| Buddhist meditation requires a strong discipline, | | | | to understand the object and learn its meaning not just |
| commitment, and a will to block out all the distractions | | | | to focus on it. If one focuses on a pencil, focus on |
| of everyday life. When the person is totally and utterly | | | | what the purpose and meaning is of the pencil, what is |
| at peace form their surroundings nirvana can be | | | | it made of, and why does it exist. There are also |
| achieved. Buddhists have practiced meditation for | | | | different stages of insight meditation which are walking |
| centuries to reach a higher being and learn the true | | | | and sitting meditation. |
| meaning of life by sacrificing from oneself from | | | | Walking meditation takes a very strong discipline to |
| material objects. Buddhists believe desire causes pain | | | | achieve. The practitioner must focus and relax in a |
| and suffering, so no desire and the will not to pursue | | | | quite place blocking out the surroundings and focusing |
| material goods, enlightenment can be achieved. With | | | | on the movements of the walking. If one can achieve |
| meditation, this can be used as a "distraction" from the | | | | this and focus on nothing but the walking a blissfulness |
| material and to stay purified. | | | | can occur. |
| There are two central kinds of Buddhist meditation | | | | Sitting meditation is more commonly practiced. |
| which are Tranquility or Samantha meditation and | | | | Breathing is the central focus of the sitting meditation. |
| Insight or Vispassana meditation. | | | | Everything else should be out of ones mind and the |
| Tranquility or Samantha meditation | | | | focus is directly on the breathing, from in and out and |
| The goal of tranquility or Samantha is to focus the | | | | again and again. |
| mind and train it to concentrate. There are four stages | | | | The goal here is to be applied to everyday life. Live in |
| to Samantha meditation which include detachment | | | | the moment and not think about the past or future |
| from the outside world, concentration, joy, and | | | | when doing a specific task. When cooking focus on |
| equanimity. Samantha can also be broken into forty | | | | the cooking, when eating focus on the eating and |
| different types of kammatthanas which a person | | | | enjoy the food, when sleeping focus on the sleeping |
| should choose of his own inclination. Virtues like | | | | and enjoy the sleep. Buddhist mediation is meant to |
| kindness, devices like light or colors, grotesque things | | | | enrich and enhance lives and to have a better |
| like a dead body, and recollections like sayings of | | | | understanding of the world we live in. Anyone can |
| Buddha are just a few of the forty. | | | | practice meditation, not just a Buddhist. Buddhist |
| Insight or Vispassana meditation | | | | meditation is a form to find inner peace with oneself. |
| Insight or Vispassana meditation goal is to focus on the | | | | While the average man may not find total nirvana and |
| Buddhists truths, to reflect inside. Unlike tranquility | | | | spiritual peace, meditation still provide a sense of |
| meditation which focuses on concentration, insight | | | | fulfillment and satisfaction in every day life. |
| meditation focuses on mindfulness. Mindfulness is trying | | | | |