Meditation for Beginners

The word ‘friend’ here refers to people in whom we invest time, trust and resources Meditation Meditation for Beginners   With False Friends, who needs enemies?   The point where we start to associate with them is the point when we take them on.   The word ‘friend’ here refers to people in whom we invest time, trust and resources. It means not only our ‘buddies’ but also includes all relatives, colleagues, teachers and employees in whom we make such investments.   When we accept someone as a friend, we start to ‘associate’ with them specifically by three sorts of investment: joining, receiving, and giving:   - Joining means eating, sleeping and investing together. - Receiving means taking someone on as one’s spouse, one’s child, one’s employee or as one’s extended family. The point where we start to associate with them is the point when we take them on. - Giving m..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

…he regarded the people around us as an important factor contributing to one’s prosperity or deterioration. Working alone, one cannot be successful Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Noone can prosper in a social vacuum   Even though the Lord Buddha taught that…: “Atta hi attano natho” (One should be a refuge unto oneself)1   one must rely on help and support from one’s family members   …he regarded the people around us as an important factor contributing to one’s prosperity or deterioration. Working alone, one cannot be successful. The Lord Buddha said that for a person to be prosperous, one must rely on help and support from one’s family members, friends, colleagues and others in society. Even the Lord Buddha himself relied on his aunt. When his mother passed away seven days after he was born, his aunt took the responsibility for bringing him up in his mother’s place. When he grew up, he developed his skills and knowledge only by the efforts o..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

The majority of people around the world from the Lord Buddha’s time until now have been under the misconception that success and failure in life depend mainly on the environment around them. Meditation Meditation for Peace   Filtering Out False Friends   Our human environment   The majority of people around the world from the Lord Buddha’s time until now have been under the misconception that success and failure in life depend mainly on the environment around them. Many traditional ceremonies were originated in different places in the world to worship the more awesome aspect of the environment. For example, the aboriginals worship fire, sun and the moon. The Ancient Egyptians worshipped ‘Ra’, the Sun god, believing that it could bring them prosperity. They called upon these natural elements to protect them as well as to bring them happiness and wealth.   Our natural environment including trees mountains forests and the atmosphere   The Lord Buddha too, pointed out the importance o..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

The Six Roads to Ruin [apayamukha] mean specifically the six forms of behaviour which lead to the inadvertent erosion of our wealth. Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Virtuous must see the harm of the Six Roads to Ruin   Gambling is harmful because As a winner you beget hatred   The Six Roads to Ruin [apayamukha] mean specifically the six forms of behaviour which lead to the inadvertent erosion of our wealth. Literally, these six forms of behaviour were referred to as ‘portals to destruction’ and indeed, they do not only destroy a person’s wealth, but go on to undermine the whole economic infrastructure of a country or a society too. The Buddha described six different roads to ruin, each with six examples of the harm that they bring in all a total of thirty-six forms of harm brought by them. The Six Roads to Ruin comprise:   1. Consumption of addictive in toxicants; 2. Roaming the streets at unseemly hours; 3. ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

It was due to the great compassion of the Lord Buddha that he deigned to teach Noble Discipline, not only for monks, but for householders too, in the form of Noble Self-Discipline for Householders [gihivinaya], as a guideline for achieving happiness in life and developing society. Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Conclusion: The Characteristics of a Virtuous One   compassion of the Lord Buddha that he deigned to teach Noble Discipline   It was due to the great compassion of the Lord Buddha that he deigned to teach Noble Discipline, not only for monks, but for householders too, in the form of Noble Self-Discipline for Householders [gihivinaya], as a guideline for achieving happiness in life and developing society. Thus the Target Character Traits for which society awaits are four (see table opposite): The relationship between these Four Target Character Trais whom society awaits can be summarized diagrammatically as shown in the diagram (ess page 64):    principle characteristics of the virtuous person for whom society awaits   Having recognized the principle char..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

