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Kvitzin Timun - Meditation
buddhafoot
Veteran
Why?
What's the purpose?
We're all supposed to be doing it one way or the other - if we're following this Path.
But why?
What's the big deal?
What purpose does it serve?
Your answers, should you choose to accept this mission, will be to provide why you meditate and what Buddha taught regarding the practice of meditation.
Answer on Friday.
-bf
What's the purpose?
We're all supposed to be doing it one way or the other - if we're following this Path.
But why?
What's the big deal?
What purpose does it serve?
Your answers, should you choose to accept this mission, will be to provide why you meditate and what Buddha taught regarding the practice of meditation.
Answer on Friday.
-bf
0
Comments
I trust those of you who contribute more will therefore forgive my premature comments...
It keeps me sane.
It helps me focus on what is important, and what is not....
And the things that are important, I can count on the fingers of one hand..
The things that are not, are legion...
But the former outweight the latter, by far....
The important things are you, collectively, and my BuddhaDharmaSangha
The unimportant, are too numerous to mention, but as trivial and as inconsequential as a petal fluttering in the breeze....
Meditation helps me seize this, and Brings my Mind Home.
I know it isn't taken from the suttas - but it is based upon why meditation is important and what can happen during meditation.
I also found this article very interesting regarding the various forms of "meditation" that many religions or philosophies have. Prayer is a form of meditation - but even though Christians may do this - the word meditation conjures up ugly, non-Christian god type ideas and fears.
I thought this was very interesting regarding what may happen to Christians and Hindus....
http://www.geocities.com/ekchew.geo/bl015.html
We hear of "breathing meditation" quite a bit - but I'm sure at one time or another we've heard of different types of meditation.
Simple Meditation: http://1stholistic.com/Meditation/hol_meditation_simple_meditation.htm
Walking Meditation: http://1stholistic.com/Meditation/hol_meditation_walking_meditation.htm
TM: http://1stholistic.com/Meditation/hol_meditation_TM.htm
Mindfulness: http://1stholistic.com/Meditation/hol_meditation_mindfulness.htm
Vibrational: http://1stholistic.com/Meditation/hol_meditation_vibrational.htm
Toaist (pronounced Dowist): http://1stholistic.com/Meditation/hol_meditation_taoist_meditation.htm
Lovingkindness: http://1stholistic.com/Meditation/meditation_loving-kindness-meditation.htm
These are just some of the types of meditation one can do. Here are some links to even more information about meditation, if you wish to read:
http://healing.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=healing&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.accesstoinsight.org%2Flib%2Fbps%2Fleaves%2Fbl015.html
http://1stholistic.com/Meditation/hol_meditation_classification.htm
http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/meditation/types.asp
http://www.appliedmeditation.org/Heart_Rhythm_Practice/meditation_types_of.shtml
We also covered this area regarding heedfulness in our Dhammapada discussions. Being "meditative" is a theme throughout this set of verses - as well as Buddha's teachings.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/khuddaka/dhp/ab0/dhp-02-ab0.html
I think that's it for me right now. I should probably go do some meditating
-bf
For myself, those questions are loaded for the ego.
With that said, I first saw meditation as a way to improve myself. I was encouraged to do meditations of visualizing that thoughts were logs floating down a lazy river, then to visualize myself at the bottom a a lake and visualize thoughts as bubbles rising to the surface. That got me nothing more than thoughts of bubbles and logs.
Then I was told to visualize grounding myself with a rope and do more visualizations, which in my opinion, did nothing more than taught me how to fantasize and have waking dreams.
Then I was told to just sit and follow my breath. Letting the thoughts become back ground noise like that of an air conditioner, and be present, aware of all of the sounds around me. I became aware of a great deal of rucuss going on in my mind and no quiet, until one day I just heard and was simply aware of what was there in that moment of awareness. I came in touch with my feelings, saw my conflicts, and their causes.
