Buddhist Meditation
There are many things in life which cannot be controlled by
us. However, it is possible to take responsibility for our own states of mind –
and to change them for the better. According to Buddhism, this is the most
important thing we can do, and Buddhism teaches that it is the only real
antidote to our own personal sorrows and to the anxieties, fears, hatreds, and
general confusions that beset the human condition.
Meditation is a means of transforming the mind. Buddhist
meditation practices are techniques that encourage and develop concentration,
clarity, emotional positivity, and a calm seeing of the true nature of things.
By engaging with a particular meditation practice you learn the patterns and
habits of your mind, and the practice offers a means to cultivate new, more
positive ways of being. With regular work and patience these nourishing,
focused states of mind can deepen into profoundly peaceful and energized states
of mind. Such experiences can have a transformative effect and can lead to a
new understanding of life.
Over the millennia countless meditation practices have been
developed in the Buddhist tradition. All of them may be described as ‘mind-trainings’,
but they take many different approaches. The foundation of all of them,
however, is the cultivation of a calm and positive state of mind.
Learning meditation
Each year thousands of people learn meditation. There are
two basic meditations that were originally taught by the historical Buddha.
These help develop the qualities of calmness and emotional postivity: the
Mindfulness of Breathing and Loving-Kindness (Metta Bhavana) meditations.
The techniques of meditation are very simple. However,
reading about them is no substitute for learning from an experienced and
reliable teacher. A teacher will be able to offer you guidance in how to apply
the technique and how to deal with difficulties. Perhaps most importantly, a
teacher can offer the encouragement and inspiration of their own example. What
is meditation?
There are many things in life that are beyond our control.
However, it is possible to take responsibility for our own states of mind – and
to change them for the better. According to Buddhism this is the most important
thing we can do, and Buddhism teaches that it is the only real antidote to our
own personal
Over the millennia countless meditation practices have been
developed in the Buddhist tradition. All of them may be described as
‘mind-trainings’, but they take many different approaches. The foundation of
all of them, however, is the cultivation of a calm and positive state of mind.
Meditation Courses are excellent contexts for learning.
Meditation Retreats offer ideal conditions to take things further.
Preparation
When you sit down to meditate you need to set up your
meditation posture in a way that is relaxed but upright, usually sitting on a
cushion and probably cross-legged. If this is not easy you can sit kneeling or
else in a chair. Then you close your eyes, relax, and tune in to how you are
feeling. It is important to be sensitive to your experience because this is
what you work with in meditation. It is a good idea to take some time to sit
quietly before starting a meditation, to slow down and relax. Some gentle
stretching can also help.
Resources
There are lots of resources available to help you learn
meditation – or to take your practice deeper. And in our Online Meditators
Group you can now sit with others too, wherever you are in the world!
Read an excellent meditation posture guide by Bodhipaksa,
from Wildmind.
You can find answers to some common questions about Buddhist
meditation with Clear Vision video.
For a comprehensive set of free audio and text resources on
learning meditation, see free buddhist audio’s meditation pages.
No comments