1. How is your state of mind today?
Starter Question
How is your state of mind today?
Hopefully your state of mind is pretty good. But what do you normally do in order to make your state of mind better?

2. It is human nature to seek comfort in something when you are feeling in need of support or cheering up.
Money
Family
Work
Shopping
Use the list that pupils made at the start of the lesson to see how many of these that they came up with. The next slide will discuss these examples in more detail.
Food
Objects
Friends
Sport
But what do Buddhists do when they need support?

3. Title: Meditation Learning Intentions
To study Samatha and Vipassana meditation.
Process
Discussing Samatha and Vipassana meditation, and taking notes.
Answering analysis questions.
Using the understanding dice

4. Subtitle: My ideas about Buddhist Meditation
1. Think for a minute: what do you think “Buddhist meditation” is and what is it for ?
2. Share your ideas and thoughts with a partner.
3. Write down key ideas and phrases you come up with.

5. Meditation was the method the Buddha used for achieving enlightenment
Meditation was the method the Buddha used for achieving enlightenment. The Buddha in the lotus posture is the most identifiable symbol of Buddhism.

6. Learning Meditation
Learning meditation is like learning how to play a musical instrument – to tune and control the mind.
A person becomes more patient, better able to deal with ups and downs, clearer headed and more energetic.

7. Right Effort, Right Concentration and Right Mindfulness
Thinking about the 8 fold path, which stages are focused on meditation?
Right Effort, Right Concentration and Right Mindfulness

8. In Buddhism the person meditating is not trying to get into a hypnotic state or contact angels or any other supernatural entity.
Instead they are simply trying to see their own life more clearly.
Meditation is a way of taking control of the mind. It helps to purify the mind of false views and follow the path which leads to Nibbana.
Meditation helps a person become peaceful, focused, and more aware.

9. Video clip http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/z64tfg8
(towards the end of the clip it talks about meditation).

10. ACTIVITY
Read the notes on SAMATHA meditation. This is on page 55 in your booklets.
Highlight 6 words or phrases to describe Samatha meditation.
You have 4 minutes.

11. Samatha Meditation The simplest form for beginners.
The mind focuses on one thing (an object, the breath), and it is not allowed to wander.
This frees the thread of thoughts (even if they are purposeful); and the mind becomes calm and controlled.
This focuses or ‘stills’ our restless minds and, through time and practice, increasingly deepens our calmness, patience, awareness and contentment.
It is necessary before Vipassana Mediation.

12. Samatha Mediation Cont…
Higher states of consciousness is gradually attained as the meditator becomes detached from their thoughts and feelings.
It is usually done in the lotus position however it can also be performed while walking.
It is claimed that meditators can even attain psychic powers and the ability to read minds!

13. Activity
Read the notes on Vipassana meditation. This is on page 56 in your booklet.
Highlight 6 words or phrases to describe it.
You have 4 minutes.

14. Vipassana meditation Very difficult, intellectual, and takes years.
Deep connection with the mind and body.
The meditator analyses the real makeup of his/her own physical and mental states, and the environment he/she is in. This develops insight of reality - ‘seeing things as they really are.’
It involves deep concentration of impermanence (change- anicca) and ‘no self’ (anatta – ta-ta to the self).
Requires Buddhist community or teacher.
Some Buddhists practice chanting rather than meditation. The phrases chanted are known as mantras.
Overall aim is to reach enlightenment.

15. ‘Meditation on loving kindness’
This is a type of meditation where negative thoughts are changed to positive thoughts; and loving kindness (Metta) and compassion are increased.
Try to feel living kindness (Metta)towards ourselves.
Extend Metta towards a friend.
Extend Metta to someone we barely know.
Extend Metta to someone we dislike.
Bring all these things together, extending Metta to all beings throughout the universe.
= Determined effort made to encourage skillfull/wholesome thoughts.

16. Analysis and Evaluation
Why is meditation so important?
What might be some of the benefits of meditation?
Can you think of any possible negatives in practising meditation?
Is it selfish to meditate?
How does meditation help free an individual from suffering?
Can meditation be understood as a way of escaping from your problems rather than facing them?

