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Can breathing meditation increase compassion?

zenonezenone
edited December 2009 in Buddhism Basics
Hello,

I am confused about whether breathing meditation alone is capable of increasing compassion. I always thought it was, but then, why would we need to have a seperate kind of meditation for developing 'loving-kindness'?

Thank you,
Zenone

Comments

  • DeshyDeshy Veteran
    edited December 2009
    Any meditation will calm your mind and increase your mindfulness. However, the metta meditation is specifically focusing on loving kindness so it is mostly used by meditators to curb their anger, lust, frustrations etc.

    I see these as different types of meditation that can be used on different occasions. For example, when I feel lazy, sleepy or feel like I was sitting for too long, I do some walking meditation. Sometimes when I am annoyed with someone or feel frustrated with a deadline at work, I go home and focus on the metta meditation instead of the breath meditation. Thus, I use these other kinds of meditations to calm my mind enough for the breath meditation to go smoothly. However, breath meditation is what I try to improve on because that is what the Buddha focused on in the Anapanasathi sutta. “Anapanasathi” has the meaning of being mindful of the breath.
  • DhammaDhatuDhammaDhatu Veteran
    edited December 2009
    If one can succeed at breathing meditation, it will result in the embodiment of compassion. This is because the love & effort required to succeed at breathing meditation & overcome negative emotions is rooted is compassion for oneself. When one is successful & the eradication of negative emotions is complete, all that is left is compassion. This compassion becomes the embodiment of one's being, both inwardly & outwardly.

    Breathing meditation leads to the meditative absorptions, which are also called the brahma realms. The realm of brahma is the realm of compassion.

    :)
  • DeshyDeshy Veteran
    edited December 2009
    Dhamma Dhatu wrote: »

    Breathing meditation leads to the meditative absorptions, which are also called the brahma realms. The realm of brahma is the realm of compassion.

    :)

    What do you mean? I didn't get that sorry :confused:
  • amalisamalis
    edited December 2009
    can anyone explain me about "the other types of meditation"? I know only one classic meditation style when you have to sit and concentrate on something.How can you meditate while walking or while at work? Please explain me, I might benefit from it. For example, now I am at work and my brain is simply refusing to work..
  • syriussyrius
    edited December 2009
    amalis wrote: »
    can anyone explain me about "the other types of meditation"? I know only one classic meditation style when you have to sit and concentrate on something.How can you meditate while walking or while at work? Please explain me, I might benefit from it. For example, now I am at work and my brain is simply refusing to work..
    have a look here
    http://www.wildmind.org/walking
  • TenzinTenzin
    edited December 2009
    Hi Zenone. There is a vajrayana meditation practice that is designed to increase your compassion. It is called "Tonglen" which means giving and receiving. The basic idea is to generate Bodhicitta which is the aspiration to benefit all sentient beings. The practice is basic: As you are sitting in meditation, visualize the suffering of beings everywhere in existence. As you inhale, visualize breathing in or taking on the suffereing of beings. As you exhale, visualize that all of the goodness and light within you is projected out to alleviate the suffering of all sentient beings. You can learn more about this practice from my teacher's, Lama Phurbu Tashi, website:
    www.thegampopacenter.com. Tonglen is part of a larger practice; The Seven Points of Mind Training, which was a practice developed in the old Kadampa tradition a thousand years ago.
  • DhammaDhatuDhammaDhatu Veteran
    edited December 2009
    Deshy wrote: »
    What do you mean? I didn't get that sorry :confused:
    Jhanas are also called brahma realms.

    When a mind approaches jhana it becomes flush with love & compassion.

    :)
  • zenonezenone
    edited December 2009
    Thank you all for your responses and insight.
  • jinzangjinzang Veteran
    edited December 2009
    If you are successful at breathing meditation or any sort of shamatha practice, your negative emotions will decrease and your joy will increase. Since negative emotions are a hindrance to compassion, you will find it easier to express the compassion that is in you. However, gaining success at breathing meditation is not so easy, and there are limits to the compassion you have now. It's best if you combine breathing meditation with other practices specifically aimed at increasing your love and compassion.
  • DazzleDazzle
    edited December 2009
    Tibetan Buddhist Tonglen practice isn't suitable for everyone and should ideally be practiced under the guidance of a teacher.
    There have been people who have vividly imagined that they've actually taken in all the suffering of other beings themselves, and then become extremely distressed and suffered afterwards as a result - so it really isn't wise to just recommend this practice to anyone.

    Kind regards,

    Dazzle
  • DeshyDeshy Veteran
    edited December 2009
    Dhamma Dhatu wrote: »
    Jhanas are also called brahma realms.

    When a mind approaches jhana it becomes flush with love & compassion.

    :)

    Thanks :)
  • BrigidBrigid Veteran
    edited December 2009
    Dazzle wrote: »
    Tibetan Buddhist Tonglen practice isn't suitable for everyone and should ideally be practiced under the guidance of a teacher.
    There have been people who have vividly imagined that they've actually taken in all the suffering of other beings themselves, and then become extremely distressed and suffered afterwards as a result - so it really isn't wise to just recommend this practice to anyone.

    Kind regards,

    Dazzle
    Yes, I agree. Tonglen is not a basic practice and as I understand it, one needs a qualified and experienced teacher to practice it. It's not really a practice for beginners.
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