Buddhist meditation?

Question

How far can meditation on breath take us? Is it necessary to move on to higher level practices?

Answer 1

I don't know much about the actual techniques of Buddhist meditation, but here's a site that deals particularly with breathing and stages of enlightenment. Apparently, breath is VERY important at all stages:

"One must still maintain mindfulness of the contact of the breath in the body, without losing track of it. The mind is at this point free from the five hindrances - sensual desire, anger, drowsiness, restlessness and doubt. One is calm and joyful. Various signs may appear in the mind - pay them no heed. As concentration is further developed four stages of absorption (jhana) can be attained. These stages of deep concentration are called "fixing"."

It also states, that [after "fixing"] some of these are: "5: Observing - 6: Turning Away - 7: Purification - 8: Retrospection:
A person who has attained the four absorptions should not stop there but should go on to develop insight meditation (vipassana). The stages of insight are called "observing". When insight reaches its climax, the meditator attains the supramundane paths. Because these paths turn away the fetters that bind one to the cycle of birth and death, they are called "turning away". The paths are followed by their respective fruitions; this stage is called "purification" because one has been cleansed of defilements. Thereafter one realizes the final stage, reviewing knowledge, called "retrospection" because one looks back upon one's entire path of progress and one's attainments. This is a brief overview of the main stages along the path to Nibbana, based on the meditation of anapana sati."

One statement that caught my eye was this: "On the Buddhist path a fundamental theme is impermanence. You can use the breath as a way to gain insight into this truth."

There's more...a LOT more, but go to the site below and check it out.

Answer 2

Meditation on the breath takes you all the way. Even the higher levels are reached only through the breath meditation.

At the beginning you will find that you cannot concentrate on the breath as other thoughts come in. If you sit down and close your eyes you will notice that your mind is jumping from one thought to another. Even though you want to concentrate on your breath you will find other thoughts also coming in between.

To calm your mind you must follow every thought that comes into you mind. You must be like a Manager of a Hotel who stands at the entrance and observes the customers coming in. Without getting attached to the thoughts try to observe them. You will find that a thought comes in and that it goes nowhere and another thought follows it - try following that too - with same results. This way you will find that your thoughts gradually subside. Do not try to force out your thoughts.

This is just the first stage. Thereafter you will find that breathing in and out becomes very pleasant. At this stage the mind takes over the breathing and you go into enjoy the pleasure or the fine feeeling that arises. Once you reach this stage you must remember that you are very close to achieving Dyana. (I have been meditating for the last 2 years for at least 45 minutes a day.)

I strongly suggest that you read the free book on Meditation at,
http://www.bswa.org/modules/icontent/index.php?page=93

This site belongs to a Therevada Budhist Center in Western Australia. I think the Chief Priest Ajahn Brahmavamso has reached a very high stage in Meditation.

Answer 3

Read books and audio CD books by Jon Kabat-Zinn and you'll receive a Very Good understanding on meditation, especially Mindfulness Meditation which focuses on breathing quite a bit.

"Wherever You Go, There You Are."

'Mindfulness Meditation for Beginners"

And "Meditation for Optimum Health."

"Full Catastrophe Living" And "Coming to Our Senses", books on Buddhist Meditation by Jon Kabat-Zinn which are quite excellent as well.

All the books I have mentioned are but the few that I own by this well known author. He also is a doctor, with his PhD. I also own hundreds of other books by excellent authors as well on the various forms of Buddhist Meditation, but Mindfulness Meditation, coming forth from Buddhism, is my favorite form of meditation.


Also check out Mindfulnesstapes.com

Answer 4

The term Meditation describes a variety of practices with a variety of goals. It usually involves turning our attention inward to the mind itself. Meditation is often recognized as a component of Eastern religions, originating in Vedic Hinduism. It has also become more mainstream in Western culture. It encompasses any of a wide variety of spiritual practices which emphasize mental activity or quiescence. Meditation can also be used for personal development, such as the exercises of Hatha yoga. Many practice meditation in order to achieve eternal peace, while others do it in order to become healthier.

Answer 5

if your looking for enlightenment, then it doesn't matter what you do, because enlightment isn't a process, but an epiphany of sorts.

meditation just so happens to be the usuall route to enlightenment, because buddha did it that way. otherwise, as long as you have the desire for enlightment, that's all you need.

so, this means you can masturbate all day and that might get you there too...but, you have to really want it.

Answer 6

of course but when you realize the significance you will not question it and naturally you will see to move on when the time occurs you have at least a year or more before you even begin to see the differences in eastern thought fro western thought and if
you r like me that might be enough or you may need more ...words don't do justice sometimes

Answer 7

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