Music meditation

betaboy

Can listening to mild music, like classical, be a form of meditation? Instead of getting absorbed in the breath, we're getting absorbed in sounds. So would that help?

Dakini

I find certain types of music to be highly meditative, betaboy. But one of the ten precepts is to not distract oneself with music. (I happen to disagree, but it depends on the music. Some, clearly, is more conducive to spiritual inspiration than other types.) I think whatever works is ok, but the good, old-fashioned silent meditation is a good fundamental practice to retain while occasionally doing other types of meditation for inspiration.

Silent meditation is more conducive to going within, observing oneself, and getting certain types of insights.

Jeffrey

Dakini where did yo read that not listening to buddhism is one of the 10 precepts? Is that within the Theravadan tradition? My sangha has liturgy set to music.

Ric

This is something I have thought about before. I would love for it to be the same thing because Ill be honest, listening to music is a lot more fun

But I think its not the same thing as watching the breath. I think its more of a distraction to keep your mind busy. I think when you listen to music your mind flows whereas when you watch the breath your mind becomes still.

It would be the same as asking "can I watch some timelapse videos while meditating", it would surely be relaxing and inspiring but I dont think it is equivalent to breathing meditation. Breathing meditation is all about stillness and observing what pops up rather than artificially introducing what you would like to see/hear.

Tikal2012

The thing about listening to music is that it is considered a sensual pleasure, and any time you are delighting in a sensual pleasure, your mind is effected by craving, and any time your mind is effected by craving, you are causing suffering for yourself.
So, if your goal is to practice the meditation, and enter profound states of awareness, it is probably recommended that you do not listen to music. In fact, in order to enter the first jhana, one is said to have to be secluded from unwholesome states, and secluded from sensual pleasures.
With that said, the choice is really yours. No one is forcing you to give up music, but it's definitely recommended that, if you want to meditate successfully, you do so.

Jeffrey

*music* rather than buddhism in my post a few up

person

Dakini where did yo read that not listening to buddhism is one of the 10 precepts? Is that within the Theravadan tradition? My sangha has liturgy set to music.

Here you go, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Precepts

The Ten Precepts (Pali: dasasila or samanerasikkha) refer to the precepts (training rules) for Buddhist samaneras (novice monks) and samaneris (novice nuns). They are used in most Buddhist schools.

1.Refrain from killing living things.
2.Refrain from stealing.
3.Refrain from un-chastity (sensuality, sexuality, lust).
4.Refrain from lying.
5.Refrain from taking intoxicants.
6.Refrain from taking food at inappropriate times (after noon).
7.Refrain from singing, dancing, playing music or attending entertainment programs (performances).
8.Refrain from wearing perfume, cosmetics and garland (decorative accessories).
9.Refrain from sitting on high chairs and sleeping on luxurious, soft beds.
10.Refrain from accepting money.


Number 7 seems to be mostly about entertainment, many Buddhist rituals use music of some sort so not sure how far that one goes.

Dakini

Dakini where did yo read that not listening to buddhism is one of the 10 precepts? Is that within the Theravadan tradition? My sangha has liturgy set to music.

We'v'e had a couple of threads on this. It's in the 2nd 5 of the precepts. But of course, Tibetan ceremonies use music, and there are popular Tibetan singers, and I'm sure there are forms of music in some other traditions. The general consensus after discussing the prohibition on music was that there's music, and then there's music. There's music that's conducive to spiritual contemplation, and there's music that's a distraction. Anything conducive to spiritual contemplation is fair game, IMO.