It's good to point out there are many different types of meditation, as some work better than others, depending on the individual. However, this article doesn't seem to be advocating Vipassana, rather, it states: "Meditation is all about being aware of how your body feels and the thoughts that go through your head without judging or getting caught up in them. Often, this is done by focusing on a certain part of your body, like the breath or your feet, legs, arms, hands and chest etc. At the end of the day, what you’re aiming for is to keep bringing your attention back to what you’re focusing on, everytime you notice your mind has drifted off."

The book is called The Mind Illuminated, and is an absolutely fantastic book on meditation. Super cheap too: https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Illuminated-Meditation-Integrati...

I recently finished the Book of Joy (great read), an interview by Douglas Abrams of Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, which ends with an appendix full of different types of meditation and mindfulness practices.

I am intrigued to practice the Dalai Lama's usual practice of analytical meditation (listed in parent's linked paper alongside Vipassana), but it's certainly an advanced practice. Most resources I can find recommend a daily practice of Shamatha for some months before undertaking analytical meditation.

I found this poetic description of the thought process one might go through during analytical meditation: https://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/mipham/wheel-of...

> Another form of meditation that's traditionally talked about in Buddhism is shamatha, which translates to something like "concentration" or "tranquility." In this type of practice, the meditator works with a meditation object, commonly the breath, but possibly a sound, mental image, etc. The meditator learns to stabilize the mind and remain fully aware of the object, and in the process learns to debug the mechanisms that direct (and destabilize) conscious attention.

I don't know how similar it is, but I was recently part of a "mindful lunch" at work. We all (3 + the person leading) had lunch in a small conference room in silence. We were told to concentrate fully on the food we were eating the texture, taste, smell, sound, and generally experience it as fully as possible. It was even suggested (and I went with it) to put your silverware down with each bite to give it as full of your attention as possible. It was an incredibly interesting experience to be sure.

And don't forget about Zen, where according to some you think about...not thinking. But, yeah, it's a pretty broad term along the lines of "church". That word is a good start, but is often not descriptive enough to be used as an umbrella term.

I always mention to people that meditation is an umbrella term just like sport or exercise is, and I also tell them it is at least as diverse.

I strongly recommend Shambavi mahamudra Kriya taught by Sadhguru https://www.innerengineering.com/

I’ve been practicing their 18 minute meditation for almost a year and it has been quite amazing.

Huh, I went to UW and never heard about the Center for Healthy Minds. This is really interesting, thanks!

Where does transcendental meditation fall?

I think TM's basic mantra practice would qualify as an Attentional practice. I don't now much about more advanced practices in that school, so I'm not sure.