When talking of our environment, the Lord Buddha meant both the people that surround us and the natural environment that surrounds us: Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Mechanism # 4 : Practising our Dutise in the Six Directions & Conserving the Environment   using a tree to die an offence at the level of pacittiya; When talking of our environment, the Lord Buddha meant both the people that surround us and the natural environment that surrounds us:   1. The people in our surroundings: The people who are closest to us in society are the six groups mentioned in the ‘six directions’. For a person to achieve true success and happiness in life, they have to keep up a good relationship with all six groups mentioned in the six directions, while at the same time taking responsibility for the duties owed to each of tem (as detailed in Chapter 6)   2. Our natural surroundings: as already mentioned in the definitions, our natural su..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Having responsibility towards the environment means having responsibility both towards the natural environment (by conservation) and our immediate human environment (by performing our duties towards the ‘ six directions’ discussed earlier). Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Target Character Trait # 4 : Responsibility towards the Environment   Having responsibility towards the environment   Having responsibility towards the environment means having responsibility both towards the natural environment (by conservation) and our immediate human environment (by performing our duties towards the ‘ six directions’ discussed earlier). The Lord Buddha taught:   responsibility both towards the natural environment   “once the noble disciples have restrained themselves from the fourteen forms of unwholesome behavior, if they are able to perform their duties in the six directions, they will win both heaven and earth for themselves, they will win both heaven and earth for themselves, achieving happiness both in this world and the next…” &nb..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Those who have refined minds can foresee that resources in this world are limited. They try to share their incomes with other people in the society, nation, and the world for the benefit of each individual as just as possible. Meditaiton Meditation for Beginners   Mechanism # 3 : Abstention from the Six Roads to Ruin    In gambling, it is true that when somebody wins, the other must lose.   Those who have refined minds can foresee that resources in this world are limited. They try to share their incomes with other people in the society, nation, and the world for the benefit of each individual as just as possible. They perform their careers diligently and choose to work in wholesome careers because they are capable of distinguishing between right and wrong. They realize that unwholesome and illegal careers are not appropriate for their human dignity.   Regarding spending, they foresee the harmfulness of poverty and debt, and thus always remind themselves not to spend money extravagantly. They have good discipline concern..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Bias may occur whenever two persons are together. If we are not careful, bias can start from our mind. It will never happen if we have responsibility for our own human dignity because the true cause of bias is the untrained mind. Meditatin Meditatin for Beginners   Mechanism #2: Abstention from the Four Forms of Bias   Bias may occur whenever two persons are together.   The Origin of Bias   Bias may occur whenever two persons are together. If we are not careful, bias can start from our mind. It will never happen if we have responsibility for our own human dignity because the true cause of bias is the untrained mind.   As stated earlier, those who have an untrained mind are generally narrow-minded. They do not reflect carefully before they act. They always do things shoddily and think only of their own benefit. These people are jealous and envious of others. Those of untrained mind generally are biased and have unethical thoughts.   If we are not careful, bias can start from our mind.   The narrow-minded t..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Bias because of desire [chandagati]; results in unjust treatment due to the influence of personal love and pleasure. Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Target Character Trait # 2 : Responsibility for the human dignity of others   This bias is the cause of corruption at all levels.   Bias is the act of prejudice that leads to unjust situations.   The four forms of bias comprise:   - Bias because of desire [chandagati]; results in unjust treatment due to the influence of personal love and pleasure. One commits the inappropriate actions such as giving beneficial gain to someone who does not deserve it while ignoring the deserved one. One may decide to do so because the receivers are one’s relatives or favorite friends. This bias is the cause of corruption at all levels.     originates from the feeling of anger within one’s mind.     - Bias because of hatred [dosagati]; orig..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

The first three defilements of actions are physical evil action. The fourth is verbal evil action. The fourth is verbal evil action. Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Target Character Trait # 1: Responsibility for ones own human dignity    In Buddhism restraint from these behaviours is covered in the first four of the Five Precepts.   According to the Lord Buddha, the defilements of action comprise:   1. Killing and hurting people or animals [panatipata];   2. Stealing or taling what is not given [adinnadana]   3. Adultery or sexual intercourse outside marriage [kamesumicchacara]:   4. Telling lies and false speech [musavada];     Stealing or taling what is not given     Killing and hurting people or animals   The first three defilements of actions are physical evil action. The fourth is verbal evil action. The fourth is verbal evil action. The virtuo..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

