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Category Archives: Meditation

The Dhamma of Meditation

30 Tuesday Jan 2018

Posted by Andy in Meditation

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Tags

compassion, meditation, precepts

Mindfulness

Mindfulness

It is a mistake to think that being Buddhist means you must meditate. In fact the Buddha mainly kept meditation instruction for his closest followers and monks. He very rarely taught meditation to lay followers.

This wasn’t because he thought they would not understand, or not benefit from the pratices, it was because he knew that they had too many wordly concerns to be able to put in enough time for meditation to have it’s desired effects.

The Buddha taught Right Living to lay people, villagers and the like. Compassion, loving kindness, correct methods for resolving disputes. These are all genuine Buddhist practices that benefit all who practice them and all those around them. Right livelyhood is a big one. Earn your living honestly and with care. Dishonesty leads to suffering, Dukkha, for all involved. The dishonest person may not seem to suffer immediately, but they will, either in their current lifetime or a future one.

Causing no harm to any sentient being is also another important teaching for the lay observer. All sentient beings suffer in some way or another, and deserve our compassion and care. This reminds me of the Wiccan Rede. “An it harm none, do what thou wilt”. It may seem to be a licence to do what you want, but you just try living your life without harming anything at all! It is far more difficult (almost impossible) than you may think.

So, you can definitely be Buddhist and not meditate. Don’t get me wrong, meditation leads you along the path far more quickly than if you do not meditate, but you do not have to, to be a Buddhist. Just try to follow the Five Precepts of the lay follower, and you will be doing very well.

The Five Moral Precepts are refraining from:

• harming living things.
• taking what is not given (stealing).
• sexual misconduct (adultery etc).
• lying or gossip.
• taking intoxicating substances (drugs or alcohol).

At the end of the day, those 5 precepts are no too demanding. Be honest, be sober, don’t put it about too much and don’t spread gossip. The main one is do no harm to living beings, which is why many Buddhists choose to be vegetarian, but the Buddha never taught vegetarianism, and he often ate meat himself, so that is purely a lifestyle choice should you wish to persue it.

The five precepts are an excellent start on your Buddhist path. Mindfulness and Metta meditation can come later should you so wish, but it is not necessary, nor is it written in stone. Basically the requirements are to be honest, nice, responsible and caring! No bad thing if everyone were to abide by it.

Namaste

Depression

02 Thursday Nov 2017

Posted by Andy in Meditation

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Tags

depression, meditation

Depression

Depression

Depression… few speak of it and even fewer know anything about it. For me, Buddhism is the answer. The Buddha explains how the mind works and why it works the way it does. Depression can destroy your life and the lives of those closest to you yet the Buddha has the answers for those who care to investigate.

Admitting you have depression is the first, and most important step you must take. It is a difficult one to be sure. Admitting you need help is incredibly difficult, maybe even more so if you are male. Admitting that your mind is messed up and out of control is even more intimidating. Being prescribed antidepressants and antipsychotics can be frightening, especially when you realise you may be on them for years. But the Buddha does have the answers, and the meditation practices he taught definitely have tangible benefits. I know… I use them. Continue reading →

Meditation on the Breath: or The Mindfulness of Breathing

09 Saturday Sep 2017

Posted by Andy in Meditation

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Tags

meditation, mindfulness, suttas, therevada

Mindfulness of Breathing

Mindfulness of Breathing

Meditation on the Breath, or The Mindfulness of Breathing is a main stay of Buddhist meditation. It can be used in so many ways. Your mind calms, your body relaxes and you come to know peace in a way that is not usual in the West.

Breath meditation can be used anywhere, while sitting watching the T.V., whilst walking to the shops, even whilst standing in the queue in the shop. Whenever you have a chance to pause and take time out, breath meditation can come to your aid, and calm you down. It really isn’t complicated at all, as the following instructions will show. Just 15 minutes or half an hour a day, when you can grab it, can make an enormous impact on you day-to-day wellbeing. Continue reading →

“The gift of Dhamma excels all other gifts”

— The Lord Buddha

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"One may not be skilled in the knowing others’ thoughts but at least one can make this resolve: ‘I will be skilled in knowing my own thoughts."Sacitta, Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.51

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