The Buddhist Way of Meditation

The ultimate aim of a Buddhist is to attain nirvana. Thebreath going in and the breath going out. Not only this,
nirvana is a state where one is liberated from allone observes each and every sensation, thought and
bindings and does not have to go through the cycle offeeling in one's mind. One thus becomes keenly aware
birth and death. Meditation is a set of techniquesof the workings of the mind. This helps practitioner
through which a Buddhist can realize the state ofreach the state of mindfulness.
nirvana.Broadly, the Buddhist meditation is divided into two
But before that, meditation is a way to cultivate thecategories - the Samatha (calm) and the Vipassana
mind. Buddhism teaches meditation as a way to reach(mindfulness). The Samatha, or Calm, meditation, is
the state of mindfulness. Mindfulness is that state ofdone by concentrating the mind to such a degree that
consciousness where the practitioner is fully aware ofmind and body both attain a high level of calmness.
his states of mind. He is aware of each thought andThere are three benefits of practicing this form of
each reaction passing through his mind. He knowsmeditation - peace and happiness, a favorable rebirth
himself much more than an ordinary person.and the freedom from mental disturbances that are
Buddha's teachings centre on the concept of 'Fourthe source of unhappiness. Samatha helps us attain a
Noble Truths'. First, there is suffering or dissatisfactionstate of tranquility and calmness with oneself that best
in our world. Second, the suffering is due to our desiresdepicted by the images of Buddha himself. With
and ignorance. The suffering is ultimately due to theSamatha we do not attain nirvana, but get ready to
state of our mind. We suffer because we do not trulyachieve it.
understand ourselves. So consequently, if weVipassana is the technique of observing oneself. We
understand ourselves and the working of our mind webecome aware of our reactions to the sensations of
can end this suffering. Third, this suffering can be put topain and pleasure. But instead of reacting with like or
an end. Better understanding of self leads to thedislike, we become aware of these disturbances of
deliverance from suffering. Suffering is actually thethe mind. This method makes us reach those obscure
inseparable part of this existence. One can reach theparts of our consciousness where body and thought,
state of nirvana, where one goes beyond the cyclicchemicals and feelings, meet each other. Ultimately, we
nature of existence - the cycle of birth and death. Thisbecome aware of the processes through which our
is the hope that Buddha held forth to the practitionersdeepest habits are formed. This awareness liberates
of the faith. And finally, the way to accomplish this isus from these habits and we become masters of our
The Eightfold Path.mind. It makes us realize the source of all thoughts and
The eightfold path is constituted by right thought, rightfeelings and makes one 'aware' in the true sense of
speech, right action, right livelihood, right understanding,the word.
right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.Vipassana helps one attain the state of mindfulness -
The last three, in fact, refer to the path of meditation.the state where we see things as they really are.
Buddhism, perhaps, is the only system which providesVipassana is the realization, by direct insight, of the
the practical means to achieve everything that ispresence of three characteristics of being -
promised by it. Buddha advised concentrating on someimpermanence, suffering and non-self, in everything -
thing to reach the meditative state. In meditation, theincluding our bodily and mental processes. The
practitioner is mostly asked to direct her attentionrealization is on a more direct and intuitional level rather
towards breathing. One consciously observes thethan an intellectual understanding.