Then I heard that I shouldn't sit being aware, but I needed to work, walk, drive, and answer the phone in awareness. I discovered I was easily caught up in the goings on of my life relating those things happening now to past events, thereby allowing past knolwedge and emotions to reestablish themselves coloring and shaping my present.
Meditation is no longer something I do, it's a way of being.
I realized, I Am Who Am.
Do I still get swept up and carried away by thoughts and emotions, oh course, but now I am aware that it's happening and can allow things to be what they are. I no loner create conflict by trying to make them what my once conditioned mind thought they should be or compare, critize, or judge them for not being what I want them to be.
What was the question, again?:winkc:
I now realize through practice and study that every time I suffer is because I have set myself up for a fall through heedlessness. I now watch my mind set itself up for sensual pleasures, and then remorse. I see how distracted my mind is and how it sort of sneaks around doing what it pleases while I'm not looking, creating suffering all the while.
By becoming aware of my own harmful/unskillful mental activities, I obtain the ability to understand them and to let them go (eventually). One by one, I can release myself from the bad habits which are the source/cause of my sufferings and the suffering of others. A good meditation session can really help get down through the layers which have accumulated over time. Regular meditation can speed this process up a great deal, though admittedly I really suck at doing just that. Nonetheless, I attempt to bring mindfulness to all my daily activities, which seems to be doing a good job in & of itself. One single mindful breath can often bring me back where I need to be.
Still, I look forward to when I have the opportunity to go on more extended sittings/retreats, and go practice with a group regularly, as the kids get older.
_/\_
metta
When I was young, I think I was meditating a lot without realizing that's what I was doing. There would be moments when I forgot (only for a second or two) what I looked like, where I lived, what projects I was involved in, etc. At the time, I thought I might die if I allowed myself to stay in these periods for too long, and so I shoved them away and hurried to make another identity for myself.
So I guess meditation for me is peeling away the layers so I can get back to allowing myself to be the one I was in those moments of being absolutely no one at all.
Angela
Every time? Not once has it been that the carpet was pulled out from under you?
Just curious?
That's one approach to meditation but it's an illusory one. Meditation isn't about silence, love or being no one at all.
I can't honestly attest for every moment of suffering, but I am observing more and more that my suffering goes hand in hand with heedlessness. I can't prevent negative occurences from happening, but I can gain enough mindfulness to deal with them without creating extra suffering. I'm more talking about my own inner state which is reactive to external circumstances. If I am heedless to my inner reactions and/or resist them, then I will get carried away in a little drama around the negative occurence and suffer.
And my realization does not go deep enough to cut this process off at the root. I really should get down to some intensive retreats, but having a 2 year old and a 6 month old makes that basically impossible right now. Nonetheless, I am starting to observe this process of suffering and see how I habitually create it. But that's just the 1st noble truth. I need to really get to the cause/source, so I can witness the cessation.
All in due time I guess. No short cuts here. Kinda reminds me of how helping a hatchling bird out of its shell will rob it of the strength it needs to survive.
_/\_
metta
Thanks for clarifying! :thumbsup:
As I came to more fully understand Buddhist principles I was given an analogy that the mind is like a house.
The first floor, is the living area (consciousness) where one participates in life. The second level, is a basement (unconsciousness) and in the basement the seeds for all the various emotions are stored. It is the purpose of the home owner to know what seeds are in the basement and how to care for these seeds should they get watered and grow up into the living room.
For me, speaking metaphoricly, that means I must seperate the seeds, find their point of origin and come to an understanding under what conditions do they germinate and grow.
As you said the first noble truth says there is suffering.
The plants may be cut at the root, but what happens to a plant that you cut at the root. Being a landscaper, in most my experiences a plant cut back at the root will grow back. Maybe, the point isn't to cut it off at the root, but rather learn how to pull the plants out by the root, and then come to learn how to care for the seeds that have been entrusted to us. Of course, there's going to be those times that we're busy working in the house, and when we least expect it find plants sprouting up threw the floorboards. :winkc:
So, take good care of those seeds!!