General, Samatha and Vipassana Meditation.

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'Transform people's minds from their present state of confusion, distraction and emotional entanglement.to a state of peace and clairty
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The link between Meditation and enlightenment
After his exruicating 6 year fast, he remembered his childhood experiences of meditation. He was then enlightened through mediattion.
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'Navel gazing.' 'escapist.'
Accusations made of meditation by those who misunderstand it. It is not about relaxing, but deconditioning, replacing negative emotions with the cultivation of postive ones, and insight
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'Purify the mind, put a complete end to all suffering and its causes and lead people to enlightenment.'
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Mindfullness
Acceptance and acknowledgment of experiences occuring in the present moment. The 5 skandas; perceptions, sensations, impulses, body and consciousness.
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'Like some farmyard dog on a chain, which surges first this way and then that, without ever making any real progression.'
Merv Fowler
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Conditioning and deprogramming.
Conditioning means the subliminal messages, bias's and prejudices that we are given by the media and others on a daily basis. E.g racial profiling in police work to the layout of shops in marketing. Deprogramming means to eliminate these influences.
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Buddhist masters often say your mind can be your worst enemy or your best friend
Led by conditioning and impluse; like Fowler's dog, your mind will be your worst enemy. If, you tame your mind and work on positive states to combat the negative; and find your mind beneath the programming, your mind is your best friend
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It frees the mind from emotions such as.
the 3 fires; ignorance, greed and hatred - the snake, the rooster and the pig. Also anxities and doubts
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Buddha's comparison of the mind to stringed instrument
If the strings are too loose or too tight, they cannot play. In the same way, you can neither be too relaxed nor too tense whilst mediatated, instead you must find a natural balance.
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A flower, candle or rupa
May be an inspiration
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The lotus position
Traditional in meditation
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Samatha meditation
'Calm.' Originated before Buddha, still used in Hinduism.
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As well as mindfulness, Samatha focuses on the merits of Anapana
Resting the mind solely on breath, thus avoiding be carried away by distracting thoughts and emotions.
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Emotions slowly settle and the mind naturally becomes clear and undisturbed.'
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The 1st of the 4 jhannas
Detatchment, clarity and concentration
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The 2nd of the 4 jhannas
Stillness, rapture, joy.
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The 3rd of the 4 jhannas
A purer, rarer, deeper joy.
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The last of the 4 Jhannas
Clear, calm consciousness, totally peaceful.
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Why was the Buddha not satisfied with Samatha? What did this lead to?
Even after the 4th jahnna, a Buddhist does not gain enlightenment. This meant that he developed vipassana, which is always taught after establishing samatha in therevada tradition.
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The Brahma Viharas
'God like states.' For beginners and non Buddhists,
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'The conjuring up of loving feelings that are then sent out to all the universe.
Cush
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Metta
Loving kindness. Combats hatred, aggression and attachment.
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Karuna
Compassionate wish for all to be free of suffering. Combats cruelty.
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Mudita
Sincere joy at the happiness of others. Combats envy, resentment and jealousy.
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Uppekha
Loving all beings equally. Combats favoritism, unfairness and prejudice.
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Let him Cultivate a boundless heart to all beings.
The Buddha.
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'More intellectual process.'
Cush on Vipassana
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Vippasana is often translated to.
'Insight meditation.'
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'Critical insight.'
Keown
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It realises Buddhist truths , like
8 lakshanas, 4 noble truths, 3 marks etc. In observing the body, thoguhts and feelings; a person can realize the truths of dukkha, annica and anatta. Feelings are in flux. They realize the self is an illusion, and don't think in terms of me or mine.
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Vipassana should be realative to the person perfroming it. Provide an example.
A person easily attatched may meditate on bones or in cremation grounds to realize anatta. A negative person inclined to a poor temper or crulety should cultivate the brhama viharas.
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The benefits of these types of meditation?
Eliminate the 3 fires. Samatha eliminates craving and hatred, with vipissana eliminating ignorance. Devlops positive emotions, e,g Brahama viharas, e.g love, compassion, joy and equanamity.
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A more obscure benefit and its dangers
Some Buddhists believe advanced Samatha meditation can develop supernatural powers, such as clairvoyance or recollection o f former lives. This beneift is underplayed, they are inessential for enlightenment. A person may become too attached to them.
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Thich Quang Doc
Set himself alight whilst meditating to protest the Vietnamese war. Made no sound or movement, meditating still as he burned to death. He became symbolic of protests against vietnam and inspired protest in the USA. Not suicide, but selflessness.
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What does this show?
That Mediattion is can incite active social change, and its unselfishness.
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An everyday benefit?
It is used to great affect in reforming criminals, allowing them to come to terms with their crimes and seek forgiveness. Widespread, from Indian prisons to the Us and UK.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

After his exruicating 6 year fast, he remembered his childhood experiences of meditation. He was then enlightened through mediattion.

Back

The link between Meditation and enlightenment

Card 3

Front

Accusations made of meditation by those who misunderstand it. It is not about relaxing, but deconditioning, replacing negative emotions with the cultivation of postive ones, and insight

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Side

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Acceptance and acknowledgment of experiences occuring in the present moment. The 5 skandas; perceptions, sensations, impulses, body and consciousness.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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