Buddhist Meditation (1) Introduction

[ecm0418]

I am new to meditation, and find this video to be great! I have recently discovered an interest in Buddhism after watching the film My Reincarnation. Although I knew of Buddhism before seeing the film, I never truly understood what it was all about. The documentary followed a man who was thought to be the reincarnation of his late great uncle, a Dzogchen master. It shows him throughout his journey of discovering his love for Buddhism and becoming a Dzogchen leader. bitly . com / s5 zU ze? r=bb

[iampeeay01]

great video... thanks for sharing.

[AryaSravaka]

Buddhism's Noble eightfold path - the path to happiness that is unconditioned. unbinding from all suffering from even your own perceptions and consciousness. Please listen to dhammatalks by Thanissaro Bhikkhu and Ajahn Braham's Talks

[hearts0ngs]

My gratitude also to Ajahn Jayasaro not just for this vid, but for all of his insightful and informative vids on Dhammatube. This one in particular has shed some light on something I need to refine in my practice (such that it is).

I feel so fortunate to have been able to hear the Buddha-Dhamma in this lifetime, spoken by so many wise monks, all available on the net from my own dwelling...

[ChakraSyncDotCom]

Buddhism is really interesting philosophically. Thanks for sharing.

[PedjaUnderMySkin]

great man! he looks so relaxed..nirvana :)

[PedjaUnderMySkin]

beautiful eyes by the way... ^ ^

[PedjaUnderMySkin]

only religion where you can improve yourself, and working on becoming a better person! great!

[SCNOUVICEWALZAS]

BUddhism is the best

[AquariusLove100]

@SCNOUVICEWALZAS According to you, remember that.

[fattyficial]

this sounds great but i doubt it will last long. i believe feelings can confuse a person, so they are not to be trusted.

[ForeverAyrtonSenna]

I've been a buddhist for two days and I'm already a different person.

[Secretlyastonishing]

I have trouble meditating. My mind is jumping everywhere it's so hard to keep my mind on one thing! I need help with this. I also have another question I recite a sutra that i think is called Diamond sutra in english but in Vietnamese it's called (I'm pretty sure I'm spelling it wrong but I tried the best I can so bare with me here on this one) Chu Dia Bi. Will it still work if I cant concentrate 100% of the time. I concentrate on only small bits and parts of it.

[JanAnn23]

@Secretlyastonishing

I also have a same problem, but my teacher told me that we cannot restrict our mind or concentrate one particular thing at a particular moment. As I practice vipassana meditation with fourfold mindfulness, i know only that i should acknowledge what i think as a first priority. For ex, when I think about something, I acknowlege thinking . You don't have to concentrate 100% of the time. You just know what you are doing. That's all.

[smrndoff]

@Secretlyastonishing

It's normal that your mind 'jumps everywhere'. You don't attempt to stop it jumping. You acknowledge it has jumped. You look where it jumped. You make a mental note of where it jumped; what kind of experience the jump ellicited within you, if any, then you ''file'' the jump away. Like cleaning up a messy desk. You file away your documents...or ''jumps''.

Then you come back to thinking about your breath. In out, in out. And you relax until the next ''jump'' you need to file

[Freethinkin14]

that is a great piece of advice u gave here, It will help alot in my meditations thanks

[Aaibtd]

Pardon the wall of text, I just think the Kalama Sutta isn't usually quoted properly. People usually just regard it as saying that morality is completely tied to one's own reason. But it isn't. Buddhist practice avoids either extreme of dogmatism and skepticism. That's why the sutta states that you should determine morality not only from your experience, but based on the advice of the wise. If you're interested in reading the sutta, drop by the website Access to Insight. Look for 'Kalama Sutta'.

[pannadharo]

Inre: @Aaibtd said, "... you should determine morality NOT ONLY from your experience ...", The sutta did not say that, friend, Aaibtd. It said "When you KNOW FOR YOURSELF," indicating based on conditions of KNOWING what is skillful and unskillful, based on conditions of KNOWING what is blameworthy, based on conditions of KNOWING what is critized by the wise ... this indicates IT IS only from experience. Ones experience is a result of the actions taken on these conditions.

