Download The Practice of Buddhist Meditation Nowadays, most people seem

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The Practice of Buddhist Meditation
Nowadays, most people seem to think that meditation is about stopping thinking. Actually,
trying to stop the mind from thinking is a bit like trying to stop water from being wet, or
fire from being hot. Just as it is the nature of water to be wet and of fire to be hot, it is the
nature of the mind to think; trying to stop it might actually lead to more thinking rather
than less!
What is Buddhist Meditation?
For Buddhists, there are many different kinds of meditation, each with a different purpose.
Perhaps the one that most closely resembles what people THINK is meditation is a technique
used for developing concentration. Concentration meditation is about learning to stay calm and
clear even when thoughts are present in the mind. Imagine you are trying to concentrate and
someone is disturbing you, rambling on and on about nothing in particular. Most people’s idea is
that meditation is like shutting the person up. Concentration meditation is more about learning to
stay focused even when the person is talking. Then it doesn’t matter whether they are talking or
not; even if they are screaming at the top of their voice, you remain calm and clear!
In Buddhism, one of the commonest techniques used to achieve this state is a simple breathing
exercise. Before we can start this type of meditation we have to make sure that the body is in a
position that will help the practice.
First, sit up straight and make sure that the head is upright, not too far forwards and not too far
back. Next, close the eyes. If this makes you sleepy, open them a little, but keep looking
downwards. Breathe in a quiet and natural fashion, in and out through the nose. Finally, make
sure your back is straight and doesn’t lean on anything.
The Actual Meditation
Now, fix the mind on the breathing and mentally count the breaths in sets of 21: an in-breath
followed by an out-breath equals one, count on the out-breath. If you reach 21 or lose the
count, start back at 1.
While you are doing this, thoughts arise. Don’t cling to the thoughts and don’t reject them.
Simply recognize them as ‘thought’ and leave them alone. The key things to remember are to
stay tight on the counting and let go of the thoughts.
KS3 Buddhism, lesson 1: The Practice of Buddhist Meditation
G Beesley & the Dechen Community
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Tasks
Try doing this for four minutes and then, without looking round or talking to anyone, rest for one
minute. Repeat this process two or three times. Then think about and answer the following
questions:
v How did the meditation make you feel?
v Was it easy or difficult to concentrate? Why?
v Does the idea of sitting quietly interest you, bore you, or fill you with dread? Why do you
think that is?
v What is the purpose of Buddhist meditation?
v Sometimes people say meditation helps them get in touch with their ‘inner space’. What
do you think they mean by ‘inner space’
v Your school radio station asks you to talk for sixty seconds about meditation and how it
works. Write the speech you will make.
v Make two lists of ten things: First, ‘Experiences that make me feel stressed’ (like arguing
with your parents or getting ‘done’ at school) and then ‘Experiences that make me feel
calm’ (like walking in the countryside or looking at the sky).
v Think of some ways in which society might change if everybody did this kind of
meditation.
v Some people believe that meditating like this helps them to live a fuller, more meaningful
life. Others say that meditation is just running away from real life. Which do you think it
is and why?
v Before television became popular, friends and family would often sit together happily
and say nothing for hours at a time. Nowadays, put some people together in a quiet place
and an ‘embarrassed silence’ happens within a minute or two; someone always has to say
something, usually about the weather. Why do you think it is that people can’t handle
silence anymore?
KS3 Buddhism, lesson 1: The Practice of Buddhist Meditation
G Beesley & the Dechen Community