meditation

Question 1

what word is used for mediation?

Answer 1

Bhavana which means cultivation or development

Question 2

what does mediation mean?

Answer 2

cultivating or developing the mind so it is less confused and distracted

Question 3

what are the aims of mediation?

Answer 3

• to reach a state of peace

* to reach a state of clarity and understanding of reality

Question 4

why do buddhists meditate?

Answer 4

• for mental discipline
• for wisdom
• for sila to cultivate qualities of compassion
• to see the ultimate truth of the universe and reach enlightenment

Question 5

what is Samatha meditation?

Answer 5

mindfulness meditation for the cultivation of ones mind and means focussing on the present moment

Question 6

what is a quote in the metta sutta about meditation?

Answer 6

“whether standing, walking, sitting or lying, develop mindfulness”

Question 7

what is an example of Samatha meditation?

Answer 7

breathing mediations, focusing on a candle or mandalas

Question 8

what is vipassana meditation?

Answer 8

often translated as insight meditation and aims to develop true nature of reality.
means meditating on the dhamma

Question 9

what is an example of vipassana meditation?

Answer 9

candle meditation, meditating on the skandas, walking meditation

Question 10

what is metta bhavana?

Answer 10

means compassion cultivation, and is the cultivation of loving sentiments. this practise is common among Mahayana

Question 11

what does metta mean?

Answer 11

loving kindness

Question 12

what is zen?

Answer 12

a branch developed in Japan and translates to meditation

Question 13

what is zazen meditation? (soto zen)

Answer 13

sitting meditation, soto zen buddhists just sit and wait ti catch glimpses of enlightenment, similar to Samatha

Question 14

what is Rinzai zen?

Answer 14

also believe that enlightenment is sudden. Rinzai masters use their upaya to help students achieve this

Question 15

what methods to Rinzai Zen use?

Answer 15

there meditate on koans which are paradoxical riddles to shock the mind into thinking beyond language.
they sometimes use violence

Question 16

what is an example of a koan?

Answer 16

“what is the sound of one hand clapping”

Question 17

what do new pure land buddhists believe on enlightenment?

Answer 17

they believe we live in a time where its impossible to reach enlightenment as humans have become to arrogant and corrupt (mappo)

Question 18

what do new pure land buddhists believe on meditation?

Answer 18

it is not helpful as it adds to delusion that we can reach enlightenment and reinforces the sense of self make one arrogant

Question 19

what does Thich Nhat Hanh say on enlightenment?

Answer 19

any everyday cat can become “an act of enlightenment” if it is done mindfully e.g raking leaves or washing up

Question 20

what is an example of metta bhavana (cultivating loving sentiment)?

Answer 20

Mahayana buddhists try to develop boddichita by following 5 step meditation in which they try focusing on feeling compassion for a friend, an enemy, a stranger, and then all beings