Happiness is conditioned by attitudes of mind, and only a few people give real thought to their own mental development. People try to make all possible efforts to prevent and alleviate suffering and to enjoy happiness as nobody likes sufferings in life and everybody seeks extreme happiness and all comforts in living. All these human efforts and materialistic achievements cannot alleviate or eradicate the suffering associated with life as the suffering can be overcome only by mind – training and mental development process. Buddhist meditational practices help to get an understanding about the sufferings caused by old age and death, domestic infelicity, economic troubles and all non – satisfaction of wants and desires.
In the first Sermon of the Lord Buddha the word SAMADHI or mind development (meditation) occurs as SAMMA – Samadhi. It is known as the Middle Path that avoids the two extremes. This path gives rise to vision (cakkhukarani), insight knowledge (nannakarani), peace (upasama), higher wisdom (abhinna), enlightenment (sambodha) and NIBBANA. This should be understood that mind development (SAMADHI), which comes under the name of Right Concentration (SAMMA SAMADHI), is one of the original terms employed by the Buddha, Himself over 2530 years ago.
Simply, meditation means one pointedness of mind. Concerning mind – development we read in the Buddhist commentary – “ Attasalini”; stability denotes the mind which stands unshaken in the meditative object. When the mind stands combining associated states, applied thought, sustained thought Zest, in the object it is steadiness. When it stands having absorbed steadfastness absence of scattering is that which is opposed to the distraction of mind owing to flurry and perplexity. The mind, going to and fro through flurry and perplexity, is scattered. But in pose such scattering is absent. By flurry and perplexity the mind is said to be distracted; it is drawn here and there. But the state of mind called importuned mental procedure is just opposite to that which is scattered and distracted.
Buddhist Meditation is the most necessary practice for modern people irrespective of faith and geographical boundaries. Because lack of meditation or mind – development stress is now known to be an epidemic disease, either directly or indirectly, to coronary disease heart disease, cancer, lung ailments accidental injuries, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide, six of the leading causes of death in our mode of life itself, the way we live.
Loving Kindness Meditation (Metta Meditation)
One of the mightiest forces in the universe is that of “Metta”. Metta in Pali, “Maithri” in Sanskrit is the Buddhist term of loving kindness. According to the Buddha’s teaching this is the method of meditation. This mighty force takes place in the hidden silence of the heart which can be radiated out to the whole world. This meditation is designed to cultivate and develop. By practicing this meditation one can attain to unspeakable peace, tranquility, and happiness within oneself. Loving kindness meditation is extremely important as a guide to a wholesome and satisfactory life. It develops the skill to cultivate an attitude of love and kindness towards all the stress sources of an individual’s mind. It promotes the feelings of compassion and love for others and one self which pave the way for peace and togetherness within people.
The practitioners open their minds to receive loving kindness while breathing deeply. Loving kindness meditation helps to those who are affected by anger, frustration, resentment, and interpersonal conflict. This type of meditation may increase positive emotions and has been linked to reduced depression, anxiety, and post – traumatic stress or PTSD. One can gain many benefits by practicing this loving kindness meditation such as, sleep in comfort, awake in comfort, sleep without nightmares, being dear to the human and non-human beings, being protected by all the deities, one’s mind can be easily concentrated, live without the danger of fire, poison, and weapons.
Vipassana Meditation
Vipassna Meditation leads to realization of the ultimate truth, Nirwana. It is an analytical method based on mindfulness. The ways of meditation given in this discourse are out of our lives and the daily activities such as our sorrows and joys, our words and thoughts, morals and intellectual occupations. This discourse is divided into four main sections,
- Deals with our bodies – Kaaya
- Deals with our feelings and sensations – Vedana
- Deals with our mind – Chitta
- Deals with our moral and intellectual subject – Dhamma
The meditators’ hands must be placed comfortably on his leg. Thus seated you may close your eyes or gaze at the tip of your nose as it may convince you. Then you should breathe in and out as usual without any effort of strength. Then you can bring your mind to concentrate on breathing in and breathing out. When you breath sometimes you may take deep breaths and sometimes not. Let your mind be aware and vigilant of your breathing in and out. You should breathe normally and naturally. Your mind should be fully concentrated on your breathing that you are aware of its moments and changes. The meditators should not raise their eyes while meditating. Once the meditators practice this meditation and continue it daily they will experience such a tremendous moment with full of joy happiness and tranquility that they would like to continue it.
Mindfulness Meditation
One of the most well – known popular and practical example of meditation connected with the body is called mindfulness and awareness of in and out breathing – “Anapanasathi”. This is a form of meditation that urges the practitioners to remain aware and present in the moment. This is an excellent method of meditation to encourage one’s existing surroundings without dwelling in the past or future. This can be practiced almost everywhere and the other forms of meditation you may sit, stand, walk or lie down for cultivating mindfulness. The mindfulness meditation can be practiced even when an individual is doing housework, while standing in a queue, and while travelling by a vehicle. For an in and out breathing one should sit or cross legged keeping the body erect mindful and alert. The mindfulness is involved in most kinds of meditational practices which demonstrate the fact that concentration is one of the most important elements in living a peaceful life. The mindfulness helps one’s self to reduce fixation on negative emotions, to be able to concentrate well, to improve the memory, to lessen impulsive and emotional reactions and to improve relationship satisfaction. This method of meditation would help to maintain a healthy life of the individuals.
Breathe Awareness Meditation (Anaapaanaasati Meditation)
In this method of meditation the meditators should focuses on their breaths by breathing slowly and deeply to ignore other thoughts and the surrounding. This meditation gives a great emotional flexibility to the practitioners. This also gives the same benefits as the mindfulness meditation.
Walking Meditation
This method of meditation is done with the awareness of the walking posture. While walking you should place all your attention at the soles of the feet, on the sensations and feelings as they arise and pass away. As the foot is lifted and comes down again into contact with the path, a new feeling arises. The practitioners should mentally note the new feeling as the foot lifts and arises. When you lift each foot and place it down concentrate on the sensations felt at the moment. At each new step, certain new feelings are experienced and the old feelings cease. These feelings should be known with mindfulness and awareness. The meditators experience a new feeling of arising and feeling passing away.
With this method of meditation we place mindfulness on the feeling of walking itself, on each step taken, on the pleasant, unpleasant or neutral sensations. Here we are aware of whatever type of feeling arises at the soles of the feet. When we stand, there is a sensation, a feeling of contact with the ground. This contact can produce pain, heat or other sensations. We place our mindful attention on those feelings, knowing them fully. When arising the foot to take a step, the feeling changes as soon as the foot loses contact with the ground. When we place that foot down, again a new feeling arises as the foot comes into contact with the ground.
The Buddha spoke of five walking meditation such as it develops endurance for walking long distances, it is good for striving, it is healthy, it is good for the digestion after a meal, and the concentration won from walking meditation lasts a long time.
The Meditation is a salient practice in Load Buddha’s teaching and it views as an essential part of all Buddhist in Sri Lanka. The Meditation paves the way for humans to improve the mind and it inculcates positive attitudes towards life and alleviates the stress and mental agony that lead human violence. Thus, we can’t think of a good life sans the attachment of meditative views to the life. It is a known fact that many of the Sri Lankans make an attempt to practice Meditation in view of setting their lives to the noble path that was accepted by the Lord Buddha.
Reference
Waling Meditation, Ajahn Brahmavamso, Ajahn Nyanadhammo, Dharma Dorje
Practical Insight Meditation, Mahasi Sayadaw
Buddhist Thought & Meditation in the Nuclear Age, Phra Sona Kantibarua
