Meditation

The core practice in Buddhism is meditation. What is it?

In its broadest form, meditation is a universal means of survival; something we all do. Our minds race constantly; they are filled with the internal dialogue of thoughts and emotions, future and the past. If we were never to get a break from this unremitting kaleidoscope we would go crazy. So we find ways to rest; to slow down; to focus on one thing to the exclusion of all else. Athletes get into the 'zone.' Workers get lost in their work. Drivers lose a sense of time on long trips.

Buddhist meditation is method of harnessing this basic survival skill to be present, in the moment, at all times. Buddhist meditation is the practice of being aware.

The two most common types of meditation employed in Buddhist practice are:

• Shamata: This practice for calming the mind is actually common to many spiritual traditions. In Buddhism it is often characterized by counting the breath, concentrating on a statue of Buddha, or some other point of external focus. It is often referred to in Buddhism as tranquility meditation or calm-abiding meditation.
• Vipassina: These practices are found only in Buddhism. The word Vipashyana literally means seeing extra, more or superior seeing. It refers to the insight of seeing emptiness directly. This is the practice through which we cut the root of suffering by seeing its true nature. Vipashyana is the end result - the moment of realization. The meditation practices are therefore referred to with the same name. They include 'watching the mind', and analytical meditations on specific aspects of Buddhist teaching.

Practitioners begin with Shamata meditation. This helps calm down the mind by reducing outside distractions while building up our inner alertness and stamina. We then move on to Vipashyana practices as the main endeavor in Buddhist meditation.