Types of Meditation Flashcards
Course Introduction
How many types of Buddhist Meditation are there?
Four.
Who discovered the fundamental observations that all meditation types have been based around?
Siddartha Gautama in the 5th Century B.C.
What is the name used to describe the earliest form of Buddhism?
Pre-Sectarian Buddhism.
Dhyanana is one of the fundamental aspects of pre-sectarian Buddhism. It is a form of mental training, one outcome of which is the mind withdrawing from the automatic reactions triggered by sensory impressions.
What is ‘Sati’
The Buddhist term from which the term ‘mindfulness’ comes. Sometimes, it is also translated as ‘bare awareness’.
During mindfulness, we bring our attention to the present moment and become the witness or the observer.
What are the four core types of Mindfulness?
- The body
(it requires that we observe physical sensations, including sensations of the skin, internal sensations and the breath). Mindfulness of the body is also seen in walking meditations, where we are mindful of each step. - Feeling
(It requires that we observe our feelings, whether we consider them to be positive, negative or neutral. During observation of these feelings, the aim is not to react or entertain these feelings. By reacting, we are recreating the experience. - Consciousness
(Concerns noticing the direction of our attention and the observation of different states of being - for example, noticing how different moods or states come and go, noticing whether we are aware of being aware or absorbed in thought. When we become aware that we are absorbed in thought, we have become mindful of consciousness. - Mental Objects
(This serves the purpose of becoming aware of our perceptions in relation to things of the physical world. For example, an object such as a blade of grass is what it is in the physical world. Our perception of that object is a ‘mental object’; with it comes perceptions, associations and judgements. This can apply to anything, including people.)
What is Anapanasati?
Mindfulness of Breathing.
Where does Zen come from?
Originally from Chinese Buddhism which developed 1st century A.D.
(The Japanese Zen originates from the Chinese ‘Chan’ which is derived from the Sanskrit ‘Dhyana’)
What is the ‘aim’ of Zen meditation?
To let go of thought and achieve mental clarity, to access the true nature of awareness without the clutter of thought, allowing the experience of the present moment.
It is also known as Zazen (sitting Zen), which requires sitting in an upright position and encourages diaphragmatic breathing.
Posture is very important in Zen Meditation, as it facilitates correct breathing. One must sit with the back and neck straight, in the full or half-lotus position (or seated if unable to assume the position). Cushions are used so that the knees make contact with the floor.
Meditation is typically an eyes-open meditation where the focus is approximately one metre ahead, downwards to the floor.
What is the Cosmic Mudra position of the hands in Zen Meditation?
The left hand is on top of the right, the palms are facing upwards, the thumbs are touching lightly, the wrists rest on the thighs, and the hands are in contact with the belly.
What is Vipassana Meditation?
Vipassana Meditation brings together some of the fundamental concepts of mindfulness and anapanasati breathing.
Sometimes translated as ‘insight’ or awareness into the true nature of things, meditation is a means of self-transformation, purifying oneself of limitation and achieving liberation from the patterns in one’s consciousness that cause suffering.
Once the focus on the breath has been established, the attention is placed on the body, noticing physical sensations that arise. The connection between mind and body is emphasised in the practice.
What is Metta Meditation?
Usually translated to mean benevolence. Otherwise known as loving-kindness meditation.
Often used in connection with Vipassana meditation so that individuals may maintain balance.
Loving-kindness meditation begins with the self, developing feelings of calm, which will become feelings of love within the heart. It is then directed outwards to others. Sometimes, a mantra is used to help cultivate the state or imagery, such as the body being flooded with golden light.
In Hindu Philosophy, what is the mind considered to be?
A vessel through which thought comes back and forth from the universal thought forms.
The human mind has the creative power of God or Brahman, with man becoming that which he is aware of being. This concept being found in more modern concepts such as the law of attraction.
This thought movement is observed in Hindu meditation, similar to Buddhist mindfulness practices, which explore deeper parts of the self and attain oneness with the soul, or atman.
What is the purpose of Transcendental Meditation?
For the mind to become still, in a state of Pure Consciousness.
Or as otherwise described - to arrive at the source of thought, the field of being, or transcendental Being.
How does Transcendental Meditation work?
It uses mantras that are repeated over the course of a session that typically lasts 20 minutes twice per day.
These mantras are based on the teachings from the Vedas and are customised for the individual. They are thought in the mind, not spoken aloud, and are to be experienced without effort. Any other thoughts that come can be discarded if the mind wanders with the attention brought back to the mantra.
It has been said that the mind tends toward happiness, and by allowing it to focus on the mantra, we enable it to relax into stillness. This makes TM different from other forms of mediation in that it is not intended to involve concentration or mindfulness since this progression into silence is considered to be natural and effortless.
What does the Yoga Sutra explain?
The purpose of yoga is to silence the mind.
The root of the word yoga is ‘yuj’, which means to unite; in yoga, the body, mind, and spirit are united with the divine. Yoga is, therefore, another means of connecting with the inner self or atman, with the God-self. When the chatter of the mind is calmed, true self-awareness can be gained.
