Why do Buddhist believe meditation bring enlightenment?
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In meditation, we try to develop wisdom, learn to observe our own mind, decrease negative mind states and develop positive mind states. To develop wisdom and insight, we need a calm, clear and concentrated mind. To observe our own mind, we need to develop a kind of inner "spy" - a part of our attention that checks our state of mind. To decrease negative mind states we need to understand where they come from and transform them into positive energy with the wisdom developed from observing our own mind. To develop positive mind states, we need to focus away from selfishness and again develop wisdom by observing our own mind.\nAs you may realise from the above, we should actually become our own psychologist, or like the title of a booklet by Lama Yeshe: "Becoming Your Own Therapist".\n\nIn order to find the right state of mind for meditation, we need concentration instead of being scattered, and clarity of mind instead of dullness. We need to observe our own thoughts and mind states instead of getting lost in emotions or becoming prejudiced. We need to be honest towards ourselves instead of fooling ourselves and walk away from unpleasant problems. Furthermore, we need to be patient (one does not become a meditation master over night), generate self-acceptance, confidence and enthusiasm to make the mind peaceful.\nAll these factors need to be in balance: we need to be somewhat relaxed as well as concentrated, we need to avoid both sleepiness and excitement. \n\nIn Buddhism, the continuum of the mind has no beginning or end but changes moment by moment.\n\nthat said, meditation alone don't bring enlightenment.
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The whole aim of meditation is,\n1. to calm your mind, and\n2. to focus the mind on one thing.\n\nThe mind of a normal person is like an uncontrolled monkey jumping from one thought to another. To process all these thoughts a lot of body energy is used. Thus if your mind cease to process thoughts you will be saving a lot of body energy which can be used to cure a lot of ailments in your body. That is why a person who continues to meditate regularly even gets a nice body complexion.\n\nAnapana or concentration on the breath is the best form of meditation.\n\nIf you sit down and close your eyes you will notice that your mind is jumping from one thought to another. Even though you want to concentrate on your breath you will find other thoughts also coming in between.\n\nIn learning to meditate you must first learn to calm your mind. You do this by following every thought that comes into you mind. You must be like a Manager of a Hotel who stands at the entrance and observes the customers coming in. Without getting attached to the thoughts try to observe them. You will find that a thought comes in and that it goes nowhere and another thought follows it - try following that too - with same results. This way you will find that your thoughts gradually subside. Do not try to force out your thoughts.\n\nOf course do not expect results in one or two days. Practise it for at least 40 minutes every day for at least 2 months you find that you have 'killed' your train of thoughts. I have practised for 1 1/2 years and still vagrant thoughts come in.\n\nThereafter start concentrating on your breath. Notice the breath coming in and going out. You should not concentrate only on the tip of your nose. Notice the breath coming in and thereafter your lungs getting filled and then gradually exhaling the breath.\n\nAfter you finish that for the day start to think of a person or several persons whom you hate most. Having those people in mind start to think in a compassionate manner "may he be healthy, may he be happy, may he go up in life, may he live long". Keep on doing this for about 10 minutes a day for a few months you will find that you do not get angry even when you have to get angry.\n\nYou should be able to get some guidance from the following sites,\n\n1. http://www.dhamma.org/vipassan.htm \n2. http://www.meditationexpert.com/   and click on the free articles on yoga meditation - it includes articles on all types of meditations including christian and muslim meditation.
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Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back.
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Maybe, if you meditate for a VERY long time.  Like the Tibetan monks; they do all kinds of cool things.  BUT, you have to meditate the right way, it's not just sitting there and thinking about whatever pops into your head.
