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