The Fourth Truth is the Eight-fold Path which is the means or process to eliminate suffering. The Eight-fold Path 1. This is the primary method of achieving the above state. In Christian meditation one concentrates his thoughts on God. It involves propositional thinking, ascribing qualities to God.
Eastern meditation is almost the exact opposite.
The goal is to become detached from the self or mind that is thinking. Remember, the fact that a person views himself as an independent self is the problem. Meditation then is usually a lengthy mental exercise whereby the devotee is purified of all distractions until he arrives at that trance- like state where he views himself as being one with the universe and not a transcendent self. More modern forms tend to offer shortcuts, e.g., Zen Buddhism. It is believed to be the purest form of the Buddha's teaching.