History

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  Siddhartha Gautama was born to a king, who decided to keep his son secluded from the world to ensure that the boy someday would be king. Eventually Siddhartha found his way outside the palace walls. Having been protected from life's harsh realities, he was stunned by the Four Sights that would set him upon his path to Enlightenment -- a sick man (illness), an old man (old age), a corpse (death) and a monk (Enlightenment). Siddhartha left the palace in search of a solution to the terrible truths he had witnessed. After many years and finding his way to a path of moderation (The Middle Way), the budding Buddha reached Enlightenment, and the teachings of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path were born. The former teaching is that suffering exists and is caused by craving. The solution to suffering is the Eightfold Path. Among the right ways of the Eightfold Path is Right Concentration, which includes meditation.
  
  

Significance

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  The eighth principle of the Eightfold Path is Right Concentration. The way of Right Concentration describes the ways that Buddhist seekers can rein in the unruly mind. Right Concentration trains the mind to be singularly focused. Buddhist meditation develops Right Concentration. As one practices meditation in specific ways on a regular basis, the mind is strengthened and the practitioner carries his mental focus to the other activities of his life. Most importantly, Buddhist meditation, the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path are vehicles that carry the Buddhist seeker to the shore of Enlightenment, far away from suffering and its causes.
  
  

Types

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  Buddhists In the Theravada tradition practice Vipassana (insight) and Samatha (tranquility) meditation. The Order of Interbeing, a Zen school founded by Thich Nhat Hanh, practices many forms of meditation, all incorporating attention to breath. Diamond Way Buddhism teaches the Rainbow Light Meditation, among other methods. An excellent resource for Diamond Way Buddhism is www.diamondway-buddhism.org.
  
  

Features

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  Samatha (tranquility) meditation controls the overactive and unruly mind. One practices Samatha meditation to attain peace and bliss and find cessation of suffering and the causes of suffering. Beginners in tranquility meditation concentrate on a single mental idea. Continued practice always involves the deepest level of concentration. Vipassana (insight) meditation also forms deep concentration, but those who practice Insight meditation comprehend the nature of the mind-body relationship. Originally, Vipassana meditation built upon what had been achieved in Samatha practice. Now, there are two types of Insight meditation. One type is subsequent to tranquility meditation. The other type is pure Vipassana and is not practiced in relation to Samatha meditation.
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Expert Insight

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  Buddhist meditation is the central Buddhist practice. Anyone who strives to learn how to practice Buddhist meditation should find a qualified teacher. In the United States, as in most Western countries, Buddhism is well-known and Buddhist centers of every type are in most regions. Another consequence of Western absorption of Buddhism is that, in certain sectors, Buddhist meditation has become secularized. This has happened with Hindu practices as well. Buddhist meditation is part of Buddhism and should be practiced as such. There are many non-Buddhist meditation centers that one can attend to meditate for other reasons. Finally, one of Buddhism's most important goals is compassion. When one is Enlightened, she not only experiences release from suffering and its causes, but also vows, out of compassion, not to enter Nibbana (Nirvana) until all beings achieve release from suffering and all of its causes.