Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

A Buddha is a being who has awakened from the sleep of ignorance in which others live, who has broken through the cognitive barriers that impede understanding and become omniscient through a long process of mental training.

Meditation or cognitive restructuring. Bhāvanā [2 types] Bhāvanā [2 types] Śamathā - Pacifying the mind and quieting the mental confusion, strife. Śamathā - Pacifying the mind and quieting the mental confusion, strife. Vipaśyana - Developing clear understanding of Buddhist tenets, the four noble truths impermanence selfless or cultivating direct perception of the true nature of reality (the dharma eye). Vipaśyana - Developing clear understanding of Buddhist tenets, the four noble truths impermanence selfless or cultivating direct perception of the true nature of reality (the dharma eye).

Prescriptive Aspect A teacher of meditation or guru will often prescribe the specific type of meditation that suits the needs of the individual. A teacher of meditation or guru will often prescribe the specific type of meditation that suits the needs of the individual. An angry person may be prescribed a meditation that cultivates feelings of love, or patience. Love and compassion are incompatible with anger, and so the more one cultivates these two, anger dissipates. An angry person may be prescribed a meditation that cultivates feelings of love, or patience. Love and compassion are incompatible with anger, and so the more one cultivates these two, anger dissipates. A person strongly arrogant may be instructed to meditate on impermanence and no-self. No amount of money or fame can forestall death, hence meditation on bones, on the world as filled with skeletons walking around A person strongly arrogant may be instructed to meditate on impermanence and no-self. No amount of money or fame can forestall death, hence meditation on bones, on the world as filled with skeletons walking around

Meditation and Sexual Desire A person strongly attached to sexual desire may be instructed to meditate on the hideous features of a dancing girl: concentrating on her snot, poop, pee sweat, bile. A Buddhist seeks a proper state of detachment from this life.

End Result of Meditation Buddhist Literature has extensive literature about specific mental states attained through specific practices. The end result of meditation is to reduce the force of desire and cultivate an attitude whereby all living beings are equal, and that feelings of attraction and revulsion are transient results of afflicted mental states.

Dhyānas – the Meditative Realms Shared by most Indian traditions. The four concentrations correspond to levels within the realm of form, the second of three levels of cyclic existence. Shared by most Indian traditions. The four concentrations correspond to levels within the realm of form, the second of three levels of cyclic existence. First Dhyāna: overcoming the subtlest levels of attachment to the Desire Realm, the lowest level of cyclic existence. One in mediation first views this desire realm as gross and the first dhyana as subtle and endeavors to attain to this level of concentration. The next three are similarly viewed as increasingly subtle mental levels, or dimensions of consciousness. First Dhyāna: overcoming the subtlest levels of attachment to the Desire Realm, the lowest level of cyclic existence. One in mediation first views this desire realm as gross and the first dhyana as subtle and endeavors to attain to this level of concentration. The next three are similarly viewed as increasingly subtle mental levels, or dimensions of consciousness. In the first two, joy and bliss are there In the first two, joy and bliss are there In the third, joy is gone but bliss is still present. One attains to meditative equanimity in the third concentration, which is strengthened in the fourth concentration to the point where bliss also disappears and is replaced with a pervasive equanimity. The reason joy and bliss are eliminated is that they interfere with mental stability – Śamathā In the third, joy is gone but bliss is still present. One attains to meditative equanimity in the third concentration, which is strengthened in the fourth concentration to the point where bliss also disappears and is replaced with a pervasive equanimity. The reason joy and bliss are eliminated is that they interfere with mental stability – Śamathā

Three Worlds 1. The Desire Realm (where you are now) 1. The Desire Realm (where you are now) 2. The Form Realms – dhyānas meditative states but real places for existence 2. The Form Realms – dhyānas meditative states but real places for existence 3. The Formless Realms – Higher states with no imagery or conception 3. The Formless Realms – Higher states with no imagery or conception

Four Formless Absorptions Arupya samāpatti: these correspond to four yet more subtle realms or dimensions within sa sāra. Arupya samāpatti: these correspond to four yet more subtle realms or dimensions within sa sāra. These are said to be the highest levels of existence and still be in cyclic existence. One is said to be born into these exceptionally complex levels of being dependent upon the ability of the individual to cultivate the corresponding mental level within contemplation. These are said to be the highest levels of existence and still be in cyclic existence. One is said to be born into these exceptionally complex levels of being dependent upon the ability of the individual to cultivate the corresponding mental level within contemplation. These are… These are…

Four Formless Absorptions 1. Absorption of limitless space 2. Absorption of limitless consciousness 3. Absorption of nothingness 4. Peak of cyclic existence

Śamathā Calming – the cessation of anxiety-ridden thoughts Calming – the cessation of anxiety-ridden thoughts To generate these higher mental states, one needs physical and mental pliancy. One has achieved a serviceability of mind and body such that the mind can be set on a virtuous object of observation as long as one wishes. To generate these higher mental states, one needs physical and mental pliancy. One has achieved a serviceability of mind and body such that the mind can be set on a virtuous object of observation as long as one wishes.

Vipaśyana and Śamathā Vipaśyana: analytical insight, The latter is an analytical task in which one considers the emptiness or lack of self of the meditative object. This involves philosophical introspection. Vipaśyana: analytical insight, The latter is an analytical task in which one considers the emptiness or lack of self of the meditative object. This involves philosophical introspection. The combination of Śamathā or Calming the mind is a necessary prerequisite for attainment of analytical insight or Vipaśyana. The two are combined like two wings of one bird, enable the meditator to achieve high, subtle levels of consciousness. The combination of Śamathā or Calming the mind is a necessary prerequisite for attainment of analytical insight or Vipaśyana. The two are combined like two wings of one bird, enable the meditator to achieve high, subtle levels of consciousness.

Paths to Nirvā a Path of Accumulation: collection of merit and wisdom, one enters this path with an intention merely to awaken all sentient beings Path of Accumulation: collection of merit and wisdom, one enters this path with an intention merely to awaken all sentient beings Path of Preparation: reaching the union of calming and higher insight with no-self as the object of observation or the meditative object Path of Preparation: reaching the union of calming and higher insight with no-self as the object of observation or the meditative object Stages: Stages: 1. Heat: fire of non-conceptual understanding on the path of seeing will soon arise 1. Heat: fire of non-conceptual understanding on the path of seeing will soon arise 2. Peak: good karma accumulated at this point will no longer be lost 2. Peak: good karma accumulated at this point will no longer be lost 3. Patience: overcoming fear with regard to selflessness 3. Patience: overcoming fear with regard to selflessness 4. Supreme mundane qualities 4. Supreme mundane qualities

The final paths of the bodhisattva The Path of "Seeing" (Darśana Marga): reality as "zero" or sunya with the consciousness of a minor bodhisattva The Path of "Seeing" (Darśana Marga): reality as "zero" or sunya with the consciousness of a minor bodhisattva The Path of "Meditation (Bhāvanāmarga): further cultivation of the consciousness towards omniscience in the Buddhist sense of knowing reality in a qualitative rather than quantitative sense The Path of "Meditation (Bhāvanāmarga): further cultivation of the consciousness towards omniscience in the Buddhist sense of knowing reality in a qualitative rather than quantitative sense The Path of "No More Learning," Akśaikśamarga: one has attained complete, perfect Enlightenment as a fully-fledged Buddha. The Path of "No More Learning," Akśaikśamarga: one has attained complete, perfect Enlightenment as a fully-fledged Buddha.