[1GautamaBuddha]

@Aaibtd You are correct. Kalama Sutta is usually misinterpreted and this has caused a lot of damage to people who are seeking the truth..The Buddha realized the four noble truths and showed us the correct path. This amazing task was done through the merits accumulated through aeons of practice. We are merely his students.. We should read and learn many suttas in the "Tipitaka" frst and learn the basics before coming in to conclusions about the meaning of one verse in the kalama sutta...

[Aaibtd]

don't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, 'This contemplative is our teacher.' When you know for yourselves that, 'These qualities are unskillful; these qualities are blameworthy; these qualities are criticized by the wise; these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to harm & to suffering' — then you should abandon them."

[asian1779]

Theravada Buddhism give u the free way to analize every text and every single thing.So im sure that buddhism its not a blind faith,tradition,scripture,anal­ogies,and everything

[Aaibtd]

contemplatives come to Kesaputta. They expound & glorify their own doctrines, but as for the doctrines of others, they deprecate them, revile them, show contempt for them, & disparage them. They leave us absolutely uncertain & in doubt: Which of these venerable priests & contemplatives are speaking the truth, and which ones are lying?"

The Buddha: ""Of course you are uncertain, Kalamas. Of course you are in doubt. When there are reasons for doubt, uncertainty is born. So in this case: (cont.)

[Buddhism28401]

Believe nothing on the faith of traditions,

even though they have been held in honor

for many generations and in diverse places.

Do not believe a thing because many people speak of it.

Do not believe on the faith of the sages of the past.

Do not believe what you yourself have imagined,

persuading yourself that a God inspires you.

[Buddhism28401]

Believe nothing on the sole authority of your masters and priests.

After examination, believe what you yourself have tested

and found to be reasonable, and conform your conduct thereto.

Buddha

[Aaibtd]

@Buddhism28401 Though your commitment to non-dogmatic thinking is admirable, that's not the actual body of the Kalama Sutta (from which that quote is so often derived).

As they sat there, the Kalamas of Kesaputta said to the Blessed One, "Lord, there are some priests & contemplatives who come to Kesaputta. They expound & glorify their own doctrines, but as for the doctrines of others, they deprecate them, revile them, show contempt for them, & disparage them. And then other priests & (cont.)

[napiljarri]

Bhavana, I appreciate these words you gave to us. seeing the depth of heart and this knot of suffering I held was undone when I faced what was there. Understanding the heart of compassion begins here in experiencing that silent witness observing the pain so to watch it pass away. Liberation from long held grief in the heart has freed my mind, as if a purification has taken place in owning what was feeling and letting it pass. I am connected to all things at the same time distant. Thanks Bhavana

[rwasta7007]

Buddhism is pretty cool, i agree with a lot of the way it manages life, but to be honest, there is a huge lack of information and logical scientific, conclusions for it. there is holes in the story if you know what i mean.

[Roelisc]

@rwasta7007 Practice his teaching's, i feel you are jumping to conclusion here. I dont understand what you mean by a lack of information and logical scientific conclusions,Buddhism is here to simply take a step back from the world and see it in a new perspective. Modern society is constantly feeding the mind, hence the internet, media, and all sorts of things, these thing's stress the mind and prevent's from putting thing'sin perspective as thing's are constantly being thrown at you.

[crittoprrr]

@rwasta7007 Read "The Joy of Living" by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Also try to find a story by Dan Rather regarding "neuronal plasticity".

[McAwesome54]

thank you very helpful

[silkysoulable]

Thank you Ajahn :)

[DreamsofMajesty]

scribd (dot) com/nb812

[ramaraksha01]

Abrahamic religions for the weak, cowardly & lazy. Don't worry about what u do in life, just make sure u repent, beg & grovel like crazy! The pleased king will put u up in a 5 star hotel for eternity! No wonder christians can't wait to die. NOT!

