| ation is a practice that works to relax the mind and | | | | than be born out if blind faith in the Buddhist practices. |
| bring a sense of peace to the meditator but it is also a | | | | The path to enlightenment through this particular school |
| religious practice that is meant to bring enlightenment to | | | | will end with control of human cravings which are |
| those who perform the various techniques. Buddhism | | | | thought to be the root of all evil committed by humans. |
| is one such religion in which meditation is faithfully | | | | It is believed that such enlightenment will cure the |
| practiced and there are a number of techniques that | | | | ignorance that is the cause of such inhumanities. |
| are unique to the religion itself. Buddhist meditation will | | | | The Mahayana school of Buddhism was also founded |
| lead the meditator on a path of discovery of the self | | | | in India and is still widely practiced today. The |
| which will in turn lead to a sense of peace in the long | | | | Mahayana school of Buddhism seeks a certain level of |
| run. Here we will lay out the basic techniques used by | | | | spiritual motivation for the meditator and surrounds |
| Buddhist meditators and explain what each of these | | | | much more around religion and faith than do the other |
| techniques can do for you. | | | | traditions of Buddhism. In the Mahayana school it is |
| There are a number of different Buddhist traditions | | | | believed that faith will bring the whole world a release |
| regarding meditation but almost all surround the search | | | | from suffering rather than the individual practicing |
| for enlightenment. In order to reach that enlightenment | | | | Buddhism alone. Although the different subschools of |
| or mindfulness the meditator must submit to three | | | | the Mahayana school may vary in their practices the |
| individual types of training which include training in virtue, | | | | basic idea is the same throughout. |
| training in meditation, and training in wisdom. The three | | | | The Vajrayana school of Buddhism dates back to the |
| main schools of Buddhism that still live on today include | | | | 6th or 7th century CE and characterized by its belief in |
| the Theravada school, the Mahayana school, and the | | | | ritual. The idea behind the Vajrayana school of |
| Vajrayana school. In each of these exists a number of | | | | Buddhism is to ultimately become a Buddha by |
| subschools that carry on the basic traditions of its main | | | | following a certain path with a certain degree of |
| school. | | | | motivation. Those who practice this method of |
| The Theravada school of Buddhism is one of the | | | | Buddhism believe that their practices will accelerate |
| longest survived traditions of Buddhism. Founded in | | | | their path to the ultimate enlightenment. |
| India the Theravada school is said to most closely | | | | Although there are distinctive differences between the |
| resemble the earliest Buddhist practices. In the | | | | different Buddhist schools the ultimate goal is similar in |
| Theravada school it is believed that insight must come | | | | all, to obtain enlightenment and improve the meditators |
| from within one's own personal experience, one's own | | | | sense of being. If such enlightenment is achieved the |
| reasoning, and one's own critical investigation rather | | | | goal of the meditator has been reached. |