Question:
When we don’t have to do anything in meditations, then why are there so many different types of meditations?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The mind is fixed in different type of habits, thoughts and feelings. That’s why Maharshi Patanjali* has given so many techniques for samadhi. Maharshi Patanjali says you can attain it by meditating on God or breathing in different ways. Gorakhnath (a 11th century yogi) has given about 108 techniques for meditation. In our country, since centuries, different techniques have been used for meditation. People have different habits, thinking patterns and feelings - that is why we have meditations with different ideas. So that people can experience meditation, through one technique or another.
* Maharshi Patanjali compiled the Yoga Sutras (ancient scriptures on Yoga) around the 3rd-4th century BC