“(I count amongst my) noble disciples those who have the self-discipline to refrain from the Four Defilements of Action, who restrain themselves from the Four Forms of Bias and who do not indulge in the Six Directions…” Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Discipline of the Enlightened Ones   we may conclude that vinaya means rules and regulations used to guide one’s physical   The essence of the Lord Buddha’s discourse delivered to Singala is as the following:   “(I count amongst my) noble disciples those who have the self-discipline to refrain from the Four Defilements of Action, who restrain themselves from the Four Forms of Bias and who do not indulge in the Six Directions…”   1.Discipline[vinaya]   The word “vinaya’ or ‘discipline’, as it appears in Buddhist scripture, has various meanings. However, we may conclude that vinaya means rules and regulations used to guide one’s physical and verbal actions in the direction of goodness and purity, and ultimately to the advantage of society at large. ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Once upon a time, there was young man named Singala who was extremely arrogant. Singala did not listen to his parents’ advice despite the fact they were already enlightened beings-thus he had no idea of right or wrong. Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Origin of the Singalovada Sutta    it is easy and possible to train them to be good and virtuous.   Once upon a time, there was young man named Singala who was extremely arrogant. Singala did not listen to his parents’ advice despite the fact they were already enlightened beings-thus he had no idea of right or wrong.   In desperation, Simgala’s father gave his son a short teaching while on his deathbed. “Son! Promise me just one thing before I die-make sure you pay respect to the six directions each day.” The father requested this because he predicted that one day in the future Lord Buddha or some enlightened one [arahant] would see his son paying respect to the different directions and deliver a teaching to allow him to know the real meaning of this practice..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

People have to face a mixture of happiness and suffering throughout their lives. It is likely that the proportion of suffering usually exceeds happiness. Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Primitive Belief   It is likely that the proportion of suffering usually exceeds happiness.   People have to face a mixture of happiness and suffering throughout their lives. It is likely that the proportion of suffering usually exceeds happiness. In times of trouble, when we are prone to fear and worry about catastrophe, many of us search for physical and mental refuges that we hope can protect us from lurking dangers.   People have to face a mixture of happiness and suffering throughout their lives.   Since ancient times, many people have sought refuges by praying to sacred ones to fulfill their wishes. They believe that the sacred supernatural power entities in the nature such as mountains, trees, rivers, stars, the moon, the sun, or other deities can..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

All that has been mentioned in the forgoing chapter are virtues which need to be instilled in the hearts of the people destined for self-improvement-because anyone with positive core values has the seeds of growing up into the sort of person for whom society is crying out. Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Concepts for the instilling of Core Values   Innstilling positive core values is impossible unless emphasis is placed on regular training.   All that has been mentioned in the forgoing chapter are virtues which need to be instilled in the hearts of the people destined for self-improvement-because anyone with positive core values has the seeds of growing up into the sort of person for whom society is crying out.   Innstilling positive core values is impossible unless emphasis is placed on regular training. The success of such training depends on many factors, such as the natural environment, the human environment and the state of society as a whole. If these factors are amenable, training will meet with success without undue difficulty.   Such training however..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Positive Core Values, or ‘Right View’ as it is called in Buddhism, will motivate one to practise in unhesitating accordance with the teachings of spirituality, our creativity and life assumptions corresponding more and more to the guidelines of the spiritual purity. Meditation Meditation for Beginners   The Relationship of Core Values to the Eightfold Path   it will lead to a cycle of ever-increasing purity of mind   Positive Core Values, or ‘Right View’ as it is called in Buddhism, will motivate one to practise in unhesitating accordance with the teachings of spirituality, our creativity and life assumptions corresponding more and more to the guidelines of the spiritual purity. There will be no thought to harm others, and on the contrary the only thoughts arising in the mind will be the thought to accumulate wholesome karma, so that one day in the future, one can attain the same virtues as those exemplified by the Lord Buddha. One will want to be virtuous for virtue’s sake, not to look as if one is doing good for some ulterior motive. These are the characteristics of Right..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

If someone whose mind has been illuminated by a proper understanding of the nine previous sorts of core value has the chance to meet up with a wise ‘good friend ‘ [kalyanamitta], they will appreciate how the level of illumination in their ownn mind has increased as the result of behaviour. Meditation Meditation for Beginners   Core Value# 10: Wise enlightened ones exist   insight into the true nature of the world   If someone whose mind has been illuminated by a proper understanding of the nine previous sorts of core value has the chance to meet up with a wise ‘good friend ‘ [kalyanamitta], they will appreciate how the level of illumination in their ownn mind has increased as the result of behaviour. They will appreciate thought, that if they were to practise strictly, continuously and earnestly according to the guidelines laid down by the Lord Buddha, apart from an increased purity of body, speech and mind, the inner brightness will be magnified to the extent that they will be able to penetrate the real truths of the world as is encapsulated by the word ,insinght, [vipassana].   If some..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

