Different methods of meditation
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Benyamin Sheppard
Apr 2, 2006, 5:18:57 PM4/2/06
to wei...@googlegroups.com
[editor's note: This was copied from
Kyaw Myaing's original Post on the original weizzar.com discussion forum]
Dear fellow seekers,
Just because you see people in cross-legged positions with eyes closed and meditating, just because most of the Buddha images you come across are sitting images of Buddha doesn't mean that the sitting position is the only position for meditation.
In fact as you might know already, there are two types of meditation. One has the objective of training the mind to achieve mental clarity and focus - this is called Concentration meditation. The other has the objective of training the mind to see clearly so that we see the bodily and mental processes the way they really are. This is called Insight Meditation as it helps the meditation practitioner to train his or her mind to get the right attitude towards life in general.
The Buddha explained in his talks to his disciples that there are forty methods of concentration meditation.
The most important thing to remember here is that the sitting position is only one of the postures for meditation.
Since all of us or at least most of us have to work at least five days a week, we have to rush to work five days a week and by the time we get back home we are pretty tired to do anything.
In the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, the Buddha explained to his disciples that there are four ways of being mindful to get the right attitude for facing the challenges of life:
So it does not matter if you cannot find time to sit 15 minutes or five minutes each day.
You can do the meditation on the bus or the subway.
In fact you can meditate anywhere.
Wherever you are, the Dhamma is there.
Metta,
Kyaw Myaing
Founder - weizzar.com
http://www.weizzar.com
Dear fellow seekers,
Just because you see people in cross-legged positions with eyes closed and meditating, just because most of the Buddha images you come across are sitting images of Buddha doesn't mean that the sitting position is the only position for meditation.
In fact as you might know already, there are two types of meditation. One has the objective of training the mind to achieve mental clarity and focus - this is called Concentration meditation. The other has the objective of training the mind to see clearly so that we see the bodily and mental processes the way they really are. This is called Insight Meditation as it helps the meditation practitioner to train his or her mind to get the right attitude towards life in general.
The Buddha explained in his talks to his disciples that there are forty methods of concentration meditation.
The most important thing to remember here is that the sitting position is only one of the postures for meditation.
Since all of us or at least most of us have to work at least five days a week, we have to rush to work five days a week and by the time we get back home we are pretty tired to do anything.
In the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, the Buddha explained to his disciples that there are four ways of being mindful to get the right attitude for facing the challenges of life:
- Being mindful of the mind processes.
- Being mindful of the feelings.
- Being mindful of the body and the bodily movements.
- Being mindful of the mental qualities.
So it does not matter if you cannot find time to sit 15 minutes or five minutes each day.
You can do the meditation on the bus or the subway.
In fact you can meditate anywhere.
Wherever you are, the Dhamma is there.
Metta,
Kyaw Myaing
Founder - weizzar.com
http://www.weizzar.com
Benyamin Sheppard
Apr 2, 2006, 5:23:03 PM4/2/06
to wei...@googlegroups.com
[editor's note: This was copied from
Kyaw Myaing's original Post on the original weizzar.com discussion forum]
Dear fellow wisdom seekers,
If you wish to do meditation on the subway or on the bus, it depends on whether the subway ride or bus ride is long enough. It is also important to make sure that your valuables are well protected.
There are many ways of meditation that you can do. You can do meditation on the breath, meditation on the thought processes or mantra meditation. For mantra meditation you just need to recite the mantra in your mind. For thought meditation you keep your mind focused on your thoughts and be aware as each thought comes up.
(to be continued)
If you wish to do meditation on the subway or on the bus, it depends on whether the subway ride or bus ride is long enough. It is also important to make sure that your valuables are well protected.
There are many ways of meditation that you can do. You can do meditation on the breath, meditation on the thought processes or mantra meditation. For mantra meditation you just need to recite the mantra in your mind. For thought meditation you keep your mind focused on your thoughts and be aware as each thought comes up.
(to be continued)
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