Why is meditation important in Buddhism?

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Ever thought about the origin of Meditation or where it came into existence?

Nobody knows the exact dates, time, or era it emerged; but at the earliest records, approximately it came into actuality around 1500 BCE and since then people have considered it integral wisdom.

From around the 6th to 4th BCE, people started with their own versions of meditation and it traveled all around the globe.

The word Meditation stems from the Latin word ‘ Meditatum’ which means ‘To Ponder’.

According to Buddhist philosophy, Meditation means when a person is trying to transpose into a hypnotic state by involving their body and mind.

It is clear that Buddhism and Meditation have a coherent relationship. Meditation is mostly the first thing that comes into mind when we hear about Buddhism or monks.

Mantras also play a role in this world of peaceful, enlightening meditation.

Listen to meditation mantras from Buddhism

Here's a list of mantras that you can listen to right now. These are meditation mantras from Buddhism.

If you would like to read up on the importance of meditation in Buddhism, please scroll below as the mantras play in the background.

Why is Meditation Important in Buddhism?

We all know that Great Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment through meditation and the Buddhist scriptures have a brief about meditation.

Let’s find out the possible reason for Buddha Meditation and what is the purpose of Meditation in a human’s life further in the article.

The goal of Meditation

To understand why a Buddhist monk seems to meditate a lot, we need to understand what it is and what is the purpose of meditation.

What is Meditation?

Meditation is the practice of resting the mind and attaining a state of awareness. It is the source for thinking through all the levels of our mind & body and finally experiencing the center of awareness within.

The best part of meditation is that, while practicing meditation you are awake and observant, and the mind approaches everything with equanimity. The purpose of meditation is to tranquil the mind and take the focus away from worldly things.

What is Buddha Meditation?

Meditation in Buddhism is one of the main ways to eliminate three mental defilements: greed, hatred, and delusion, the main reason for suffering as per Buddhism.

Buddhist practice meditation not because Buddha attained enlightenment through meditation but because anyone can attain enlightenment by practicing meditation in its correct form.

It is not for commemorating Buddha’s enlightenment, but to experience for themselves, firsthand.

Types of Meditation in Buddhism

Buddhist meditation is a form of mental concentration that eventually leads to enlightenment and spiritual freedom. There are two types of Buddhist meditation.

Samatha

Samatha means concentration, calmness, and tranquillity. This is the primary practice that is focused on bringing calm and mental clarity.

In Buddhism, Samatha is “dwelling in tranquillity” and, as per the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism, this forms the precondition of concentration.

To practice this meditation, one can take the help of any object and start focusing on that particular object. To begin with, one can concentrate on that object for 30 seconds, and once settled, you can slowly increase the duration.

As the basic purpose of this form of meditation is to attain a deep concentration of the mind, using an object will help you improve your concentration.

Vipassana

The purpose of Vipassana meditation is to stop suffering by precisely understanding the mental and physical processes. Achieving this level of concentration is much needed.

One can attain concentration through constant and uninterrupted mindfulness. Hence, it has various objectives: happiness, sorrow, anger, pain, etc.

Advantages of Buddhist Meditation

Buddhism is mainly based on the principle of Dharma and includes various traditions, beliefs, and practices that are based on Buddhist teachings. Post-enlightenment, Lord Buddha set out to help all sentient beings end their suffering.

In his first sermon in Sarnath called Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta preached Noble Eightfold Path along with other teachings. The following are the eight rights.

1. Right Understanding

2. Right Intent

3. Right Speech

4. Right Action

5. Right Livelihood

6. Right Effort

7. Right Mindfulness

8. Right Concentration

This, when followed, will definitely help you get inner peace.

Other than these, there are more health benefits of Buddha meditation:

Mental Health Benefits

Ancient Buddha mantras like the Namo Thassa mantra help reduce the chances of depression, anxiety, and stress. It is also known that meditation works in treating anxiety as effectively as antidepressant drug therapy.

Panic disorders symptoms too are effectively reduced. It helps in reducing drug abuse and alcohol.

Performance Benefits

It helps in improving focus, attention, and stress management. It also helps in decision-making through better information processing. Meditation increases mental strength, resilience, and emotional intelligence.

Physical Benefits

It’s very effective in reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke and lowers and maintains blood pressure. It also controls genes that reduce stress and increase immunity by improving the production of mitochondrial energy.

Moreover, it also prevents asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disorder. Other benefits include protection against Alzheimer's, and premature death, which helps to treat premenstrual syndrome and menopausal symptoms.

Relationship Benefits

Improves empathy and positive relationship by increasing feelings of compassion and decreasing worries. Social isolation and feelings of loneliness are decreased.

Famous Buddha Citations

‘A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving and fearless then he is in truth called wise.’ - Buddha

‘Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.’ Buddha

‘All that we are is the result of what we have thought.’ - Buddha

Buddhism and Meditation today

With the regular practice of meditation, we expand our knowledge and vision. This is achieved by releasing dispassion and disenchantment from our bodies and soul.

In brief, the primary goal of Buddhist teaching is seeing things as they are, the impermanence of the world around you.

Buddhist meditation has the following goals:

Leading a well lead life.

Allowing for pleasure not based on sensual impressions.

A source of insight meditation on mental qualities.

A source of experience of dispassion of mental qualities.

As a source of insight into dependent origination, stress, and disenchantment is the end of stress.

As a source of dispassion based on emptiness, signless or undirected concentration.

A book called, Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Master is a striking and cogent guide that offers stories and a practical approach to mastering the skills of mindfulness.

Conclusion

Only good things come out of including Buddhism and meditation in your life.

Start by reading books on the topic. This will give you the understanding required to effectively include Buddhism, and meditation, into your life and enrich it.

For a definitive collection of Buddha mantras, check out the Ancient Healing Buddha Mantras collection. It might be exactly what you're looking for.

We also have a post, more about the chants themselves and the meanings they hold. Do check that out right away.