What meditations did the Buddha teach?
Buddha spoke of two practices that he thought were fundamental to the fully -awakened state: Tranquility mediation (Samatha-bhavana) that lead to concentration (Samadhi), and Insight meditation (Vipassana-bhavana) that lead to wisdom (Panna).
It is interesting that the two most popular forms of Buddhist meditation that are taught today are called Samatha and Vipassana.
Samatha meditation is based on the intention and persistent effort on the part of the meditator to concentrate the mind on some specific object of meditation: the goal being to develop the ability of the mind to concentrate because when the mind is in a highly concentrated state, it is known to be tranquil and such a mind, it is thought, would make deep insight possible.
Since Buddha explained that only the right method would bring the fruit, it would be valuable to explore whether Samatha meditation, as it’s understood and practiced today, is the right method to bring tranquility to the mind. The term Samatha actually means calmness or tranquility: an integrated state where the mind is not in any way excited or active. It is directly related to the term Samadhi, the state in which the mind is completely settled and unwavering and is effortlessly held in a fully concentrated state.
What creates this tranquil state of mind? In its fully developed state, tranquility is produced by the unbounded peace, freedom and wakefulness that are experienced in the unconditioned, infinite state of Nirvana. It is the total freedom and absolute happiness of Nirvana that automatically and spontaneously absorbs and concentrates the mind.
Here are three of the Buddhist mediation techniques:
3 Buddhist Meditations:
1. Anapanasati
Anapanasati means:
How to do it:
- Follow steps 1 to 8 on the previous page on setting the space.
- Close your eyes, relax your jaw and your body.
- Focus on your breath. Place your focus anywhere where you can observe the breath.For some this is at the entrance of the nostrils, others its the feeling the air in the nasal passages, others feelthe movemtn oin the chest or at the adomen.
- For beginners:
2. Vipassana
Vipassana meditation is practiced by the practitioner having the intention to be an impartial observer of some natural process occurring within his or her body, mind or emotions. For example, one is asked to just observe or be mindful of the rising and falling of the abdomen during the process of breathing, or to just impartially observe the incoming and outgoing of the breath itself.
3. Metta (Loving - Kindness)
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