Moksha is EARNED, never begged for nor given. Heaven & Hell are right here on Earth, we make them happen thru our efforts, not God. Hinduism, Buddhism are religions for the Strong, Brave & active

[futurepilot764]

Can someone please help me???!!!!!! I want to become a Buddhist. But I'm not sure how. Does anyone have any great ideas????

[adamresyk2112]

@futurepilot764 Become one

[MrDragonfly337]

@futurepilot764

It is not important to be considered or called a Buddhist but more important to practice Bhuddism.One can reach enlightment even if one has never heard of buddhism as longone practices the Dharma,usually...doing good and avoid doing bad.The law of kharma is that what goes around comes around and that nothing is ever lost.You can always go to a buddhist monastery if you really want to undersand more about buddhism and you will be welcome with hospitality.

[bodunchar]

student to teacher when discussing thought

Student - "can you say something about everyday thought"

Teacher "breathe"

[impermanentoo]

vittomusic23

Buddhists do not believe in reincarnation as it refers to an eternal soul that is reincarnated.

Buddhists believe in rebirth where it's the mind that is constantly changing that is becoming (reborn)

Buddhists do not believe in sin as sin can be washed away. Buddhists believe in kamma. Kamma is simply a flux of energy. Wholesome kamma produces good feeling. Unwholesome kamma create choatic feeling in us.

Kamma works on all, regardless of religion

[ramaraksha01]

@impermanentoo Also the most imp aspect of Karma is that it teaches ACCOUNTABILITY. Unlike abrahamic religions that teach u to beg ur way to heaven or get tortured, Karma teaches to Stand Tall & tak responsibility for our mistakes. Come back in another life & make amends for the mistakes of the past.

[harryf200]

@impermanentoo But surely, the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism is exactly reincarnation, the Dalai Lama being the primary example, he supposedly being the new incarnation of the previous Dalia Lama. Buddhism does not encourage belief in anything and certainly not karma or sin, just acceptance of what is. Karma isn't something to believe in - karma just is, is a process, a label for cause and effect and of how what w e do will be revisited upon us in this life or the next incarnation.

[impermanentoo]

@harryf200

If you do not believe in kamma, it's fine with me but it will a hindrance on your path to enlightenment

[harryf200]

@impermanentoo No, I did not say I do not believe in Karma. I said, Buddhists (well, Tibetan at least) believe in re-incarnation, which you said they did not. Re-incarnation is said to be necessary for Karma to play out the path to enlightenment. May your eternal being become your One experience.

[Destroyer0fWorlds]

@impermanentoo What if you feel good when your doing things that will bring bad karma? Im not saying I do but Im sure there are people out there, Murderers etc. Who get away with their crimes and feel great when they kill people etc. Wouldent that be negitive though?

[zarner09]

@Destroyer0fWorlds it sure will come back to them .

[Destroyer0fWorlds]

@zarner09 But alot of people have gotten away with bad things their whole life untill they died. So it didnt come back to them did it?

[zarner09]

@Destroyer0fWorlds, i see what u meant, but no one gets away from karma because it follows till after death or next life. for example, if you killed an animal or a person, the karma will get back to you in this life or in next life you'll be borned with bad health condition or mental disable or without complete organs. I am a 20 yrs old Burmese (Buddhist).

[Destroyer0fWorlds]

@zarner09 Oh I see what the idea is now...Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[zarner09]

@Destroyer0fWorlds you are welcome friend :)

[impermanentoo]

@Destroyer0fWorlds

When a person does something bad and celebrates, that will be even heavier kamma. It may not ripen right away but later. Talk to elderly and honest people. They'll tell you what they have done wrong in the past and regretted later.

People who have done anything wrong can never get away. They have to reap what they sow, sooner or later.

[Destroyer0fWorlds]

@impermanentoo So the Idea is anything you do, good or bad comes back to you? Interesting...Cant say I believe it myself but still very interesting. And I'm sure it keeps people from doing bad things so thats good.

[impermanentoo]

@Destroyer0fWorlds

Keep doing good and meditating and you'll see the truth. By the power of truth, may you be well and happy!

