Buddhist meditation

Many Buddhists use meditation.

It is a way to train the mind. Some people sit still to do it. Others may walk or even lie down.

One common way is to focus on breathing. This is called mindfulness of breathing. It helps the mind stay calm. Some people also think about being kind. This can lead to great joy.

People use these tools to find peace. They want to reach a state called nirvana. This is a very special goal. It helps them feel calm and clear.

Buddhists use meditation to train their minds.

This practice helps them reach a goal called nirvana. Nirvana is a state of peace and clarity. Some people call meditation "mental development." It can help a person find freedom from craving.

There are many ways to meditate. One common way is mindfulness of breathing. This means paying close attention to each breath. Other people use walking meditation to stay mindful. Some traditions use "deity yoga." This is a way to meditate on a divine being.

Some methods focus on calming the mind. This is called samatha. Other methods help people gain insight. This is called vipassana. People also practice mindfulness. This means they remember and stay aware of their experiences. They might focus on their body or their feelings. Some even think about death to help overcome desire.

All these steps help the mind become steady and calm.

Buddhist meditation is a way to train the mind.

People use these practices to reach a state called nirvana. Nirvana is a place of peace and freedom from craving. In classical languages, meditation is called bhāvanā, which means mental development. Another word is jhāna, which describes a calm and bright mind.

Many different schools of Buddhism use these techniques today. Some methods help people find a path toward awakening.

There are two main ways to group these meditation methods. The first way is called samatha, which means calming the mind. The second way is called vipassana, which means gaining insight. In the Theravada tradition, these are often seen as separate steps. However, Mahayana Buddhism often teaches that they should work together.

Some people also use walking meditation to stay aware. Other traditions use special methods like zazen or nianfo. Each way helps the person develop a steady mind.

Before meditating, many people follow certain preparatory steps. They follow rules for good conduct called sila. This helps them prepare their hearts and minds. They also practice sense restraint to control how they react to things. They use right effort to grow good thoughts in their minds.

These steps help the mind become ready for deep meditation. This makes it easier to reach a state called dhyāna. Following these rules helps people build a wholesome state of mind.

Mindfulness, or sati, is a very important part of the practice. It means remembering and staying aware of what is happening.

Some people practice mindfulness of the body or feelings. They might even reflect on the parts of the body. One method is called asubha bhavana, which is reflecting on things that are unattractive. This is meant to help people overcome desire. Another core practice is anapanasati, which is mindfulness of breathing. This involves paying close attention to every breath taken.

Different parts of the world have developed unique styles. East Asian Buddhism uses methods like the Zen style. Tibetan Buddhism often uses a practice called deity yoga.

This involves meditating on a divine being. In the past, early Buddhists used different body positions. They might sit, stand, or even lie on one side. These old ways are found in the Pali Canon. Even though traditions change, the goal of a calm mind remains. Many people still find peace through these ancient ideas.

Buddhist meditation is a systematic practice used to train the mind.

In the classical languages of Buddhism, two terms describe this process. The first is bhāvanā, which means "mental development." The second is jhāna or dhyāna, which refers to a state of meditative absorption. This state results in a mind that is both calm and luminous. Practitioners use these techniques to pursue liberation from defilements, known as kleshas. They also aim to overcome clinging and craving, called upādāna. This process is often referred to as awakening. The ultimate goal of this path is the attainment of nirvana.

Meditation techniques in Buddhism are often categorized into two main types. The first type is samatha, which focuses on calming the mind. The second type is vipassanā, which focuses on cultivating insight. Different traditions view the relationship between these two methods differently. In the Theravada tradition, samatha and vipassanā are often treated as separate techniques. In contrast, Mahayana Buddhism generally emphasizes the union of these two practices. Some traditions, like the Tiantai method, specifically use the term "calming and insight" to describe this connection. Both Mahayana and Theravada traditions share certain foundational practices, such as breath meditation and walking meditation.

Before a person begins formal meditation, they often engage in preparatory practices. These steps are part of the Noble Eightfold Path. One essential step is sila, which refers to morality and right conduct. Another important practice is sense restraint. This means controlling how one responds to sensual perceptions. Instead of reacting with lust or aversion, the practitioner simply notices objects as they appear. Practitioners also use "right effort" to manage their mental states. This involves preventing unwholesome states and generating wholesome ones. These preparatory steps help the mind become set for the onset of dhyāna.

A central quality in these practices is mindfulness, known as sati or smṛti. Mindfulness involves remembering, recollecting, and "bearing in mind." It includes remembering the teachings of the Buddha and applying them to experiences. Early Buddhist texts, such as the Pali Satipatthana Sutta, list four subjects for mindfulness. These subjects are the body, feelings, the mind, and phenomena or principles called dhammas. Mindfulness of the body can include contemplating the four elements or the parts of the body. Mindfulness of feelings involves observing vedana. Mindfulness of the mind focuses on citta. Finally, mindfulness of dhammas involves observing principles like the five hindrances.

Specific techniques are used to target different mental qualities. One core practice is anapanasati, or mindfulness of breathing. This involves paying attention to inhalation and exhalation. Anapanasati is used to develop the Seven Factors of Enlightenment. These factors include mindfulness, analysis, persistence, rapture, serenity, concentration, and equanimity. Another method is asubha bhavana, which is reflection on repulsiveness or unattractiveness. This may include cemetery contemplations or reflecting on the thirty-one parts of the body. This practice, called patikulamanasikara, is intended to help overcome desire and lust.

As Buddhism spread, various schools developed unique meditative styles. East Asian Buddhism produced diverse methods. The Zen tradition utilizes zazen and huatou. Pure Land Buddhism uses nianfo and guanfo. Tibetan Buddhism and Vajrayana traditions rely heavily on tantric practices. A central technique in these traditions is deity yoga. Other Tibetan methods include Mahamudra and Dzogchen.

These practices often involve complex guided imagery. Even in pre-sectarian Buddhism, which existed before the various schools developed, different postures were used. Practitioners might use a standing posture or a "lion posture" while lying on one side.

Scholars have studied the historical origins and complexity of these states. Some researchers, such as Alexander Wynne, suggest the Buddha transformed existing practices. He may have adapted yogic techniques learned from Brahmin teachers like Āḷāra Kālāma. However, the Buddha added the requirement of insight to the practice. This was different from earlier traditions where the goal was to be "like a log of wood." This distinction highlights how Buddhist meditation focuses on active mental development. By combining various techniques, practitioners aim to reach supramundane powers called abhijñā. Through these diverse paths, the tradition seeks to address the fundamental nature of suffering.