There are thousands of different meditation traditions across the world. There are likely hundreds of thousands of meditation techniques. For the purposes of this article though, we will over-simplify and break these techniques down into two general categories: energy and insight.

Insight meditation teaches students to train their awareness, direct it skillfully, and to learn to accept an experience as it is.

Some masters meditate for hours. They just sit still in one spot, holding their focus for hours on end. In some rare cases, they sit in the same place for days! It is amazing to consider the things we can do with some practice.

But what about those us who have other things to do than just sit and meditate? Some of us have jobs, a spouse, kids, car payments, etc.

Meditation is an ancient practice that has always had positive effects on health and mood. What allows meditation practice to persist is that in can be practice just about anywhere, and by anyone. One opportunity for meditating is often overlooked as being too noisy, the 'Rush Hour'

The Rush Hour can be a noisy environment and the ride to work may leave one exhausted and moody, making for a bad day.

It is very easy, particularly for students of meditation to get lost in austerity and ascetic practice. There is something to be said for learning to accept and transmute discomfort and pain, but it will drastically increase the momentum of your practice if you learn to reward yourself.

Ultimately, no learning will take place without the subconscious mind getting involved.

Learning to meditate can be somewhat challenging. If you really want to develop these skills, it isn't terribly difficult, but it will take some time and effort. Using traditional methods, it can take years to make significant headway. Students are often left to meditate with very little guidance. Some just sit in place for hours wondering if and when anything will happen for them.

We tend to be very driven. When we are consciously aware of and in control of this quality, it can be very useful. Of course, being aware of and in control of your compulsions, impressions, and experiences might be better described as 'driving'. For most of us, we are 'driven' as opposed to 'driving'. When this is the case, it is hard to truly learn anything new.

Meditation can be a very long path. If you are a serious student, you will practice for the rest of your life. Sometimes it takes years to make significant headway. Frequently, students just sit in silence wondering what is supposed to happen... if they do it long enough, eventually the change in consciousness will come. This is why some choose to forsake the rest of the world; this allows them to focus entirely on their inner journey.

Many people have asked about different techniques how to meditate. There are a variety of different ways, but the basic principles are universal.

Meditation in some form or another seems to be a part of most cultures. The methods and techniques are different, of course, but the practice of meditation in some form is found almost everywhere

The most common techniques of meditation as a formal practice most likely developed somewhere in the East.

What is enlightenment? How does one design a path by which he or she can achieve enlightenment?

Enlightenment is a vague concept, and that might be part of its power. Debates often rage on the subject when it is actually just a misunderstanding of terminology between the different traditions.

To paint a clear picture of what you are seeking, you have to ask yourself "What is it that I want to be able to do that I can't do right now?" You might also ask "What is the difference between enlightened and non-enlightened?" The answers to these questions will give you the first steps to take on your journey.

Since 1997, Herbert Benson, of the Harvard Medical School, has reaffirmed that "Sixty to ninety percent of [doctor-patient] visits are prompted by conditions related to stress." Especially in today's world, stress management is truly vital to emotional, relational, and overall physical health. As a psychologist, I understand that most tend to consider meditative exercises as too difficult to learn; and too time consuming to practice.