Lecture 4: Structures of Meditation

Question 1

Different levels of concentration, according to Keown

Answer 1

Dhyanas

Question 2

Levels of concentration are tied to

Answer 2

Cosmology

Question 3

The “Four Measureless States” are also called

Answer 3

Meditation on Loving Kindness

Question 4

Insight Meditation is also called

Answer 4

Mindfulness

Question 5

Buddhists worked out a system for guiding people of different

Answer 5

Capabilities, personality, and background

Question 6

In what century does Stephen Beyer’s article discusses Buddhaghosa’s system of Buddhist meditation practices

Answer 6

the fifth century

Question 7

At the time of Stephen Beyer’s article, how many years had Buddhism been a religion?

Answer 7

More 900 years

Question 8

Who’s work systematizes all the different meditation practices and makes sense out of them?

Answer 8

Buddhaghosa’s work

Question 9

Ancillary, or Preparation practices are divided into two major groups - Define them

Answer 9

1. practices to overcome problems connected with greed or lust, hatred, and confusion.
2. practices that develop positive qualities of faith and intellect.

Question 10

What does the meditation teacher do first?

Answer 10

Observes the new practitioner’s behavior to determine whether the person is dominated by greed, anger, or confusion.

Question 11

What does the meditation teacher do second?

Answer 11

He assigns appropriate practices to overcome these difficulties and turn these three negatives into the positive qualities of faith, intellect, and enthusiasm.

Question 12

What are practices assigned to people based on?

Answer 12

On the teacher’s perception of their personality type.

Question 13

Buddhists view the mind as _______ but the mind becomes weighed down by ____________.

Answer 13

originally pure; negative mental habits.

Question 14

_____ and _____ gives a person the skill to abandon negative habits and develop positive ones.

Answer 14

Meditation and ethical practice

Question 15

The Buddhists term kusala

Answer 15

Skillful

Question 16

The Buddhists term akusula

Answer 16

Unskillful

Question 17

What is meant by the term Five Hindrances?

Answer 17

The defilement that obstructs the mind.

Question 18

What are the Five Hindrances?

Answer 18

1. Longing or desire for objects for the five senses
2. Ill-will
3. Sloth and torpor
4. Restlessness and worry
5. Vacillating doubt

Question 19

Luis Gomez explains how meditation is part of _______

Answer 19

A ritual framework

Question 20

A ritual framework is an important part of “preparation” because _____________________________.

Answer 20

it helps a person prepare for the focus required in meditation.

Question 21

What things in mediation help create a calm atmosphere?

Answer 21

Making sure the meditation place is clean, making offerings or chanting.

Question 22

What is the Buddhist meditation practices on loving kindness?

Answer 22

Metta

Question 23

What skills does Metta help develop?

Answer 23

Compassion for all beings.

Question 24

The goal of Metta is?

Answer 24

A balanced mind that is calm and open.

Question 25

Metta is considered to be appropriate for both ordained people and lay Buddhists and can be done?

Answer 25

Anywhere

Question 26

What are the three steps in the mediation of loving kindness?

Answer 26

1. Begins with a focus on oneself,
2. then extends it to relatives and friends,
3. then outward to all beings.

Question 27

What is the meaning of Smrti?

Answer 27

Recollection

Question 28

Luis Gomez discusses mindfulness as smrti that includes attention to what 3 things?

Answer 28

1. behavior
2. object of meditation
3. keeping awareness of the body and mind

Question 29

What topic is often ignored in Western teachings about mediation?

Answer 29

Behavior

Question 30

Why is it important to follow the rules and restrain your behavior in a monastic setting?

Answer 30

It is important for the community and it makes a calm space for others as well as yourself.

Question 31

What are the “sublime abodes”

Answer 31

Boundless states

Question 32

what are the two main characteristics of Buddhist meditation?

Answer 32

Calm and insight

Question 33

What is (dhyana or jhana)?

Answer 33

Calming practices that are a kind of preparation for insight.

Question 34

In insight mediation, what is important to be?

Answer 34

Calm

Question 35

As we saw in the story of the life of the Buddha, though, advanced calming practices themselves can lead to states of __________.

Answer 35

Detachment from the body and mind.

Question 36

What are the first four stages of concentration as vital to the Buddha’s enlightenment?

Answer 36

1. First level: concentrated thought, joy, happiness and one-pointedness.
2. Second level: joy, happiness, and one-pointedness. Thought has dropped away.
3. Third level: happiness and one-pointedness. Joy and thought have both dropped away.
4. Fourth level: one pointedness and equanimity (balanced state of mind).

Question 37

According to the story of the Buddha, the fourth level of _____________ was enough calming practice to have the insight into the causes of suffering and the experience of enlightenment.

Answer 37

Concentration

Question 38

After what Dhyana did the Buddha achieve enlightenment and began to apply insight?

Answer 38

the fourth Dhyana

Question 39

What are two high levels of concentration that the bodhisattva rejected as not leading to insight into the causes of suffering?

Answer 39

The “sphere of no-thing” and the “sphere of neither perception nor non-perception”.