Passive and Active Meditations:
At their core, there is no difference between active and passive meditations. The intent of these methods is the same – to empty the mind and help us connect with our inner witnessing presence.
Normally, when we think of meditation, we imagine it to be something that happens by sitting motionless in silence. This is far from the truth. Although silent sitting makes it easier to draw our attention and energy inward so that we are able to look inside and watch our breath, body, thoughts, and emotions, physical inactivity alone is not enough to attain lasting awareness of our inner silence and stillness.
Traditionally, meditation has been practiced through passive sitting and self-observation. This kind of watchfulness is the core of the meditation technique known as Vipassana. Vipassana was used by Gautama the Buddha twenty-five hundred centuries ago. Passive sitting and observation was much easier to practice in Buddha’s time than it is today, because people then lived closer to nature and were more relaxed and heart-centered.
In our society, when we are faced with progressively increasing mental and physical activity and speed, and are preoccupied with worries, aches and pains, or feel alone and depressed, quieting the mind through passive sitting feels like a monumental task that very few can achieve. Multiple layers of suppressed emotions and beliefs are accumulated in our energy and body, which we are often unable to release. Consequently, trying to break through these dense layers of thought forms and emotions with passive sitting alone is extremely difficult.
To help the contemporary seeker solve this problem and reach an experience of self-awareness and inner stillness much faster, Osho, the twentieth century Indian mystic, created several new Active Meditation methods. These methods have been used by millions of people around the globe since the early seventies, with tremendous results. Not only the Active Meditations are fast and effective, they are also fun to practice.
Each Osho Active Meditation technique is about one hour long and is divided into 3 to 5 stages. It comes with its own pre-recorded music, which helps to enhance the overall experience of the meditation, as well as carry the meditator from one stage to the next without needing to engage the mind. You can practice the Osho Active Meditations in the comfort of your own home, either alone or with friends and family.
It is important that the meditation technique you choose be enjoyable to practice. Even if you choose only one Meditation technique, but do it regularly (at least once or twice a week) you will feel a tremendous change in your personal, spiritual, and work life.
Once you enjoy a method then go into that method as much as you can. You can do it once at least or if possible, twice a day. The more you do it, the more you will enjoy it. Only drop a method when the joy has disappeared; then its work is finished. Search for another method. No method can lead you to the very end. On the journey you will have to change trains many times. A certain method takes you to a certain state. Beyond that it is of no more use, it is spent.So two things have to be remembered: when you are enjoying a method go into it as deeply as possible but never become addicted to it, because one day you will have to drop it too. If you become too much addicted to it then it is like a drug; you cannot leave it. You no more enjoy it, it is not giving you anything, but it has become a habit. Then one can continue it, but one is moving in circles; it cannot lead beyond that.So let joy be the criterion. If joy is there, continue. The last bit of joy has to be squeezed totally. No juice should be left behind…not even a single drop. And then, don’t be greedy, be capable of dropping it. Choose some other method that again brings the joy. Many times a person has to change. It varies with different people but it is very rare that one method will do the whole journey.”
The human longing to know the truth about Existence and the Self has lead to the discovery and invention of various techniques and practices. The commonly used meditation techniques are based on individual experimentation of the few mystics who have chosen to look inside and examine their own mind and inner world. Historically, the sub-continent of India became the pioneer in the development of meditation techniques for the transformation of human consciousness. It is said that there are 112 basic meditation methods that have been devised by an Indian god, Shiva. These methods were reintroduced to the modern world by the Indian mystic Osho in his book; Vigyan Bhariav Tantra: the Book of the Secrets, a New Commentary. According to Osho, amongst these methods there is one that will suit every type of man and woman in the world.Just as regular exercise is essential for our physical health, meditation is essential for our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Through meditation we free ourselves from fear and the turmoil of suffering created by our ego-mind.