: Slowness and Seeing in Tsai Ming-Liang's Walker |journal=Religions |date=2018 |volume=9 |issue=7 |page=200 |doi=10.3390/rel9070200|doi-access=free }}</ref>

===Frequency===
The [[Transcendental Meditation]] technique recommends practice of 20 minutes twice per day.<ref name="huffingtonpost.co.uk">{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/business-meditation-executives-meditate_n_3528731 |title=The Daily Habit Of These Outrageously Successful People |date=5 July 2013 |work=[[Huffington Post]] |access-date=1 May 2018 |archive-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415013359/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/business-meditation-executives-meditate_n_3528731 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some techniques suggest less time,<ref name="berkeley.edu"/> especially when starting meditation,<ref>[[Mindfulness#Meditation method]]</ref> and [[Richard Davidson]] has quoted research saying benefits can be achieved with a practice of only 8 minutes per day.<ref name="abcnews1">{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/neuroscientist-richie-davidson-dalai-lama-gave-total-wake/story?id=40859233|title=Neuroscientist Says Dalai Lama Gave Him 'a Total Wake-Up Call'|date=27 July 2016|website=ABC News|access-date=8 May 2018|archive-date=28 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928235706/https://abcnews.go.com/Health/neuroscientist-richie-davidson-dalai-lama-gave-total-wake/story?id=40859233|url-status=live}}</ref> Research shows improvement in meditation time with simple oral and video training.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Strait|first1=Julia Englund|last2=Strait|first2=Gerald Gill|last3=McClain|first3=Maryellen Brunson|last4=Casillas|first4=Laurel|last5=Streich|first5=Kristin|last6=Harper|first6=Kristina|last7=Gomez|first7=Jocelyn|date=2020-01-27|title=Classroom Mindfulness Education Effects on Meditation Frequency, Stress, and Self-Regulation|url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0098628320901386 |journal=Teaching of Psychology|volume=47|issue=2|pages=162–168|language=en |doi=10.1177/0098628320901386 |s2cid=213924577 |access-date=2020-11-09 |archive-date=2021-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418053200/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0098628320901386|url-status=live}}</ref> Some meditators practice for much longer,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://time.com/4672373/yuval-noah-harari-homo-deus-interview/|title=How Humankind Could Become Totally Useless|website=[[Time magazine]]|access-date=17 March 2018|archive-date=20 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320004202/https://time.com/4672373/yuval-noah-harari-homo-deus-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |pmid=20670413 |pmc=2919439 |year=2010 |last1=Kaul |first1=P. |title=Meditation acutely improves psychomotor vigilance, and may decrease sleep need |journal=Behavioral and Brain Functions |volume=6 |page=47 |last2=Passafiume |first2=J |last3=Sargent |first3=C.R. |last4=O'Hara |first4=B.F. |doi=10.1186/1744-9081-6-47 |doi-access=free }}</ref> particularly when on a course or [[spiritual retreat|retreat]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.giri.dhamma.org/qanda|title=Questions & Answers – Dhamma Giri – Vipassana International Academy|website=www.giri.dhamma.org|access-date=2018-05-01|archive-date=2019-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624062750/http://www.giri.dhamma.org/qanda}}</ref> Some meditators find practice best in [[Brahmamuhurta|the hours before dawn]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/brahmamuhurta-the-best-time-for-meditation/articleshow/4659848.cms|title=Brahmamuhurta: The best time for meditation|newspaper=Times of India|access-date=2018-05-01|archive-date=2018-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502011957/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/brahmamuhurta-the-best-time-for-meditation/articleshow/4659848.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Supporting aids===

====Use of prayer beads====
Some religions have traditions of using [[prayer beads]] as tools in devotional meditation.<ref name=Binz3 >'' Mysteries of the Rosary'' by Stephen J. Binz 2005 {{ISBN|1-58595-519-1}} p. 3</ref><ref name=Sach >'' The everything Buddhism book'' by Jacky Sach 2003 {{ISBN|978-1-58062-884-6}} p. 175</ref><ref>For a general overview, see {{cite book | last1=Henry | first1=Gray | last2=Marriott | first2=Susannah | title=Beads of faith: pathways to meditation and spirituality using rosaries, prayer beads, and sacred words | publisher=Fons Vitae |location=Louisville, KY | date=2008 | isbn=978-1-887752-95-4 | oclc=179839679}}</ref> Most prayer beads and [[Rosary based prayers|Christian rosaries]] consist of pearls or beads linked together by a thread.<ref name=Binz3 /><ref name=Sach /> The Roman Catholic rosary is a string of beads containing five sets with ten small beads. Eastern and Oriental Orthodox have traditions of using [[prayer rope]]s called Comboschini or Meqetaria as an aid to prayerful meditation. The Hindu ''[[japa mala]]'' has 108 beads. The figure 108 in itself having spiritual significance as the energy of the sounds equivalates to [[Om]],<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=DerSarkissian |first=Carol |date=15 February 2024 |title=What Are Mala Beads? |url=https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-are-mala-beads |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=WebMd}}</ref> as well as those used in [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]], the [[Hare Krishna (mantra)|Hare Krishna tradition]], and [[Jainism]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-09-29|title=Chanting Hare Krishna on Japa Beads|url=https://krishna.org/chanting-hare-krishna-on-beads/|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Krishna.org – Real Krishna Consciousness|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620091318/https://krishna.org/chanting-hare-krishna-on-beads/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Vishnu >{{cite book | author=Vishnu Devananda | first=Swami | title=Meditation and mantras | publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |location=Delhi | date=1995 | isbn=81-208-1615-3 | oclc=50030094 |pages=82–83}}</ref> [[Buddhist prayer beads]] also have 108 beads, but hold a different meaning. In Buddhism, there are 108 human passions that impede enlightenment.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Arimura |first=R |title=A Case Study of the Evangelization of Japan |url=https://www.redalyc.org/journal/369/36972034008/html/ |journal=Anales del Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas |date=October 2021 |volume=XLIII |issue=119 |pages=209–247 |doi=10.22201/iie.18703062e.2021.119.2761 |via=Redalyc|doi-access=free }}</ref> Each bead is counted once as a person recites a [[mantra]] until the person has gone all the way around the mala.<ref name=Vishnu /> The Muslim ''[[misbaha]]'' has 99 beads. There is also quite a variance when it comes to materials used for beads. Beads made from seeds of [[rudraksha]] trees are considered sacred by devotees of [[Shiva]], while followers of [[Vishnu]] revere the wood that comes from the '''''[[Tulasi|Tulsi]]''''' plant, also known as Holy Basil.<ref>{{cite book | last=Simoons | first=Frederick J. | title=Plants of life, plants of death | publisher=University of Wisconsin Press |location=Madison, Wis. | date=1998 | isbn=0-585-17620-5 | oclc=45733876 |pages=7–40}}</ref>

