The Role of Meditation in Buddhism - Assignment Example

? Buddhism Buddhism Introduction Founded in India, Buddhism is a religion that emphasizes more on practices than beliefs. Although true religion practices are crucial in this religion, believers are encouraged to understand human nature and its ultimate reality. Buddhism enlightens many people on how to eliminate suffering and living a fulfilling life. Followers are encouraged to focus on ways that relieve stress, depression, or suffering. This religion emphasizes more on meditation, which enhance ultimate spiritual freedom and enlightenment. In essence, meditation plays a crucial role in this religion and with this; many people have embraced different methods of meditation. Meditation The purpose of meditation is to still the brain, relax the body, and boost concentration. Many of the skills learnt in meditation produces an understanding that this practice focuses on the notion of the mind. Meditation develops the mental ability of developing love and kindness for the self and others. In other words, meditation sweetens the mind. There major types of meditation include the following. Tranquillity Meditation (Samatha) The main purpose of Tranquillity or Samatha meditation is to still the brain and improve its concentration. This meditation helps an individual to develop through four stages. These include detachment from sorrow and suffering and embracing the consciousness of joy and happiness, having logic reasoning in life, pure thoughts, and embracing virtues that promote the well-being of people. Insight Meditation/Vipassana Insight meditation helps an individual to realize important truths of life. A person who practices this meditation hopes to embrace the truths of suffering, impermanence, and no-self. The practice of this meditation concentrates on improving the mind. The most methods prescribed to develop a sober mindfulness are walking, sitting, and mindfulness of daily activities. Walking mindfulness is often practiced in retreats and monasteries, especially in regions such as Theravada. Gaining this mindfulness requires one to find a quiet place, takes some time to relax, and attempts to concentrate on the sensations and movements of walking. This practice brings an individual closer to the insight of understanding the fundamental truths of impermanence and no-self. Sitting Meditation is very similar to walking meditation. However, the focus of this meditation is on the breadth instead of walking. A person practising this meditation focuses the breath and its observation. The ultimate goal of this practice is to enhance truth on no-self, impermanence, and suffering. Mindfulness of Everyday Activities emphasizes more on the skills learned in sitting and walking. This mindfulness helps an individual to participate fully in everything he or she does (Religion Facts, 2013). Loving-Kindness Meditation/ Metta Bhavana Loving and kindness are important virtues of Buddhism and this meditation is a way of obtaining and developing these virtues. The purpose of this meditation is to develop the mental component of having love for the self and others. The practitioner evokes the feelings of love and kindness to those around him. Still, he or she radiates feelings of unconditional love and acceptance. This meditation helps people to live in harmony with one another. As people learn to love one another, it brings forth unity, joy, happiness, and peace in the society. This meditation also helps people to be kind with one another regardless of the cultural, ethnicity, or race differences. Discursive Meditations A successful participation of this meditation helps one to elevate the mind and cultivate awesome and wholesome feelings. A poem, a hymn, or a passage from Dhamma or any inspiring literature can create these feelings. Most Buddhists set aside a few minutes to study and reflect upon an inspiring teaching. This allows one to reflect upon human values, dignity, and integrity. Countries where Meditation Rites are Practiced According to Religion Facts (2013), Japan and China largely practices sitting meditation. Sitting meditation is practiced in different ways. For instance, some people sit in an erect posture, tilt to the backward or side. Throughout the session, most people maintain their body relaxed and still as indicated in the appendix 1. Another method that is widely practiced especially in Buddhist countries of Southeast and East Asia is focussing on the breath. The key attribute of this method is breath awareness and meditation without having to imagine it. In this case, most people focus on the fall and rise of their abdomen during the out- and in- breath. Another technique commonly used is focusing on the tactile sensations, which starts from the nostrils to the abdomen. These methods are valuable especially for people with highly imaginative and discursive minds. These methods are often used to sooth and calm the disturbed mind. Other forms of Buddhism meditation remain popular in India. Most Indians pays great respect for the teaching and practices of this religion. Most Indians believe that meditation plays a crucial role of relieving the mind from suffering, stress, and depression. To sum up, all methods of meditations are largely practised in Asia countries where Buddhism is the chief religion. Despite some countries embracing the essence of meditation, Fisher (2013) believes that majority of the world’s Buddhists do not meditate in the 21st century. According to this research, people are so much occupied with work, education, and family that they forget to have quality time to meditate. Among millions of Buddhists alive today, only a fraction value meditation practice. This is not only for the Buddhists believers but for the nuns, priests, and monks in various Asian countries. There has been a tremendous change in today’s society since meditation was a norm in the past decades. In today’s society, most people do not understand that meditation is an important branch that promotes ethical teaching, transforms personality, develops character, and boost intellectual study. To sum up, Buddhism is a religion largely practiced in Asian countries. Since its establishment in the 2,500 years ago, the religion has spread tremendously in many countries. The religion had adopted a wide range of beliefs, rituals, customs, and practices. This religion emphasizes that, the purpose of life is to eliminate suffering. It outlines that human beings suffer because they continually strive for things that do not enhance lasting fulfilment and happiness. As discussed in this essay, the practice of meditation is crucial because it helps an individual to live a fulfilling life. It also helps one to gain the skills required to live a fulfilling life. Thus far, this essay concludes that Buddhism embraces the importance of meditation in relieving the mind from stress and depression. Appendixes Appendix 1 This appendix portrays sitting meditation at home. Appendix 2 These are rooms for sitting meditation in a Zen temple in Japan. Appendix 3 This appendix shows meditation room. Appendix 4 This appendix portrays Monks meditating by moonlight and candlelight Appendix 5 A Buddhist in meditation References Religion Facts. (2013). Buddhist Meditation. Retrieved from http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/practices/meditation.htm Fisher, M.P.(2013). Living Religions. New York: Person Read More