[Destroyer0fWorlds]

@impermanentoo By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

[108329876]

Read this article and see that it is much more complex issue than you discribe"-Possible difficulties in Buddhism by Ernest Valea.

[gotami2500]

@108329876 Ernest Valea is a Fundamentalist Christian writer. How could his analysis possibly be objective?

Christianity teaches that because of sin, part of God became a human and was sacrificed to the other 2/3 of God as a blood offering. Then he came back to life and went up into the sky and now sits on a throne as judge. Then we'll all get our bodies back after we're buried and the good one's get to live forever in Heaven, while the bad ones are tortured eternally...you CAN"T be serious.

[TheFarmerboyproducti]

@impermanentoo

i cna absolutely agree with you, but im wondering whats the distinction between "rebirth" and "Reincarnation", honestly it sounds like 2 different words with the same meaning

[Bakmoon]

@TheFarmerboyproducti There is actually a subtle but profound spiritual distinction. The word reincarnation means "To incarnate again" Incarnate means for a spirit to take on a body. Buddhism rejects this because it implies that there is a permanent base of identity that just takes on a new body. What Buddhism does teach is that who we are is a process, and that this process continues in a new form after death. Is that helpful?

[LeCervius]

@vittomusic23, The point of buddhism isn't to teach people to quit sinning. Buddha himself said you can not enlighten everyone. Other religions try to destroy sin by rule. Buddhism has accomplished that in the asia society compairibly to any other, and they don't force anything upon you.

[BuddhaShop]

excellent talk. thank you so much

[tacotuba14]

I'm very interested in practicing this, like..very interested..

[gloi2]

man u r cool

[vittomusic23]

Reincarnation is false and here is why. It does not solve the "sin" problem. If i'm a man who beats my wife in this life, I must come back as a woman who is beaten by a man in the next life...and so forth and so on so reincarnation only perpetuates sin, it by it's own nature can NEVER put an end to it!!

[airsofter345]

Not everyone that believes in reincarnation believes in sin

[kid4ever32]

@vittomusic23 but do we not seek better for ourselves?

[Just1Fry]

@vittomusic23, i do not believe just because you beat your wife in this life means you will be beaten in the next. something far worse could happen to you in this life for example you could be sent to prison for beating your wife and then raped multiple times.

[hymnofashes]

@vittomusic23 Yeah! Let's pretend the brutal murder of a Jewish religious teacher takes away our moral guilt.

[impermanentoo]

vittomusic23

Reincarnation is a Christian term. Reincarnation was in the bible until year 533 Roman Emperor Justinian ordered it to be taken out of Old Testament. Some people however believe that it was taken out of the bible after the 5th council in year 553.

Watch this video on youtube:

"Father Peter on Reincarnation"

[aminjani]

i teach energy cultivation

[kaluwa2007]

belive de truth Dhamma is de best thing,,

[mrdanni]

I could not live like this :<

[bunts33]

i could :D

[TearsOfLithium]

Me too. :D

[honhanguyen]

The monks have only 3 possesions in his life: The Dharma, the robe, and the alms bowl.

I would like to see monks of these days keep this practice, it would be more holier!

[impermanentoo]

That is the mindset of the unenlighten beings. May they be well, be happy. May they realise the truth and attain nibbana.

[trudispeck]

Good answer.I am a zen buddhist,are you a monk?I know they are unenlightend but how can they be so ignorant and talk about fashion of the monks,that's just.....wierd.

[impermanentoo]

I'm on the path to enlightenment. A yogi.

When we look outside, we find misery- hard to endure. When we look inside, we liberate - nibbana. The blissful and eternal mental state.

A priceless attainment that made Siddhartha Gautama - Lord Buddha to give up his throne and in search for.

What's so difficult about walking the path? Buddha's teaching is like the map to find the treasure. Use the map wisely and we'll be there.

[naturetakeiteasy]

Sadhu! Impermanentoo, keep up and follow the right teachings, for sure you are on the right path and the important things we must practise on what we taught, well done.