This ninth form of core value is acceptance of the existence of spontaneously arising beings-beings which arise not because of their parents but as the result of karmic action they have committed themselves in the past. Meditation Meditation for Beginners Core Value#9: Spontaneously arising beings exist   It is not difficult to understand ‘spontaneous-arising’ if one understands the four modes of birth   This ninth form of core value is acceptance of the existence of spontaneously arising beings-beings which arise not because of their parents but as the result of karmic action they have committed themselves in the past. It is not difficult to understand ‘spontaneous-arising’ if one understands the four modes of birth:   1. Beings hatched from an egg [andaja]: such as birds and reptiles; 2.Ovariparous animals [jalabuja]: beings born in or from the womb, mostly mammals, such as humans and dogs; 3. Beings arising in moist areas, stagnant water, corpses, or rotting food [samsetaja] such as mosquitos or paramecia; 4. S..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

This eighth form of core value indicates that a child acknowledges his or her debt of gratitude to his father. The debt of gratitude a person has tovards their father is the same as that they have towards their mother, i.e,: Meditation Medtation for Beginners Core Value # 8 : We are endebted to our father   The gift of life   This eighth form of core value indicates that a child acknowledges his or her debt of gratitude to his father. The debt of gratitude a person has tovards their father is the same as that they have towards their mother, i.e,:   - The gift of life; - Birth in human form; - The human blueprint for our mind.   The human blueprint for our mind.   That the expecting mother has to bear the weight of the unborn child in her womb for nine or ten months, sometimes leads people to understand that the debt of gratitude towards their mother should be larger than that towards their father. In fact, our mother and father have an equal share in the responsibility for bringing us into the worl..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

This seventh form of core value indicates that a person acknowledges hos or her debr of gratitude to his mother. Meditation Meditation for Beginners Core Value # 7 : We are endebted to our mother   a person acknowledges his or her debt of gratitude to his mother.   This seventh form of core value indicates that a person acknowledges his or her debt of gratitude to his mother. Buddhists in all traditions in the world acknowledge that they have a huge debt of gratitude to their mother, giving rise to the Buddhist proverb: ‘If you were to take the world as your pen and the sky as your paper, using the water in the seven oceans as your ink, even if you were to write down all the good things a parent has done for their child until all the water in the ocean were exhausted, one would still not have come to an end of all the things for which a child is endebted to their parents,” Even so , to appreciate the debt of gratitude one has to..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

This core value surmises the continuity of life after death. Life does not simply cease when we die. Only the physical body will decompose, but our spirit will comtinue its journey. This view is shared in one way or another by nearly every form of organized religion. Meditation Meditation for Beginners Core Value # 6: There is life after death   This core value surmises the continuity of life after death.   This core value surmises the continuity of life after death. Life does not simply cease when we die. Only the physical body will decompose, but our spirit will comtinue its journey. This view is shared in one way or another by nearly every form of organized religion. In fact, whether or not one believes it or not, this core value is positive in its implications because it means that the results of peoples’ actions during their lifetime are not nullified but continue to give their results even after death. It gives a sense of responsibility from one lifetime to another. It leads to the implication that if you love yourself, then you have to think of your future.   de..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

The term ‘world’ in Buddhist terminology means more than just our planet. It means: Meditation Meditation for Beginners Core Value # 5 : The real existence of the ‘world’     The term ‘world’ in Buddhist terminology means more than just our planet. It means:        - All things subject to deterioration, whether it be our bodies, our minds or our  possessions.      - It means all the living beings with whom we share the world          - It means the physical environment in which we live Someone pessessing this fifth sort of core value will not be able to deny that the action of their own mind, whether it be intentions, cheerfulness or depression, or mental habits and defilements-all have a real effect on life. They will be inspired to take responsibility for the wellbeing o other beings in the world, that ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

