I have practiced meditation following kundalini yoga practices and have practiced following Eckankar, a "Light and Sound" path.

In Eckankar they liked to use different phases so that there was no preconceived concepts attached. Instead of using the term "meditation" they used the term "spiritual exercises".

Although I am no longer a member of Eckankar, thinking of meditation in terms of spiritual exersizes and comparing that with physical exersizes can bring some new insight.

There are basically 3 types of physical exersizes--strength building, aerobics and stretching. Some people prefer one type of exersize over the others. Some people practice a well balanced exersize routine. Some people don't exersize; they think it is unnecessary for phyical health. They advocate daily physical activity such as chopping wood and carrying water :-). Some people play sports that combine all 3 aspects of physical exersize. Some people don't feel they need physical exersize by setting aside a time for it or by their daily activities and lead very sedentary lives.

All of the above applies to spiritual exersizes (meditation) also. Some meditation techniques are more passive, some more active. Some people follow practices that balance these. Some people don't set aside a special time to meditate; they just chop wood and carry water :-). Some people don't feel they need spiritual exersize by setting aside a time to meditate or in their daily lives and lead very sedentary lives.

For those maintaining physical and "spiritual" health there is no one right way. Each choice fits in to the whole. As life circumstances change, spiritual and physical practices change to fit.

I have participated in "spiritual snobbery" and observed it in others. Mostly we engage in that when we are not comfortable or confident in our own choices. It's so easy to tear down others and their practices in order to puff up ourselves and our practices. Yet there are definitely practices that appeal to us, that we think are more worthy than others. I guess the best we can do is as you have, by indicating what works for us and what doesn't.

Have fun!

=-Kathy->