Meditation - What is it really?

When first considering the term 'meditation', visions of the Budda, Yoga and its lotus position, and tibetan monks, are often conjured. However, the easiest and most accurate way to describe and understand what meditation actually is, is "methods of mental training", the desired outcome of which has two parts;

1. conscious cultivation of mental qualities which enhance understanding, power and love
2. intentional transformation or reducing states of mind which block the above mental qualities.
   

A quote that puts this very simply is "choices in a meditator's life are very simple: Do those things that contribute to your awareness, and refrain from those things that do not". (Sujata)

There are literally thousands of methods, or techniques of meditation, that have been used throughout history, throughout the world. They include, music, chants, silence, and the tensing and subsequent relaxing of muscles.
All of these techniques can be classified into one, or a combination of 4 categories;

1. Concentrative
2. Receptive
3. Reflective
4. Generative