This fourth sort of core value implies that a person takes responsibility for the effects towards themselves and others of their own actions, It implies thaat a person assumes that the law of cause and effect is in force in their lives. Meditation Meditation for Beginners Core Value # 4: That good & bad actions have karmic results   Thus one,s qualitative judgement of an action depends on the end product of that action.   This fourth sort of core value implies that a person takes responsibility for the effects towards themselves and others of their own actions, It implies that a person assumes that the law of cause and effect is in force in their lives. It goes without saying that such a person will refrain from taking advantage of others in things which are good for themselves but not for those others. It means that in a social context one aims always to achieve a win-win situation in whatever one does.   Thus if one is on the receiving end of suffering in life, one should not blame God or destiny.   It implies that one is fair..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

This sort of view advocates any form of practice which praises pr honours the virtues of others. To give some examples: Meditation Meditation for Beginners Core Value # 3: Virtue should be honoured   This practice will help to eliminate and minimize ‘jealousy’   This sort of view advocates any form of practice which praises pr honours the virtues of others. To give some examples:   - Chinese people gather at the grave of their parents to value all the virtuous teachings given by those parents during their life; - British people valuing the goodness of Shakespeare who laid the foundation of English literature; - Americans valuing how Abraham Lincoln managed to overcome slavery in the United States; -  Thai Buddhists give alms to the minks, because they see the monks as the greatest teachers of ethical values known to the world.     we are training ourselves to observe goodness in others. &n..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

In our society there are many underpriviledged groups who because of various circumstances, whether it be handicap, illness or age, cannot help themselves out of their predicament. Meditation Meditation for Beginners Core Value#2: Welfare work is necessary   whether it be handicap, illness or age, cannot help themselves out of their predicament.   In our society there are many underpriviledged groups who because of various circumstances, whether it be handicap, illness or age, cannot help themselves out of their predicament. This second form of positive core value is an attitude to the world which sees the necessity of helping out such underprivileged groups, even though one might get nothing in return. Having such a sort of core value might get nothing in return. Having such a sort of core value implies that if a person desires happiness for himself, he will not seek if by riding upon the backs of those in suffering.   the distribution of wealth and help for the happiness of the underp..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

This is an attitude to the world which sees the importance of sharing what one has with others, whether it be the things we eat, the things we use, our time, our knowledge or a helping hand, It doesn’t mean that everything needs to be equally shared, but it means that a person shouldn’t believe that it ought to be ‘every man to himself’. Meditation Meditation for Beginners Core Value#1: Sharing is desirable   This is an attitude to the world which sees the importance of sharing what one has with others   This is an attitude to the world which sees the importance of sharing what one has with others, whether it be the things we eat, the things we use, our time, our knowledge or a helping hand, It doesn’t mean that everything needs to be equally shared, but it means that a person shouldn’t believe that it ought to be ‘every man to himself’. To give an example, suppose a group of people help out for the harvest at a farm, it might be the case that an older, less healthy person might put in less work than a younger one – that is not the issue- what is important is important is that everyone considers that they ought to help out for the common good.  ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Before we proceed to the topic of ‘core values’ in detail, it is necessary to understand ‘erroneous core values’ which make one misunderstand life and the world. Meditation Meditation for Beginners Erroneous Core Values are the Fruit of Mental Defilements   Without birth, there will be no aging and death.   Before we proceed to the topic of ‘core values’ in detail, it is necessary to understand ‘erroneous core values’ which make one misunderstand life and the world. Misunderstanding or misperception of life is diverse in details, but the following three issues are most important:   1.  Erroneous core values on aging: Considered unsentimentally, birth is the starting point of a one-way path that leads to death. Without birth, there will be no aging and death. This is the truth that we bring with us since the very first moment when we were born. Most people do not realize this fact, and they believe their children grow up progressively moving on to better things..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Having discovered that all troubles in human society can be traced back to defilements our minds, it is necessary for us to get to the root of the problem by finding a process of reformation which can effectively remove these defilements. Meditation Meditation for Beginners The Process of Human Reformation   They form the breeding ground of all other virtues and morality among mankind Having discovered that all troubles in human society can be traced back to defilements our minds, it is necessary for us to get to the root of the problem by finding a process of reformation which can effectively remove these defilements.   In the interim we find that it is more practical to deal with the core values demonstrated by the defilements than dealing with the defilements themselves.1 The best and the most appropriate process of human reformation is to cultivate ‘positive core values’ within the hearts of all mankind – core values which are ethical and comply with the reality of the world, as known in Buddhism as ‘Ringht view’ , the righteous understanding re..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