[fntime]

With all due respect to the Buddha & his beliefs.Why is this 20th century man, dressing in a fashion that is definitely out of style for 2000 years. Costumes bother me. It is a sign of ego 'massage' and lacks any benefit for anyone who is engaged in life. We are all born into the material 'existence' separating yourself for a lifetime in costumes and monasteries is to me, a negation of life. Life requires being engaged. I bet there are soldiers more evolved than 'dropouts'

[thegoochieguy]

who cares about fashion and costume?

most of the time i prefer to be nude, do you think that i am not bothered by costumes and clothing in general?!!

[impermanentoo]

Lord Buddha gave instructions to the monks to be in the monk's robe. Any monk who is not in his monk's robe is regarded as disrobed

The robe symbolises renunciation, simplicity One who had renounced will definitely not worried about what they wear and how they look

For me, When I see a monk in his monk's robe, I'm full of respect. This robe in it's rustic color represents a forest monk Forest monks are highly respected by the Buddhists community as they are generally following the right path

[fntime]

I came out of the Christian 'mindset" and unfortunately, Lord Buddha had reasons for monks robes, 2500 years ago. Please, please, don't take this as any disrespect to you, but, I think Lord Buddha might have a problem, with 'fashion' on the road to enlightened. And, Lord Buddha, would have known, that although the Forest monks are respected in the 'forest', men who are in the information age, need another paradigm. Bless you all, for what you want to accomplish.

[ikkyusang31]

great teacher

[buddhdhayanful1]

just kidding

[maxymouse232]

what is the sound of one hand clapping?

a facepalm

[jay91fray]

Knowledge of one, one will know all

[Leelyndal]

The buddha was and is a being of light enlighten by Jesus to light the way of darkness for those days jesus was not in the planet. Even dough he died he will receive a huge gift when he will rise with the saints of Christ when god return.

[kusalaviro]

Can you explain how you know this?

[Eye2Eye44]

Satan has multitudes following the teachings of Buddha. But Buddha is dead, he is still in his grave. He is powerless to Save for he was only a man. Even, before he died, he told his friends, "I am not a god. Don't make me one." So, they clearly disobeyed him.

[barrieev]

It's too bad this person wants to show only their misunderstanding. I would rather have seen some questions from this person.

[kusalaviro]

We haven't made him a god, he is our teacher and his image gives us inspiration. He told us that only we can work out our own salvation by turning our focus inwards and finding the ultimate reality... Peace.

[MaBu888]

Buddha is no other than Christ. Form is nothing but emptiness and emptiness is nothing but form. Even though Buddha and Christ were separate persons in space and time, space and time are an illusion, compared to Godhead. Mysticism FTW!

[wireless213]

they are both holy one from god.. just like many other....

[MaBu888]

You get plus for that, wireless213. May blessinz to ya! ;)

[wireless213]

Thank you and god bless you..

[MaBu888]

God is... wireless. ;)

[wireless213]

lol....

[aaronjie]

your are a very convincing iv had second thoughts on turning to buddhism but then i thought theres alot of diffrent religions i though about wiccian but i said no i thought about hinduism but i tryed it with a friend and said nooo way and then i read 2 books on buddhism searched it alot and i said this is perfect but i couldnt keep myself on wanting to do it so i saw these videos and i want too doo it! :D

[masterknaster]

actually theres no problem with believing in the teachings of christianity (Catholic, protestant, rasta, whatever) or other religions and combining it with buddhist teachings. The Dalai Lama once said that "All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness ... the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives."

[kusalaviro]

I wish you well on your journey. The Buddhist path is an inner one that we often have to walk alone but it is very rewarding. Constant meditation is the key, the results come slowly but most surely!!!

[Leelyndal]

I love your videos. The buddhah says accept everything in life and you will have inner peace. Accept people at work ,friends ,and family,and you will not be in war wih youself. Meditate on that saying it sure help me out alot. Thank you

[Leelyndal]

I love your videos. The buddhah says accept everything in life and you will have inner peace. Accept the people in your work,accept friends and accept family and that way your not in war with yourself. Meditate on that saying it sure help me alot. Thank you

[alfulani5]

I have a question about Buddhah.

