What other forms of excellent Meditation are there in existence, which Are similiar to Mindfulness Meditation?

Answer 1

Try walking meditation. Like the name implies, it's done while walking, usually briskly. Try to pick a nice, scenic area, like out in the country, or at least away from city noise and traffic. Even a tree-lined suburban street at night is good. What you do is: first pay close attention to all the moving parts of your body: your feet striking the ground and pulling off with your toes; the muscles in your legs; the swing of your shoulders; picture yourself from outside and perfect your form, like how would the perfect "walking machine" walk? (That is a little personal thing I do). And of course, your breathing: Feel the air come in through your nose and exhale thru your mouth; get everything in synch, so you are breathing like every two steps are owever you want to do it. And then, one you have your rythym, take in your surroundings and feel yourself immersing with them. It's a great way to meditate and the exercise helps clear your head. Plus you get a bit of exercise from it.

Answer 2

All forms of Buddhist meditation are either samatha (tranquility, holding an object to develop concentration) or vipassana (insight meditation, looking at the true nature of what is happening) The elaborate visualizations of Tibetan tantra might be considered a third category, although really it is still holding an object (samatha) albeit a complex & colorful object.

Mindfulness is the quality of mind that keeps the mind focused on the object. Since mindfulness is involved in all Buddhist meditation, from one point of view they are all mindfulness meditations!

There is one practice I do which I think of as "mindulness meditation" - it too is walking. Pick a stretch of path about 50 ft. long. Walk slowly, focusing entirely on each step, quietly note "step". At the end of one or more laps, add "lift" as you lift each foot. At the end of one or more laps, add "swing" as you swing the foot through the air. At the end of one or more laps, add "place" as the foot is placed prior to stepping. At this point, one is noting "step...lift...swing...place...step..." Then one lap at a time, remove one notation, in reverse order, until there is only "step.....step..." again. Talk about helping to increase mindfulness & improve focus, quiet the mind etc.etc. !

Whatever meditation you are doing, the most important thing is regular practice - daily if you can. The motivation to benefit all beings from your practice keeps it from degenerating into selfishness. Metta meditation is very good to begin or end your daily meditation, filling the mind with boundless love for all beings.

Currently my practice also includes vipassana, which you might like to investigate. I learned it from Shinzan Young at a 5 day retreat last month. There are some other dharma links I hope you will like below. The Wat Metta Forest Monastery has 4 years of talks by the abbott who is also a very good teacher.

May your practice flourish!

;-)

Answer 3

I love the Chanting of the Maha Mantra- The great Mantra for deliverance. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Say the Mantra loud enough to hear each syllable. One can chant on 108 strand of beads in right hand. Thumb one bead for one whole mantra. Go to http://www.stephen-knapp.com/chanting_hare_krishna.htm
for details and for other mantras and meditations and universal truths