Meditation
meditationThinking quietly as a spiritual or religious exercise. Connection of the mind and soul with the Divine using breathing and other techniques. In Buddhism, using one of a set of techniques or exercises for calming the mind, developing positive emotions and understanding the way things are. is essential in Buddhism. Therefore, in order to achieve enlightenmentThe realisation of the truth about life. In Buddhism it releases a person from the cycle of rebirth., Buddhists must know how to meditate properly.
There are two main kinds of meditation:
- Samatha meditation - This is known as calming meditation and Buddhists believe that it leads to deeper concentration. It is important as it allows Buddhists to let go of cravings and therefore achieve nibbana (also spelled nirvana)The state when Buddhists have achieved understanding and have broken free from the cycle of samsara. Can be called Nirvana.. It focuses on mindfulness of breathing.
- Vipassana meditation - This is known as insight meditation. When a Buddhist meditates, they believe that they can see things as they really are. This allows them to gain realisation and understand the impermanence of things and the nature of reality. It is not just about focusing on breathing - it is also about focusing on exploration. It can even be done when walking.
The BuddhaThe founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, after his enlightenment. It is a title which means the enlightened or awakened one. practised both forms of meditation. Buddhists imitate his methods in order to achieve enlightenment. Both forms of meditation are important, and Buddhists take time to make sure their meditation is suited to their needs.
Visualisation
In meditation, Buddhists imagine the Buddha as a way of understanding Buddhist teachings. Tibetan Buddhists often use visualisation in meditation with the aim of imagining the Buddha so that they can understand the true nature of existence and become awakened. Therefore, skilled meditation practice and a focus on visualisation are important elements of the path towards achieving enlightenment as a Buddhist.
Death and mourning
Buddhists believe in the cycle of samsaraIn Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, this is the cycle of life, death and rebirth.. Therefore, their beliefs about death are focused on the idea of rebirth. Until a Buddhist achieves nibbana, they will not escape the cycle of samsara. Buddhists therefore believe that death is not the end - it is part of a bigger cycle.
Death ceremonies provide mourners with a sense of comfort, but they also allow mourners to acknowledge that death is a part of life (this is related to the idea of aniccaThe belief in impermanence; the first of the Three Marks of Existence in Buddhist teaching., or impermanence). The death ceremony also allows for karma/kammaActions, and the consequences of actions. An important concept in Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. to be obtained, as mourners can be charitable and generous during the period surrounding a death.
Different groups of Buddhists have different death ceremonies:
- Tibetan BuddhismBuddhism originating in Tibet. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.death ceremonies - They may have a sky burial, which means the ceremony is held as high up a hill as possible in order to be close to places where vultures live. This is because Tibetan Buddhists leave bodies outside, where they may be eaten by animals such as vultures. This is important as Tibetans believe that vultures help the process of rebirth in the cycle of samsara.
- Pure Land BuddhismForm of Buddhism shaped by belief in the Pure Land - a step to enlightenment.death ceremonies - They may include a funeral service of the kind often used in other religious traditions. The body is placed in a coffin and there may be readings from Buddhist scripture.
- TheravadaMeaning 鈥榯eachings of the elders'. It is primarily focused on the Arhat path to enlightenment. This branch of Buddhism can be found in Sri Lanka and South East Asia.death ceremonies - As opposed to holding a more formal service, Theravada Buddhists may prefer to donate to charity or other worthy causes. This is because Buddhists believe in 鈥榯ransfer of merit鈥, which means they can pass on the positive effects of good deeds to people who have died. They see this as a more positive experience than mourning.