17. Why is meditation so important? You said:
Release of dukkha, anicca, & anatta
It helps the mind create positive thoughts and release bad ones
It helps to reach enlightenment/you can’t reach enlightenment without it
It creates good kamma
It forms one-third of the Eightfold Path
It clears the mind and helps you be better able to deal with stressful situations

18. Why is meditation so important?
If we have no meditation then we have no true insight of the nature of reality (wisdom), or stamina to follow the Path.
It allows control of the mind, desires & the root poisons. The poisons are greed, hatred and ignorance which drive the wheel of Samsara.
It can transform your life
It develops insight of reality - ‘seeing things as they really are’ - related to anicca, dukkha, and anatta
It develops compassion and loving kindness
It stops you craving and attachment
Meditation shows that Buddhism is a practical path rather than just theoretical

19. What might be some of the benefits of meditation? You said
It makes you closer to Nibbana
It calms the mind and makes you relaxed, aware & peaceful
Makes you have more energy, patience & positivity
Makes you have self control, focus, mindfulness and & concentration
It cures suffering (Dukkha)
It creates loving kindness & compassion towards others (metta)
It helps prevent the 3 root poisons: ignorance, hate & greed.

20. What might be some of the benefits of meditation?
Reduces depression, anxiety, anger and stress
It takes out ‘junk mail’
Reduces pain and strengthens the body’s immune system
Helps reverse heart disease
The Buddhist learns to control the mind from desires – this lessens suffering
Controlling the poisons will lead to well-being for the individual and society

21. Can you think of any possible negatives in practising meditation
Can you think of any possible negatives in practising meditation? You said
Takes too much dedication/will power
It limits other opportunities in life, e.g. family, social life, relationships, etc.
It’s boring and hard to focus/block out distractions.
You might fall asleep.
It can give you a sore back and bum.
It takes a long time to achieve.

22. Can you think of any possible negatives in practising meditation?
It should not be a substitute for therapy. It might not cure all your problems.
A lot of time is used up meditating (even years) – away from other things that are also important, such as family & work.
It is not okay to spend so much time in isolation.
Lethargy, drowsiness, sleepiness can happen
If not done correctly it could lead to confusion and be damaging.
It does not free you from your problems.

23. Is it selfish to meditate?
Yes
You are ignoring other people for self gain.
Meditation does not help global starvation.
Giving to charity would be a better way to do good.
Meditation is complete indulgence in the experience of the present moment.
It ignores other things that are just as important such as your family’s needs.
Not spending time with your family creates Dukkha for them.

24. Is it selfish to meditate?No
You are following your beliefs/goals/achievements in life.
It is not selfish to aspire for peace and kindness.
What you do with you life is your decision
If more people found a place of inner calm, the world would be more peaceful.
It creates good kamma.
It gives you more energy to care about the world around you.
It helps working through selfish traits.
It widens your perspective.
TV or listening to music is not less selfish. 

25. How does meditation can help free an individual from suffering?
Letting go of anicca (impermanence/change).
Clearing the mind of negative thoughts.
Relaxing the body and attaining a calm mind and self.
It can help you focus on other things so you don’t think about suffering.
Becoming enlightened escapes suffering.
Becoming more kind and caring reduces suffering
It helps you focus on happier things/positive thoughts.

26. Can meditation be understood as a way of escaping from your problems rather than facing them? – you said:
Yes No
You are clearing the mind of negative thoughts therefore you are escaping problems.
Relaxing the body relaxes you from problems.
With meditation you face & accept problems therefore you overcome them.
It is a coping mechanism.
If it’s a serious problem then it’ll still be there when meditation stops.
The problem only goes away for a short period of time.
Ignoring the problem for a while does not make it go away.

27. Analysis Question What makes the two types of meditation different?
Samatha meditation is aimed at producing calmness, patience and non-attachment. It involves the use of simple breathing exercises.
Vipassana medication is aimed at producing insight into the Buddhist view of existence. It ultimately leads to enlightenment.

28. Discuss what this quote is saying.
All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. Dhammapada Chapter 1:1-2
These lines from the ancient Buddhist scripture suggest that our mental state is the most important thing in our lives.
If our thoughts are full of craving and hatred then we will experience the world very differently from if our thoughts are filled with generosity and kindness.
Meditation is therefore a way of changing our mindsets .

29. Understanding Dice
What would be an example of the disadvantages of meditation?
Please explain why Buddhists meditate?
Can you explain in your own words Vipassana meditation?
What is the main idea of Samatha meditation?
What is meant by The Eightfold Path?
What facts or ideas show the benefits of meditation?

30. “Our life is shaped by our minds, we become what we think
“Our life is shaped by our minds, we become what we think. Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves.” The Dhammapada.

31. Meditation
In order for us to get the most out of our meditation, we must prepare ourselves.
This involves the right conditions:
- Atmosphere
Location in the room
Body Posture
Frame of mind
Eyes closed (or open if you know you will not be distracted)

32. Buddha’s Meditation
After Buddha saw suffering for the first time he went to the Bodhi tree to reflect on what he had seen
When he got to the tree he began to meditate
He mediated for 40 days, after he meditated he became enlightened
He after he became enlightened through meditation he spread the word about Buddhism and the power of meditation