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why do Buddhists meditate?

  • 03-05-2008 9:46am
    #1
    StormWarrior
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,577 ✭✭✭


    Can you be a Buddhist and not meditate?


Comments

  • #2
    Asiaprod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,737 ✭✭✭Asiaprod


    StormWarrior wrote: »
    Can you be a Buddhist and not meditate?
    Yes you can, meditation is just one of a number of things that anyone can do regardless of what path one leads. But as one advances in his/her Buddhist practice one does get to understand the value one gains from meditating. Also meditation takes on many forms, anytime one ponders something or reflects deeply on an issue that too is a form of meditation.:)


  • #3
    StormWarrior
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,577 ✭✭✭StormWarrior


    What exactly is the value you get from it? Does it serve a particular purpose?


  • #4
    Asiaprod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,737 ✭✭✭Asiaprod


    StormWarrior wrote: »
    What exactly is the value you get from it? Does it serve a particular purpose?
    Oh yes, For a Buddhist, meditation is an effective method for cultivating a calm and focused mind and is part of our mental development towards gaining wisdom and enlightenment. The mind roams endlessly and meditation helps to calm the mind down to a point where it can stop focusing on ordinary every day problems we are facing and get to a state where it is open to formulating fresh ideas from existing data we have gathered, or information that is inherent in our lives from say past lives and experiences, or just intuitive insight. This data is usually placed on the back-burner so to speak while we deal with all the daily problem we are facing. Additionally, it helps us in observing our mind, how it works, and what it thinks. Through mediation we learn to let go of our thoughts without being hindered by emotional baggage. This does not mean repressing thoughts and emotions, but rather observing, accepting, and moving on. It is not strictly a state of non-doing, dreaming, or hypnosis, and it does not strive to make the mind blank. A blank mind would just end up doing nothing. Rather it seeks to calm and open the mind to new realizations.


  • #5
    StormWarrior
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,577 ✭✭✭StormWarrior


    How exactly do buddhists meditate?


  • #6
    Asiaprod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,737 ✭✭✭Asiaprod


    StormWarrior wrote: »
    How exactly do buddhists meditate?
    There are many different ways. Read the sticky at the top of the page and see what answers that gives you, Then ask away.

    http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054956942


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