how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
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dhammastudier
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by dhammastudier »

bodom wrote:Also keep in mind the Buddha gave many meditation subjects because of the different temperaments and capacities of those he was instructing.
The Pali commentaries further provide guidelines for suggesting meditation subjects based on ones general temperament:

Greedy: the ten foulness meditations; or, body contemplation.

Hating: the four brahma-viharas; or, the four color kasinas.

Deluded: mindfulness of breath.

Faithful: the first six recollections.

Intelligent: recollection of death or peace; the perception of disgust of food; or, the analysis of the four elements.

Speculative: mindfulness of breath.

The six non-color kasinas and the four formless states are suitable for all temperaments.

Bhante Gunaratana - The Jhanas in Theravada Buddhist Meditation
:anjali:
good point bodom, i read this somewhere before. so i guess technically one could say that there might only be one method of meditation for one person. although that might be an overstatement.
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dhammastudier
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by dhammastudier »

Kenshou wrote:
zac wrote: that's kind of what i thought. hopefully someone could give at least a brief summary...
Well they all come down to the end purpose of allowing the mind to understand clearly the fact that all phenomena are dependently originated, unreliable and impermanent, unsatisfactory, and selfless, so that everything can be let go, unclung from, and so dukkha can be ended.

Every meditation or contemplation comes down to either developing wholesome mental qualities for the sake of a lucid mind (jhana, metta, other brahmaviharas), preventing unwholesome qualities detrimental to mental development (parts of the body, corpse contemplation), or, a scheme for dividing up one's experience to provide a systematic framework for analysis. (five aggregates, satipatthana, four elements)

Every meditation practice is directly linked to the realizing of the same final goal, or complementary to it's realization. There's a pretty big toolbox given to us, but with these things in mind it shouldn't be too hard to figure out what is meant for what.
ok, thanx.
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cooran
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by cooran »

Hello zac,

Many people expect to find a quick way of meditation , an easy way, or a way filled with good feelings and exciting happenings.

Meditation, in the beginning, can be hard boring work requiring perseverance and a regular effort.

Here is a 90 day on-line course I did some years ago. I strongly recommend it.
http://www.vipassana.com/course/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Next Course is September 2010 (September 11th - December 9th) - applications now being accepted

Read the comments of those who did the course.

with metta
Chris
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
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dhammastudier
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by dhammastudier »

cooran wrote:Hello zac,

Many people expect to find a quick way of meditation , an easy way, or a way filled with good feelings and exciting happenings.

Meditation, in the beginning, can be hard boring work requiring perseverance and a regular effort.

Here is a 90 day on-line course I did some years ago. I strongly recommend it.
http://www.vipassana.com/course/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Next Course is September 2010 (September 11th - December 9th) - applications now being accepted

Read the comments of those who did the course.

with metta
Chris
i've been meditating since i was seventeen (now 26) and have had maaaaaany benefits. i never expected a quick way of meditation or a way filled with good feelings and exciting happenings. i'm just curious to know if i should be doing more than just mindfulness of breathing. thanx though :) didn't mean to imply i was a newbie, in fact i should probably edit my original statement to make that clear. thanx chris.
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bodom
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by bodom »

zac wrote:I'm just curious to know if i should be doing more than just mindfulness of breathing.


Ajaan Fuang Jotiko one of the great Thai Forest Ajahn's said "The breath can take you all the way to nibbana, you know."

:anjali:
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.

- BB
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dhammastudier
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by dhammastudier »

bodom wrote:Ajaan Fuang Jotiko one of the great Thai Forest Ajahn's said "The breath can take you all the way to nibbana, you know."

:anjali:
bodom we are on the same thought link! i was reading this:
"The next anussati is concentration on breathing (pp. 227-258). It
is a particularly useful meditation, being the only one the Buddha
described which can lead to both mindfulness and insight. This is the
only meditation which can lead a practitioner from begining practice
all the way to enlightenment. "

on buddha net and when i clicked back here you had just posted your statement!
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bodom
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by bodom »

Right on. :toast:

:anjali:
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.

- BB
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mikenz66
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by mikenz66 »

Hi Zac,
zac wrote:
bodom wrote:
zac wrote:so these are things he said to meditate on? i've never learned anything about meditating on anything but the breath... does he explain these techniques ever?
You will need to read the Visuddhimagga for an explanation of how these 40 subjects are to be used as meditation subjects.

