Meditation & Mindfulness
Meditation & Mindfulness
To practice meditation means to train the mind.
The deeper purpose of Buddhist meditation is to bring about a change in our habitual patterns, for in its ordinary state our mind is restless and rarely dwells in the present moment.
The method for calming the mind is called Shamata meditation. When our mind is calm and clear, it is easier to be aware of sensations, feelings and thoughts without losing ourselves in them. Thoughts and feelings come and go, just as our breath comes and goes.
Once we have attained a certain stability in the meditation of calm abiding, we can turn in a second step to Vipassana meditation. This method is also called analytical or insight meditation. It consists of looking directly into the thoughts, or into the mind itself.
The transitions between Shamata and Vipassana meditation are fluid. Nevertheless, it is important to always be aware of which method one is currently meditating with.
The Tibetan yogi Milarepa said that through meditation one can experience the original wisdom that has always been present within us as buddha nature.
Mindfulness forms the backbone of every Buddhist practice and thus also of meditation.
The first Buddhist teachings on this subject go back to Buddha Shakyamuni. He taught in four steps how to develop an all-encompassing mindfulness of the body, the feelings, the mind and finally the phenomena surrounding us.
The transcript of a teaching by Lama Kunsang on the four foundations of mindfulness is available in the meditation booklet of the same name in German and English.
«Calm abiding in the true nature is the basis for bringing forth all good qualities.» -Buddha
About the booklet:
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness
This booklet is the transcript of a teaching by Lama Kunsang, which follows a systematic exposition of this subject by Dharma Lord Gampopa. It contains practical instructions for mindfulness practice and is also included as an introductory first chapter in the Tsa Lung booklet Tsa Lung – Tibetan Yoga: Exercises 2.
Because the mind and the breath cannot be separated from one another, every meditation should be preceded by a breathing exercise. For this reason, the preliminary section of this mindfulness practice contains the so-called vase breathing with an explanation of its meaning and instructions for its practical application.
Format: A5, 56 pages
