| The History of Meditation | | | | India beginning in the eighth century. Meditation in |
| Tibetan Buddhist meditation has a long history. | | | | Tibetan Buddhism is focused on tantric principles, and |
| Buddhism was a branch of Hinduism and so meditation | | | | another name for Tibetan Buddhism is Tantrayana |
| was practiced in Hinduism before it was practiced in | | | | Buddhism. One purpose of tantra is to help turn the |
| Buddhism. Buddhist thought is that there are three | | | | base human desires such as greed and envy into |
| things one must accomplish before enlightenment. | | | | something good, like love and compassion. There are |
| Virtue, Wisdom, and Meditation. Meditation is practiced | | | | many steps in tantric Buddhism, these include lamrim |
| in many of the eastern religions, and even in western | | | | (things that should be reflected on and meditative |
| religions. But I will focus this article on Hinduism and | | | | activities), preliminary practices, contemplation, |
| Tibetan Buddhism meditative practices. | | | | Dzogchen (an advanced step which is the last step on |
| Hinduism is the oldest living religion that practiced | | | | the Tantrayana Buddhist practitioner's path). |
| meditation. In Hinduism meditating is thought to have | | | | Ways to Meditate |
| developed out of man's need to find Brahman (God's) | | | | In Tibetan Buddhism many forms of meditation are |
| true nature. Hindu practitioners would sit and think | | | | comprised of thinking about certain things in order to |
| about who God really was, and by sitting for hours like | | | | clear your mind and help make the path to |
| this they began to have moments of clarity. These | | | | enlightenment open. Some topics to meditate on |
| moments of clarity are what many practitioners even | | | | include being charitable to others, seeing yourself and |
| today are trying to achieve through meditation. | | | | those around you as equal, and developing |
| The difference in meditation in Buddhism and in | | | | compassion. |
| Hinduism is that Buddhist practitioners did not believe | | | | In yoga and Hinduism, meditation is the path and the |
| that meditating was a means by which to be closer | | | | goal. There are many different forms that yogic |
| with God, but that it is instead a way for the | | | | meditation can take. In yoga it often starts with |
| practitioner to become closer with everything on earth. | | | | pranayama, or breathing exercises. There are also |
| It is said that Buddha (Siddhartha) found enlightenment | | | | forms of meditation where you think about a mantra, |
| by meditating underneath a Bodhi tree. | | | | or prayer. There are ways of meditating through kirtan, |
| Meditation in yoga | | | | singing. There is also meditation on sound that can |
| In yoga, meditation is practiced after breathing | | | | occur with music or in a kirtan session. And in both |
| exercises, or pranayama. The original philosphy of | | | | Hinduism and in Tibetan Buddhism there is meditation |
| yoga was that is was important to meditate after | | | | on an object, such as a Buddhist statue or a Buddhist |
| practicing asanas, or the physical aspect of yoga, | | | | thangka. |
| because the body would be prepared to relax and | | | | Hinky Imports provides instruments for your meditative |
| loose enough that sitting on the floor would be | | | | practice, including Tibetan prayer beads, (that can be |
| comfortable. Breathing first is a good practice, because | | | | used while meditating on a mantra). |
| slow breathing slows down your heart rate and calms | | | | There are many different forms of meditation in both |
| the mind so that the body is able to move into a | | | | Hindusim (yoga) and Tibetan Buddhism. Whichever |
| tranquil place. | | | | path one chooses, it is important to first find a spiritual |
| Meditation in Tibetan Buddhism | | | | guide. A spiritual guide can help you understand how to |
| Tibetan Buddhism was formed out of the principles of | | | | meditate and help guide your path in ways that we |
| yoga and of Buddhism, which arrived in Tibet from | | | | cannot do on our own. |