Meditation

The oldest truth documented proof anyways of the practice of meditation is found in wall art on the Indian subcontinent from around 5000 to 3000 BCE. The oldest written mention is found in the Vedas, dating back to around 1500 BC E. Noted here is that the Vedas are much older than their written form, as they have been taught/passed down by spoken word rather than written for centuries prior. Here are three kinds of meditation: 

Samatha 

Samatha is the connotation of  a pre-Buddhist yogic form which Buddha practiced extensively. This meditation is focused primarily on calmness and tranquility, as it is firstly the development of inner peace and harmony that allows the spiritual seeker to continue on their path to enlightenment. Meditation assists those who practice it in profound ways; through the creation of discipline, harmony within oneself can be achieved. 

Vipassana 

Vipassana is one of the most ancient meditation techniques found in India. This kind of meditation focuses extensively on bringing about and maintaining awareness of suffering and mortality, of impermanence and pain. It allows the seeker to build ever increasing awareness of the inner workings of reality itself. It teaches one over time to see the world in a much different way. 

Metta 

This kind of meditation is focused on expanding your compassion out to the world, or to yourself, or to your loved ones. 

Focused on cultivating self love and empathy.