Buddhism says one cannot attain nirvana unless he takes 100% charge of his body i.e. Nature has no business whatsoever.

Since Buddah has died we are down to only two possiblities.

1.Buddah did not have full control over his body and he let God take his life!

2. buddah had full control over his body. But due to some reason he decided to give up that control and let God take his life, more or less like committing suicicde.

Which one is it?

[Unityspirit50]

TO have control is to let go of control. there is no body that is separate. you cant take a life for its not limited and was neverborn. the body is but shell for the eternal unborn uncreated. you are that buddha the infinite light. thats my opinion not that of buddhist teaching perhaps.

[alfulani5]

It souns like you are there but you are not there!

[Unityspirit50]

Im everywhere .. :}

[MaBu888]

Depends on whom you call you. Limited, small 'self' or the self of all selves.

[German1184]

Dear alfulani5, ``(...) For the last time, the Buddha repelled Mara. He would not enter the bliss of his Final Nibbana until his mission was complete and he was certain that the Order and the holy life were properly established. But, he added, that would be very soon: In three months time, he told Mara, the Tathagata will attain his

parinibbana. Shrine in Vesali, that the Buddha consciously and deliberately abandoned the will to live.

Buddha - Karen Armstrong

[bluejetOmega]

As the venerable monk said in this video clip, those 2 sides of the same coin (i.e. Samatha and Vipassana) and can not be separated. Yes, these terms are in the Tipitaka. BTW, I am an Abhidhamma student (Buddhist metaphysics, that is)

[kirk7524875248]

I hear a lot about "Shamatha" and "Vipassana". I was just wondering, did the Bhudda talk about these two specific kinds of meditation per se, in the Pali Suttas that is? Are there suttas describing these two divisions specifically? Or are these later subdivisions of what the Buddha's perscription of mindfullness? Metta!

[artynz]

The Buddha described 40 different forms of meditation. See the Mahasatipatthana Sutta.

[kirk7524875248]

Thank you!

[djnitehawk101]

the way i understand it, "samatha" and "vipassana" are the two types/ categories of meditations. every buddhist meditation technique is either of type "samatha" or of the type "vipassana". i might be wrong. so pls someone correct me if im wrong. im not a buddhist monk.

[kirk7524875248]

Indeed, I think you're right. He never mentioned, per se, either. But people have broken them down that way, for a clear understanding and for convenience, which is fine! So I guess a "Metta" meditation would "fall into" the category of Vipassana. Thanks for the helpful reply!

[djnitehawk101]

"metta" is just one form of "samatha" where one would focus on just one meditation object. ie: generating the same intention/thought over and over again; while when noticing that the mind has esacaped to another thought (a sound, a straying thought, a smell, etc) the meditator notices that and brings their attention back to the main meditation object. "samatha" will generate you massive amounts of good karma("kusal") and will not shorten/stop your "samsara"(non-stop rebirth). cont...

[djnitehawk101]

on the other hand, "vipassana" is a bit of a complex thing that will help you stop the cycle of karma and rebirth.

in this day and age its quite difficult to find buddhism in its purest form. buddhist teachings have been incorrectly abstracted in the west and all over the world (mostly bcos ppl misunderstood the buddha) and also i think cos some wanna destroy buddhism.

to learn real buddhism you have to goto countries like sri lanka, burma, thailand, etc.

[bangkokgal]

outstanding attitude. I was discussing Buddhism with someone, who also said she was Buddhist. Her main explanation of 'why I was wrong' was to say that HER Buddhism was that specifically 'tailored' to the west.

True Buddhism (Theravada) can only be fully comprehended IF you first train yourself to think from an EASTERN cultural ethos.

[MaBu888]

I think Theravada is very valuable. So, I 'mix' two kinds of buddhism or three - theravada, mahayana, vajrayana. Theravada seems to emphasize cessation more than nondual integrative consciousness, and mahayana and vajrayana emphasize integration of all experience and deeds into a supramental yoga.

[eon1968]

Useful and practical: thanks!

[redtortoise76]

Very well said