====Striking the meditator====
The Buddhist literature has many stories of [[Enlightenment in Buddhism|Enlightenment]] being attained through disciples being struck by their masters. T. Griffith Foulk recounts how the [[Keisaku|encouragement stick]] was an integral part of the [[Zen]] practice when he trained:

{{Blockquote| In the Rinzai monastery where I trained in the mid-1970s, according to an unspoken etiquette, monks who were sitting earnestly and well were shown respect by being hit vigorously and often; those known as laggards were ignored by the hall monitor or given little taps if they requested to be hit. Nobody asked about the 'meaning' of the stick, nobody explained, and nobody ever complained about its use.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://tricycle.org/magazine/encouragement-stick-7-views/ |last=Foulk |first=T. Griffith |title=The Encouragement Stick: 7 Views |journal=Tricycle |issue=Winter |year=1998 |access-date=6 May 2020 |archive-date=16 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216131425/https://tricycle.org/magazine/encouragement-stick-7-views/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

====Using a narrative====
Neuroscientist and long-time meditator [[Richard Davidson]] has expressed the view that having a narrative can help the maintenance of daily practice. For instance, he himself [[Prostration (Buddhism)|prostrates]] to the teachings, and meditates "not primarily for my benefit, but for the benefit of others".<ref name="abcnews1"/>

==== Psychedelics ====
Studies suggest the potential of [[Psychedelic drug|psychedelics]], such as [[psilocybin]] and [[N,N-Dimethyltryptamine|DMT]], to enhance meditative training.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Meling |first1=Daniel |last2=Egger |first2=Klemens |last3=Aicher |first3=Helena D |last4=Jareño Redondo |first4=Javier |last5=Mueller |first5=Jovin |last6=Dornbierer |first6=Joëlle |last7=Temperli |first7=Elijah |last8=Vasella |first8=Emilia A |last9=Caflisch |first9=Luzia |last10=Pfeiffer |first10=David J |last11=Schlomberg |first11=Jonas TT |last12=Smallridge |first12=John W |last13=Dornbierer |first13=Dario A |last14=Scheidegger |first14=Milan |date=2024-09-27 |title=Meditating on psychedelics. A randomized placebo-controlled study of DMT and harmine in a mindfulness retreat |journal=Journal of Psychopharmacology |volume=38 |issue=10 |pages=897–910 |language=en |doi=10.1177/02698811241282637 |pmid=39340164 |issn=0269-8811|pmc=11487865 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiwani |first=Zishan |last2=Goldberg |first2=Simon B. |last3=Stroud |first3=Jack |last4=Young |first4=Jacob |last5=Curtin |first5=John |last6=Dunne |first6=John D. |last7=Simonsson |first7=Otto |last8=Webb |first8=Christian A. |last9=Carhart-Harris |first9=Robin |date=2024-08-28 |title=Can Psychedelic Use Benefit Meditation Practice? Examining Individual, Psychedelic, and Meditation-Related Factors |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11383514/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250301200840/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11383514/ |archive-date=2025-03-01 |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |language=en |doi=10.1101/2024.08.27.24312677}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Singer |first1=Berit |last2=Meling |first2=Daniel |last3=Hirsch-Hoffmann |first3=Matthias |last4=Michels |first4=Lars |last5=Kometer |first5=Michael |last6=Smigielski |first6=Lukasz |last7=Dornbierer |first7=Dario |last8=Seifritz |first8=Erich |last9=Vollenweider |first9=Franz X. |last10=Scheidegger |first10=Milan |date=2024-03-26 |title=Psilocybin enhances insightfulness in meditation: a perspective on the global topology of brain imaging during meditation |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=7211 |doi=10.1038/s41598-024-55726-x |pmid=38531905 |issn=2045-2322|pmc=10966054 }}</ref>

==== Walking Meditation ====
Walking meditation is a fundamental technique in Theravāda and Zen traditions. It involves walking slowly and mindfully in a straight path or circle, focusing attention on each step, the movement of the feet, the breath, and bodily sensations. It is often used in alternation with sitting meditation during retreats and daily practice to integrate mindfulness into bodily movement.<ref>Thích Nhất Hạnh. (1996). The Long Road Turns to Joy: A Guide to Walking Meditation. Parallax Press.</ref>