Buddhism Meditation: Bringing Up And Clearing Up

QUESTION 12: WHILE IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE TO USE THOUGHTS TO CULTIVATE A MORAL MIND, IT SOUNDS RATHER UNUSUAL TO USE THOUGHTS TO ENTER MEDITATION. COULD YOU EXPLAIN FURTHER?ANSWER: At first glance, using thoughts to enter meditation may seem paradoxical, as meditation aims to cease thoughts, while contemplation, a meditative technique, involves deliberate thinking. However, this approach is not only...

QUESTION 11: WHY IS MERIT (PUÑÑA) IMPORTANT FOR MEDITATIVE CULTIVATION?ANSWER: Within the intricate workings of the mind, Karmic Force (Kamma-Vega) emerges as a pivotal factor, shaping intelligence, moral integrity, memory, reasoning, creativity, judgment, and, critically, the capacity to anchor the mind to enter meditative absorption. Thus, those who have accumulated abundant merit often experien...

QUESTION 10: WHY IS MORALITY IMPORTANT FOR THE PRACTICE OF MEDITATION?ANSWER: The evolution of the mind from its lowest to highest state follows a clear progression:● An Unwholesome Mind (Lacking morality, filled with faults and harmful tendencies)● A Mixed Mind: Containing both wholesome and unwholesome qualities.● A Purely Wholesome Mind.● A Serene Mind● A Wise Mind● An Enlightened Mind: Reflect...

QUESTION 09: WANDERING THOUGHTS COME FROM THE MIND. USING THAT MIND FULL OF WANDERING THOUGHTS TO CALM ITSELF IS RATHER TOO DIFFICULT TO APPLY, ISN'T IT? ANSWER: The mind is a complex and multifaceted entity, comprising numerous components including: •           Intentional Thoughts: Deliberate, conscious thinking. •           Unintentional Wandering Thoughts. •           Emotions: Love, hatre...

QUESTION 08: WHAT IS THE CORRECT FULL LOTUS POSTURE FOR MEDITATION? ANSWER: The Full Lotus Posture is a foundation for meditation practice, providing unmatched support for mental concentration and enabling a deeper meditative state than any other posture. While this posture may initially seem daunting, often accompanied by leg pain and numbness, it remains a critical practice for entering meditati...

QUESTION 07: CAN YOU PROVIDE A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF MEDITATION TECHNIQUES FROM BASIC TO ADVANCED? ANSWER: Meditation is the disciplined practice of focusing the mind to halt the incessant stream of thoughts to a transformative state characterized by profound peace, deep happiness, moral clarity, wisdom, insight, and ultimate liberation. To achieve this, a comprehensive meditation method must seamle...

QUESTION 06: VERY FEW PEOPLE CAN STOP THINKING BECAUSE THE BRAIN IS PROGRAMMED TO THINK CONTINUOUSLY. IS ATTEMPTING TO HALT THE BRAIN'S THINKING PROCESS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND POTENTIALLY HARMFUL TO THE BRAIN?ANSWER: Reaching a state of meditative absorption is a rare and extraordinary achievement. Those who can truly stop thinking and enter this profound state are indeed exceptionally fortun...

QUESTION 05: WE OFTEN ASSUME THAT WE MUST OBSERVE ANDTHINK TO EXPAND OUR KNOWLEDGE AND DEVELOP UNDERSTANDING. NOW IT IS SAID THAT WEMUST DO THE OPPOSITE: NOT HEAR, NOT SEE, NOT THINK, BUT KEEP THE MIND IN ASTATE OF STILLNESS TO ACHIEVE WISDOM. IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. HOW CAN THIS BE EXPLAINED? ANSWER: The mind (citta) remains an enigma, not yet fullyunderstood. It is not merely the product...

QUESTION 04: WHY IS IT SAID THAT TRUTH CAN LEAD TO ENLIGHTENMENT, AND WHAT IS ENLIGHTENMENT? ANSWER: Enlightenment (bodhi) is a state of absolute transformation - from the ordinary to the Sainthood, from agitation to stillness, from ignorance to clarity, and from suffering to the cessation of suffering (Mentioning happiness here is unnecessary). Such enlightenment is an extraordinarily precious an...

QUESTION 03: WHY IS IT SAID THAT SEEING TRUTHS WILL LEAD TO HAPPINESS? ANSWER: Happiness is an elusive concept, impossible to define with precision. At times, it manifests as a fleeting and shallow sense of joy and excitement. Other times, happiness is a state of peace, a refuge from the struggles of managing or coping with life's challenges. It may arise as a deep sense of self¬satisfaction a...

QUESTION 02: WHY IS IT SAID THAT SEEING TRUTHS WILL LEAD TO MORALITY? ANSWER: The pursuit of truth offers four profound benefits: Talent, Morality, Happiness, and Enlightenment. From a Talent perspective, truths provide the scientific principles, technical knowledge, and academic insights needed to innovate and create. These truths empower humanity to develop technologies and tools that enhance ou...

QUESTION 01: WHY DO WE HAVE TO PRACTICE MEDITATION?ANSWER: Human beings, driven by an innate intelligence, perpetually seek knowledge. At the heart of this quest lies the hope that through profound understanding, we may find happiness, morality, and the ultimate truth. There are two primary approaches to uncovering the truth. The first approach leverages our brain’s cognitive thinking: gathering i...

Buddhism Meditation: Bringing Up And Clearing Up PREFACE We are living in a busy and turbulent world, where stress and anxiety easily invade the mind. Meditation, a concept that is no longer strange, has been mentioned in many schools of thought and religions around the world. From the quiet prayer in Christianity, the meditation of Taoism, the Sufism of Islam, to Dhyana in Hinduism, each traditio...