Buddhist Meditation
Buddhist Meditation generally focuses on human consciousness. Buddhist Meditation covers different Meditation Techniques aiming to improve concentration, tranquility, and insight of the mind.
There are various schools and techniques under Buddhist Meditation because of the emergence of different Buddhist traditions. Visualization techniques in the Tibetan tradition count up to thousands while in the Theravada tradition, there are forty techniques for developing concentration and fifty for the development of insight.
Vipassana and Samathi are the two main types of Buddhist Meditation. Oftentimes, these two types are merged or used succeeding the other.
Samathi or Tranquil Meditation
Samathi or Tranquility Meditation aims to improve mental concentration. The goal of Samathi is to get by the four dhyanas or stages. The stages are as follows: (1) impassiveness from the external world and a realization of tranquility and joy; (2) concentration without using reasoning and investigation; (3) abandonment of joy but with a sense of tranquility left behind; and (4) desertion of tranquility resulting to pure self-possession and equanimity.
In Samathi, the skill of concentration is given much importance rather than the Kammatthana or the object of concentration. Kammatthanas vary and these include devices, recollections, repulsive things, and virtues. Examples of Kammatthanas are color, light, sayings of Buddha, and loving kindness.
Vipassana or Insight Meditation
Vipassana or Insight Meditation is aimed at apprehending important truths such as suffering, impermanence, and egolessness. This is considered greater than Samathi because this type of meditation facilitates the achievement of spiritual freedom.
Insight Meditation focuses on mindfulness, which is similar but not the same as concentration. Sometimes, mindfulness is referred to as awareness. There are varied methods of mindfulness and these include walking mindfulness, sitting mindfulness, and mindfulness of daily activities.
Buddhist Meditation can be practiced by Buddhists and non-Buddhists. Buddhists use this technique to reach Nirvana or Enlightenment while non-Buddhists use this to develop physical, mental, and even spiritual health. Once the mind has achieved the goals of Buddhist Meditation, it will be able to stay alert and fully functional amidst all forms of thinking.
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Basics & Backgrounds
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