:anjali:
ARRRG! CAN'T BUY MORE DHARMA BOOKS!!!

we'll see how long this decision lasts :lol:
I recall you said you had "In the Buddha's Words" by Bhikkhu Bodhi. There is a whole chapter there on Suttas to do with meditation:
VIII. Mastering the Mind
Introduction 257
1. The Mind Is the Key (AN 1: iii, 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10) 267
2. Developing a Pair of Skills
(1) Serenity and Insight (AN 2: iii, 10) 267
(2) Four Ways to Arahantship (AN 4:170) 268
(3) Four Kinds of Persons (AN 4:94) 269
3. The Hindrances to Mental Development (SN 46:55, abridged) 270
4. The Refinement of the Mind (AN 3:100 §§1–10) 273
5. The Removal of Distracting Thoughts (MN 20) 275
6. The Mind of Loving-Kindness (from MN 21) 278
7. The Six Recollections (AN 6:10) 279
8. The Four Establishments of Mindfulness (MN 10) 281
9. Mindfulness of Breathing (SN 54:13) 290
10. The Achievement of Mastery (SN 28:1–9, combined) 296
Mike
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dhammastudier
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by dhammastudier »

i wrote:
gah! so frustrating because i'm learning from a chan monk who says that there is just the one type of meditation. so who do i see to teach me the other types??? recommend any books on the topics?
to be clear i don't think that he doesn't know about any other methods but that this is all he teaches.
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dhammastudier
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by dhammastudier »

mikenz66 wrote:Hi Zac,
I recall you said you had "In the Buddha's Words" by Bhikkhu Bodhi. There is a whole chapter there on Suttas to do with meditation:
VIII. Mastering the Mind
Introduction 257
1. The Mind Is the Key (AN 1: iii, 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10) 267
2. Developing a Pair of Skills
(1) Serenity and Insight (AN 2: iii, 10) 267
(2) Four Ways to Arahantship (AN 4:170) 268
(3) Four Kinds of Persons (AN 4:94) 269
3. The Hindrances to Mental Development (SN 46:55, abridged) 270
4. The Refinement of the Mind (AN 3:100 §§1–10) 273
5. The Removal of Distracting Thoughts (MN 20) 275
6. The Mind of Loving-Kindness (from MN 21) 278
7. The Six Recollections (AN 6:10) 279
8. The Four Establishments of Mindfulness (MN 10) 281
9. Mindfulness of Breathing (SN 54:13) 290
10. The Achievement of Mastery (SN 28:1–9, combined) 296
Mike
:rofl: good point mike!!! i read those years ago and could answer my own questions if i take it back off the shelf! in fact now that i think of it that's why a lot of what people are telling me sounds familiar!
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cooran
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by cooran »

zac wrote:
cooran wrote: Chris
i've been meditating since i was seventeen (now 26) and have had maaaaaany benefits. i never expected a quick way of meditation or a way filled with good feelings and exciting happenings. i'm just curious to know if i should be doing more than just mindfulness of breathing. thanx though :) didn't mean to imply i was a newbie, in fact i should probably edit my original statement to make that clear. thanx chris.
No worries zac. My misunderstanding of your experience in meditation is a very good thing. :twothumbsup: I have been meditating since the late 90's but I am having difficulties myself at this moment, and, in order to respond to your question I thought (for the first time in about ten years) about this course run by Andrew Quernmore.
So .... I have enrolled in it myself. :rofl:

with laughing metta
Chris
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
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mikenz66
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by mikenz66 »

zac wrote: :rofl: good point mike!!! i read those years ago and could answer my own questions if i take it back off the shelf! in fact now that i think of it that's why a lot of what people are telling me sounds familiar!
Since the book was first published in 2005, it's can't be very many years since you read it... :reading:

Mike
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bodom
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by bodom »

cooran wrote:
zac wrote:
cooran wrote: Chris
i've been meditating since i was seventeen (now 26) and have had maaaaaany benefits. i never expected a quick way of meditation or a way filled with good feelings and exciting happenings. i'm just curious to know if i should be doing more than just mindfulness of breathing. thanx though :) didn't mean to imply i was a newbie, in fact i should probably edit my original statement to make that clear. thanx chris.
No worries zac. My misunderstanding of your experience in meditation is a very good thing. :twothumbsup: I have been meditating since the late 90's but I am having difficulties myself at this moment, and, in order to respond to your question I thought (for the first time in about ten years) about this course run by Andrew Quernmore.
So .... I have enrolled in it myself. :rofl:

with laughing metta
Chris
I think its always good to go back to the basics.

:anjali:
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.

- BB
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dhammastudier
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by dhammastudier »

cooran wrote:
zac wrote:
cooran wrote: Chris
i've been meditating since i was seventeen (now 26) and have had maaaaaany benefits. i never expected a quick way of meditation or a way filled with good feelings and exciting happenings. i'm just curious to know if i should be doing more than just mindfulness of breathing. thanx though :) didn't mean to imply i was a newbie, in fact i should probably edit my original statement to make that clear. thanx chris.
No worries zac. My misunderstanding of your experience in meditation is a very good thing. :twothumbsup: I have been meditating since the late 90's but I am having difficulties myself at this moment, and, in order to respond to your question I thought (for the first time in about ten years) about this course run by Andrew Quernmore.
So .... I have enrolled in it myself. :rofl:

with laughing metta
Chris
oh right on, maybe i'll give it a shot as well,
thanx again:)
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dhammastudier
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Re: how many different ways did the buddha explain meditation?

Post by dhammastudier »

mikenz66 wrote:
zac wrote: :rofl: good point mike!!! i read those years ago and could answer my own questions if i take it back off the shelf! in fact now that i think of it that's why a lot of what people are telling me sounds familiar!
Since the book was first published in 2005, it's can't be very many years since you read it... :reading:

Mike
five years is enough to forget something you read once but didn't practice ;)
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