The Lord Buddha stresses that the three categories of defilement: greed, hatred and delusion are like usurpers in the mind. They darken our minds and obstruct us from enlightenment. Meditation Meditation for Beginners The Harm of Mental Defilements The Lord Buddha stresses that the three categories of defilement: greed, hatred and delusion are like usurpers in the mind. They darken our minds and obstruct us from enlightenment. They turn us into unwholesome people by exacerbating anger and hatred within. We will be overcome by evil intentions that weaken our minds. As defilements penetrate our minds, we may find that we commit unwholesome acts without awareness because our wisdom us darkened and obscured. False Friends are those whose minds are habitually contaminated with defilements. When faced with problems, they do not know how to get to the root of the problem. They tend to worsen their troubles by reacting to the outcomes of deeds ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

When we consider the subject of reforming human nature, the subject of this book, we mean the transformation process from the untrained to the well-trained mind. Meditation Meditation for Beginners The Essence of Human Reformation       speech and thought (i.e. mental purity) of those living in that society.    When we consider the subject of reforming human nature, the subject of this book, we mean the transformation process from the untrained to the well-trained mind. The difference between the trained mind and the untrained mind is that the number of mental defilements remaining is more in the latter. The defilements are like the puppets of Platonic shadow-play which cast the shadows of negative core values on the cave-wall mind. When these defilements cause distortion of our core values in relation to the world, from positive to negative ones, as we shall see, thought, speech and action deteriorate in accordance. Thu..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

The stated qualities cause those who have well-trained minds to have the courage to take responsibility for human dignity on various levels. Meditation Meditation for Beginners The Efficiency of the well-trained mind     avoid taking advantage of others, whether it be by killing, stealing, sexual misconduct or telling lies.     Those who have refined minds have all the opposite characteristics to those who have untrained minds. They will tend to broad-minded-but this means that they are generous and unselfish rather than being someone to tolerate fools gladly. Whenever they do something, they think of the benefits of their actions both to themselves and others. Some of them are even more selfless, being more concerned about the public benefits than they are about themselves.      characteristics to those who have untrained minds.   Those whose minds are well-trained ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

The refined mind is clear, bright, and free from defilements. To refine one’s mind is not easy because one has to work against the temptations thrown up by the mental defilements. Meditation Meditation for Beginners What are the characteristics of a refined mind?      They need to cultivate full consciousness at all times.    The refined mind is clear, bright, and free from defilements. To refine one’s mind is not easy because one has to work against the temptations thrown up by the mental defilements. The process used to train and refine one’s mind is actually quite complex. One needs a lot of patience in order to succeed. However, to make it easy to understand, we may reply that, “those who can eliminate the temptation to take advantage of others will always have a mind that is refined.”    The refined mind is clear, bright, and free from defilements. What are the qualities of those who have a well-trained mind?..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

When the mind is obscured by defilements, it is constricted like being imprisoned in a small dark room. Just as one who is imprisoned alone becomes paranoid about possible dangers, the first impulse will be to save his own skin. Meditation Meditation for Beginners What are the Characteristics of Untrained Mind?     They are selfish and never care about the rest of society.   In the same manner, for those who have their minds obscured by defilements, they are either selfish or co-operate only if it better allows them to manipulate others to their own benefit. We might say that those who with untrained minds are unable to distinguish the difference between behaviours that are right or wrong, good or bad, appropriate or inappropriate. They are selfish and never care about the rest of society. These people perform their duties shoddily and tend to take advantage of others, given the opportunity. Their behaviours are not different fr..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

There are various reasons that cause our minds to be clouded. There are both internal and external factors. Meditation meditation for Beginners   Why Does Effort have to be made to Refine the Mind?     greed, anger, and delusion which obscure the innate wisdom of the mind.     Meditation - Related Articles What is meditation? The Right Concentration The False Concentration  How to Meditate  A Meditation Guide Dhammakaya Temple  Meditation Retreat   ... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

