There are so many different modalities of meditation in the world. The commonality between them is that they have an inward focus that has a transformative effect of the individual—even if that effect is simply to bring one's awareness back into presence and being.
What follows is a break down of the basic categories of mediation and their focus or goal they seek to accomplish.
Nonobjective (Pure) Meditation
Goal: None
Not trying to do anything, including trying not to do anything. There is not a single particle of effort. You are not 'meditating', simply existing in a pure state of being. This does not need to be done sitting down, walking, or in any particular position. It is a letting go and entering into pure presence with no self-judgement.
Intentional Meditation
Goal: Various
When mediations have a specific goal or objective they fall into this category. Meditation of this kind takes advantage of the power that the mind/body can achieve in different states. In modern times these states have been referred to as brainwave levels such as alpha, delta, or theta, but have been practiced for thousands of years in many spiritual traditions.
A few examples that fall into this category are...
Intuitive Reception
Manifestation Practices
The Silva Method
Relaxation Response and other Emotional Regulation
Hypnotherapy
Archetypal Integration
Guided Imagery
Prayer
The following two categories are also intentional (have a goal or objective), but follow a fundamentally different methodology, leaning away from focused thinking, visualization, and inner vocalization that are common in the Intentional Meditation category.
Energetic Cultivation
Goal: Working with metaphysical energies of the body
This includes different methodologies that are intended to cultivate, circulate, and/or utilize subtle energies known in different traditions by different names — such as qi/chi (China), ki (Japan), and prana (India). Often there exist sophisticated medical systems developed around the pathways (meridians) and energy centers (dantiens, chakras) related to this subtle energy. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda are two such systems that have been developed and utilized over several millennia.
Quieting the Mind
Goal: Developing the conscious ability to silence the mind
In Buddhist traditions, they call the constant stream of unconsciously generated thoughts that describe most peoples general experience the 'monkey mind'. This appears to be the default function of the mind, at least in modern contexts. Turning off this constant stream of thought is the motivation behind this category of meditation. It often begins by bringing one's awareness and attention solely to one thing, be it your breath, a candle, or a point on the floor in front of you — the object of the attention is not important, as it is the ability to focus ones mind without distraction that is being trained. Eventually, once proficiency has been achieved, the same unwavering focus is turned to nothingness or silence and the mind is trained to be still and quiet. You have undoubtedly experienced the silent, non-thinking state of mind before... if you hear a subtle sound in a dark room and become spooked, straining to hear if it will happen again, in those moments of intense listening your mind goes completely still and quiet.
Reflection/Journaling Prompt
Which category of mediation appeals to you the most? What benefit would/do you hope to achieve through its practice?