Meditation Key Questions and Analytic Approach

The key questions of this review have been organized under five general topics:

Topic I.  The Practice of Meditation

The following questions pertain to the description of the practice of meditation and

Meditation techniques:

1.  What is known about the practice of meditation?

                                                

• What are the main components of the various meditation practices (e.g., breathing, chanting, mantras, and relaxation)? Which components are universal and which ones are supplemental?

• How is breathing incorporated in these practices? Are there specific breathing patterns that are integral elements of meditation? Is breathing passive or directed?

• For each type of meditation practice, where is the attention directed during meditation (e.g., mantra, breath, image, nothing)?

• To what extent is spirituality a part of meditation? To what extent is belief a part of meditation?

• What are the training requirements for the various meditation practices (e.g., the range of training periods, frequency of training, individual and group approaches?)

• How is the success of the meditation practice determined (i.e., was it practiced Properly)? What criteria are used to determine successful meditation practice?