What we mean by the ‘mind’ in not the brain, but something more similar to the ‘spirit’ which exists inside our body. In this book we use the word ‘mind’ to mean this nuomenon. Meditation Meditation for Beginners The Nature of the Mind     Good thoughts bring about wholesome speech and action   Whether one is good or bad, happy or sad, satisfied or dissatisfied, depends on one’s mind.   “Mind is the forerunner of all (evil states) –mind is chief; Mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with an unscrupulous mind, because of that, suffering follows one, even as the (cart-) wheel follows the hoof of the draught-oxen. Mind precedes all mental states: Mind is their chief. They are all mind-wrought. If with a pure mind, a person speaks or acts, happiness follows him like his never-dying shadow.””   1   Mano pubbangama dhamma             ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Meditation is a state of ease, inner peace and happiness that we can bring into being, ourselves. It is a practice recommended by Buddhism for happiness, Meditation Instructions     Meditation Technique         Meditation is a state of ease, inner peace and happiness that we can bring into being, ourselves. It is a practice recommended by Buddhism for happiness, non-reck-lessness, mindfulness and wisdom in everyday life. It is no mystery, but something which can be easily practiced by all, following the technique taught by Phramonkolthepmuni (Sodh Candasaro), Luang Phaw Wat Paknam as follows:   paying respect to the triple gem   (4)  Imagine a crystal ball as the object of your meditation: Imagine a clear, bright, flawless crystal ball as if it is floating at the centre of your body (see seventh base of the mind in the illustration). The crystal ball should be ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Relaxation is the heart of meditation, and it has to go hand in hand with mindfulness, no matter which meditation technigue we apply. This is the main principle that we should take into account. Meditation Meditation for Beginners Basic Meditation Method   by The Most ven. Phrarajdhavanavisudh       The Great Master of Dhammakaya Meditation, Phramongkol thepmuni, suggested the method of visualizing a crystal sphere and repeating a mantra in the mind. Applying these two mental activities, we will gain mindfulness. However, they must be done at ease because mindfulness should progress together with relaxation from the very beginning until reaching the end. We have to do both while keeping the mind cheerful, clean, clear, joyous, and calm, in order to elevate mental purity. If we practice both mental activities continually, our mind will soon be still. With the proper mental unification, the mantra-repetition will soon fade away from the mind, and there will ..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Start by sitting in a relaxed half-lotus position by placing your right leg on your left leg, your right hand on your left hand   A Meditation Guide  by Luang Phaw Dhammajayo        Start by sitting in a relaxed half-lotus position by placing your right leg on should touch the tip of your left thumb. Place your hands palms up gently on your lap. Sit with your body and head straight.        If you cannot sit in this position, you may feel your breath and circulation are flowing freely. Close your eyes gently, just like   When you are inhaling, let yourself feel as though every cell in your body attains the fullest moment to let go of these various concerns. Then breathe normally.            When you have relieved your tips of your toes. Relax your entire body at all points. No part should be tense, pulled, or str..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

Let’s give ourselves a try. Firstly we must know the real nature of the mind. It is bright, clear and in the sphere form like a tiny crystal ball. Normally, the mind How to Meditate        Let’s give ourselves a try. Firstly we must know the real nature of the mind. It is bright, clear and in the sphere form like a tiny crystal ball. Normally, the mind always wanders around.        Let’s close the eyes and imagine that we bring the wandering mind to stop at the nostril, male is at the right, female at the left. The nostril is the first base. Imagine that the tiny crystal ball of bright and clear is gradually move into the nostril and goes deeper to the second base and stop there for a while.            The second base is at the corner of the eye (the tear-drop point), male is at the right and female is at the left. The technique is to open the eyes upward and then let close it again. From the se..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques

The False Concentration (How many kinds of meditation are there? Part 3) The False Concentration     The False Concentration has the opposite meaning of the Right Concentration.  The False Concentration is one stands his mind in wrong place or on wrong things.  It has been described many places in the Tripitaka.  It is different from the Right Concentration that person who does the False Concentration will have the distracted mind.  It is the state of mind going out of the physical body and thinking of anything about the five sensual objects which are appearance, taste, smell, sound and touch.  So the False Concentration fills one’s mind with the sensual pleasure, can not lessen the defilements – lust, anger and delusion –  and is not the way to reach Nirvana.     Meditation - Related Articles What is meditation? The Right Concentrat..... Read More about Buddhist Meditation Techniques