| Meditation is very popular with many religions around | | | | your breathing. If you do not have any water or |
| the world and has been practised for hundreds of | | | | candles then you can just use your breathing to help |
| years. Buddhism is probably the most well known | | | | focus your mind. Samatha is more than just |
| religion that practises meditation and Nibbbana is the | | | | concentration; however, the student needs to get rid |
| eventual goal for a Buddhist. This is attained by years | | | | of the five vices of ill will, anxiety, sloth, sensual |
| of practising Buddhist mediatation. Nibbana is a state | | | | desire and doubt. When this has been attained |
| of mind and not a physical thing that can be held, | | | | through this form of Buddhist meditation, great |
| seen or bought. Nibbana is attained by reaching the | | | | happiness is gained but, Nibbana still hasn’t been |
| end of craving and suffering and this is the final goal | | | | achieved. This is where vipassana is required. |
| for someone who practises Buddhist meditation. | | | | Vipassana is very different from Samatha but is still |
| Although being a kind person, being good to others | | | | an important part of Buddhist meditation and reaching |
| and doing good deeds is important to make you a | | | | the goal of enlightenment. This method is all about |
| nice person it will not help you to attain Nibbana. | | | | looking at life with a very basic outlook. You need to |
| Nibbana is only attained through Buddhist meditation | | | | see things as they are and you need to acknowledge |
| and following the Buddhist writings and scriptures. To | | | | each thing that you do. If you are sweeping the |
| reach full enlightenment you not only need to read | | | | floor, you need to acknowledge to yourself that you |
| the scriptures but more importantly, you need to | | | | are sweeping the floor. This is the beginning stage of |
| implement and understand the actual practice. There | | | | vipassana which is bare awareness. By becoming |
| are two different types of Buddhist meditation that | | | | completely aware of everything you do at all times |
| are used in the Buddhist religion. These are Vipassana | | | | and by concentrating your mind by using Samatha |
| and Samatha . | | | | you can attain total enlightenment which is the final |
| Samatha translates to mean calmness or tranquillity. | | | | goal of anyone who is interested in Buddhist |
| This is a state that the pupil is trying to reach whilst | | | | meditation. |
| meditating. This is done by calming the mind and | | | | Most practioners of Buddhist meditation spend their |
| concentrating on one specific thing. There are many | | | | whole lives trying to attain enlightenment, so if you |
| things that can help with Samatha meditation like a | | | | have just started, don’t be disheartened if you |
| flickering candle or water. The person meditating can | | | | do not attain the end goal within a short period of |
| concentrate on the water or candle flame and block | | | | time. Buddhist meditation needs to become part of |
| out all other outside interferences. Whilst | | | | your life and how you live your life. Although it is a |
| concentrating your mind you should also use | | | | long road to reach the end, enlightenment can be the |
| anapanasati. This is the technique of concentrating on | | | | ultimate spiritual fulfilment. |