Final answer:
Rick is practicing mindfulness meditation, a technique focused on maintaining nonjudgmental attention on the present moment to achieve relaxed awareness. It differs from other meditative practices like transcendental meditation, tai chi, or yoga and is supported by research for its positive effect on cognitive processes. B. transcendental meditation
Step-by-step explanation:
Rick is evidently practicing mindfulness meditation. This form of meditation involves paying nonjudgmental, in-the-moment attention to one's changing perceptions and thoughts. The primary aim of mindfulness is to foster a state of alert and relaxed awareness without attachment or aversion to any particular thought or sensory experience.
Research has shown that various cognitive processes like learning may be affected by practices such as meditation and mindful awareness. Mindfulness meditation differs from other forms like transcendental meditation, which involves the repetition of a mantra, and is distinct from the physical practices of tai chi and yoga, even though they also promote mental calmness and focus.
Mindfulness meditation can be practiced in simple steps that involve sitting comfortably, being in a quiet environment, and maintaining focus on breathing or internal processes, and allowing thoughts to pass without judgment. This practice has roots in Buddhist traditions but has been widely adopted across different cultures for its stress-reducing benefits.