In the final analysis, the great meditation teachers suggest that the most beneficial attitude to adopt toward meditation is an open mind, totally free from all preconceptions and expectations. 

The aim of meditation is not to amass knowledge, learn something new, or accomplish some exceptional state of mind, but merely to sustain this fresh, uncluttered perspective.

“If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything,” Zen master Shunryu Suzuki writes in his book called Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind.  “In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind, there are few.” 

As the title of his book indicates, Suzuki teaches that beginner’s mind and Zen mind – the awake, clear, unshackled mind of the enlightened Zen master – are fundamentally the same.  Or, as a different teacher puts it, “The seeker is the sought; the looker is what he or she is looking for!”

Irrespective of which meditation technique you choose, try to practise it with the innocent, open, “don’t know” spirit of beginner’s mind.  In a way, beginner’s mind is the non-attitude inherent in all attitudes, the non-technique at the center of all successful techniques.

There are numerous different Buddhist meditation methods that followers and a lot of meditation enthusiasts practice.

But, in spite of their differences, the techniques are all broadly founded on developing two things- mindfulness and concentration.

Paying attention to the movements of the body and to the dynamic states of mind is to be developed in order to identify the genuine concept of self.  Objectivity in this example could be a invaluable aid to clear thinking. With objectivity comes concentration, the ability to concentrate the mind and keep it focused on a single point or object. Read more »

To understand Buddhist Meditation, you must acknowledge that Buddhism is centered on the Four Noble Truths.

First, we have to recognise that there is suffering in this world  because of our ignorance and our wants. Once we understand ourselves, we can ultimately find a way to stop this suffering. Those who discover the answer will have reach a state of Nirvana.

This then directs us to the core of Buddhist meditation which is the practice of the eight fold path. These virtues namely are the right action, right concentration, right effort, right livelihood, right mindfulness, right speech, right thought, and right view.

The process of Buddhist Meditation are founded on two essentials. The first is called “Samatha” which means tranquility and the second is called “Vipassana” which means mindfulness. Read more »

In the past twenty years or so, meditation has acquired an progressive acceptance and practice in the West.  Whilst still far from comprising an significant part of Western society, the practice of meditation has made substantial inroads in the remedial and medical communities and is gaining more and more broad acceptance in business organizations, educational, and political arenas. 
 
It is possible that in United States and Europe, meditation has survived its infancy and is well on its way through childhood.  Some of the reasons for this expanding acceptance is that meditation has proved to be both a practical and competent tool for increasing health in addition to happiness.   Read more »

Meditation is considered to be one of the oldest forms of mental and spiritual practices that there is. Although nobody can truly say what the exact history of meditation is, there are some speculations about this ancient practice.

Most scholars  say that the history of meditation can be traced to some 5,000 years ago when the effects of the practice was discovered by ancient men by staring into the flames of fire. From then on, several meditation techniques were developed and began to spread across its continent of origin, Asia.

It was only in the 1960s and 1970s that meditation became a hit in the United States. After that, there have been  many variations which have spread across the globe. Read more »