This type of meditation - a secularized form of Vipassana in which one passively observers mental events - is very popular in the West.
But it's not the only one, and shouldn't be called merely "meditation" without regard to the vast body of practices that exist.
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.
A recently published book called _The_Mind_Illustrated_ by John Yates is fa fantastic resource for this kind of practice.
If you're interested in scientific attempts to categorize and study meditation, the Center for Healthy Minds at UW-Madison does some fantastic neuroscience & psychology research.
In the scientific terminology that is emerging these days, Attentional, Constructive, and Deconstructive types of meditation are mapped onto various types of traditional practices (there's a handy chart in the paper).
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."
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.
> 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 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.
But it's not the only one, and shouldn't be called merely "meditation" without regard to the vast body of practices that exist.
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.
A recently published book called _The_Mind_Illustrated_ by John Yates is fa fantastic resource for this kind of practice.
If you're interested in scientific attempts to categorize and study meditation, the Center for Healthy Minds at UW-Madison does some fantastic neuroscience & psychology research.
https://centerhealthyminds.org/assets/files-publications/Dah...
In the scientific terminology that is emerging these days, Attentional, Constructive, and Deconstructive types of meditation are mapped onto various types of traditional practices (there's a handy chart in the paper).