The practical purpose of Buddhist meditation is not properly understood by not only among non - Buddhist, but also among certain sectors of Buddhist as well. Some people believe that meditation serves no practical purpose and is an escape from reality of every life.
Those who embrace such a wrong view fail to distinguish between an active training attuned to a state of perfect mental health, tranquility and equilibrium, which is Buddhist meditation, and a passive engagement in nothing but mystic musing or recitation of mantras, which has nothing to do with Buddhist meditation. They also fail to understand that sitting with closed eyes or repeating unintelligent phrases does not in itself constitute Buddhist meditation. Buddhist meditation by no means implies an escape from life. Its practice is largely based on life activities and its effects are meant to improve the quality of life.
Again, to develop a higher level of concentration, a certain degree of seclusion or a carefully - structured environment may be more favorable, but Buddhist meditation means much more than just concentration practice. In fact the Buddha pointed out that concentration for it own sake is an obstacle to the higher realization of Dhamma.
Because meditation in the term of bhavana is meant the development of the mind, and because mind is the most important determinant by which our controlled, the practice of meditation can bring infinite gains and benefits. The ultimate spiritual benefit attainable through meditation is perfect enlightenment and the realization of Nibbana. However Nibbana may appear to be too remote a goal for many meditators who simply aspire to more mundane benefits. Listed below are some of the advantages that can be immediately experienced in meditation practice.
1. Meditation increases awareness of inner potentialities and helps us to be more positive in life.
2. Meditation helps us to fortify will power and increase self - confidence.
3. Meditation provides mental calm and tranquility and frees the mind from restlessness, agitation, fear, and worry.
4. Since meditation promotes mental health, it can positively influence physical health. People who are free from worry and mental turmoil,whose minds are calm and serene, usually enjoy comparatively good health.
5. By helping the mind to concentrate and become better organized, meditation can help increase efficiency in day to day work and in the performance of duties and responsibilities.
6. Meditation promote virtuous quality like compassion, good will, confidence, wisdom, energy, perseverance, and determination.
7. Meditation helps to purity the mind of defilements such as greed, selfishness, hatred, and jealously, and free it from delusion that normally prevent proper insight into reality.
According to Buddhism, the objectives to develop high training of samadhi bhavana are as follow :
1. For the happiness during the present moment of practice. For instance, one who attains the stage of jhana, can achieve various levels of happiness, joy, bliss and rapture in the plane of Rupajhana to the finest from of tranquil state of happiness [ the plane of Arupajhana ].
2. To cultivate awareness, mindfulness and wisdom in order to purity one's own mind for liberation of defilements.
By THE BUDDHA'S Core Teachings
No comments:
Post a Comment