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Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to Insight into the true nature of life. Buddhist practices such as meditation are means of changing oneself in order to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom. The experience developed within the Buddhist tradition over thousands of years has created an incomparable resource for all those who wish to follow a path - a path which ultimately culminates in Enlightenment or Buddhahood.\n\nBecause Buddhism does not include the idea of worshipping a creator God, some people do not see it as a religion in the normal, Western sense. The basic tenets of Buddhist teaching are straightforward and practical: nothing is fixed or permanent; actions have consequences; change is possible. Thus Buddhism addresses itself to all people irrespective of race, nationality, or gender. It teaches practical methods (such as meditation) which enable people to realize and utilize its teachings in order to transform their experience, to be fully responsible for their lives and to develop the qualities of Wisdom and Compassion.\nBuddhism explains the reality of life and the universe: that all beings are equal by nature and that all teachings are equal. The Buddha said many times that the wisdom to understand the true reality of life and the universe, and the virtuous abilities to cultivate are all already within our true nature. Buddhism teaches us to have a broad mind, one that overflows with sincerity, purity, equality, proper understanding, and compassion. Everyday, we must strive to awaken to this reality. Being contented with all conditions and settings is a good example for all, and striving for attainment of freedom of mind and spirit will help to awaken. From this, we can see that the Buddha is a compassionate multicultural educator who is worthy of emulation.\nBuddhism is Not a Religion. According to the Webster's Dictionary, the definition of religion is as follows, "An organized system of beliefs, rites, and celebrations centered on a supernatural being power; belief pursued with devotion."\nBuddhism is not a religion because:\nFirst, the Buddha is not a 'supernatural being power'. The Buddha is simply a person who has reached Complete Understanding of the reality of life and the universe. Life refers to ourselves, and universe refers to our living environment. The Buddha taught that all beings possess the same ability to reach Complete Understanding of themselves and their environment, and relieve themselves from all sufferings to attain utmost happiness. All beings can become Buddhas, and all beings and the Buddha are equal by nature. The Buddha is not a God, but a teacher, who teach us the way to restore Wisdom and Understanding by conquering the greed, hatred, and ignorance which blind us at the present moment. The word 'Buddha' is a Sanskrit word, when translated it means, "Wisdom, Awareness/Understanding". We call the founder of Buddhism Shakyamuni Buddha because He has attained Complete Understanding and Wisdom of life and the universe. Buddhism is His education to us, it is His teaching which shine the way to Buddhahood.\nSecond, the 'belief' in the Buddha's teachings is not blind belief, or blind faith. Shakyamuni Buddha taught us not to blindly believe what he tells us, he wants us to try the teachings and prove them for ourselves. The Buddha wants us to know, not merely believe. The Buddha's teachings flow from his own experience and understanding of the truth, and shows us a path of our own to taste the truth for ourselves. The Buddha uses a perfectly scientific way of showing us reality in its true form.\nThird, Buddhism is not a religion because all the 'rites and celebrations' are not centered on a supernatural being, but rather the people attending the assemblies. The ceremonies and celebrations in Buddhism all serve an educational purpose, a reminder of the Buddha's teachings an
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hello..\nactually i'm not a truly buddhist.. i'm an atheist but i learn lots from Buddhism..\n\nit's just hard to explain in words, Buddhist doesn't really care about religion, its focus in self-spiritual-development.. to gain wisdom and practice compassion..\n\n “Do not go by revelation or tradition, do not go by rumor, or the sacred scriptures, do not go by hearsay or mere logic, do not go by bias towards a notion or by another person’s seeming ability and do not go by the idea ‘He is our teacher’. But when you yourself know that a thing is good, that it is not blamable,  \nthat it is praised by the wise and when practiced and observed that it leads to happiness, then follow that thing.”\n\nThe Buddha taught us to try to understand our fears, to lessen our desires and to calmly and courageously accept the things we cannot change. He replaced fear, not with irrational belief but with rational understanding.\n\nthe Buddha saw that each human being had the capacity to purify the mind, develop infinite love and compassion and perfect understanding. He shifted attention from the heavens to the heart and encouraged us to find solutions to ¬ our problems through self-understanding.\n\nWe believe in humanity. We believe that each human being is precious and important, that all have the potential to develop into a Buddha — a perfected human being. We believe that humans can out¬grow ignorance and irrationality and see things as they really are. We believe that hatred, anger, spite and jealousy can be replaced by love, patience, generosity and kindness.  \n\nNo one saves us but ourselves, No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path, but Buddhas clearly show the way
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Meditation is enormously powerful.\n\nI'm not sure this is what most teachers have in mind, but...
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Hindu/Buddhist Meditations are great gifts of the Universe to understand the Truth.  Truth which can not be understood from books or from Bishops.\n\nI am myself a serious meditator and have had mysterious visions and psychic powers with these meditations.\n\nTheTruth is not in Books...the Truth is what I have seen and experienced...rest all is prejudice, imagination and hope!!
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Lao-tzu said that if a man could concentrate fully on a single question for just five minutes he could conquer the world. \n\nZen meditation is, in fact, a discipline. On the surface it may appear that a "meditator" is blissed out, the zen features are a grounding of one's self so as to respond to the world in a non-reactive way. \n\nPeace.
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To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or 'way of life'. It is a philosophy because philosophy 'means love of wisdom' and the Buddhist path can be summed up as:\n\n(1) to lead a moral life,\n(2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions, and\n(3) to develop wisdom and understanding.\n\nBuddhism depends more on understanding than faith.\n\nBuddhism teaches that wisdom should be developed with compassion. At one extreme, you could be a goodhearted fool and at the other extreme, you could attain knowledge without any emotion. Buddhism uses the middle path to develop both. The highest wisdom is seeing that in reality, all phenomena are incomplete, impermanent and do no constitute a fixed entity. True wisdom is not simply believing what we are told but instead experiencing and understanding truth and reality. Wisdom requires an open, objective, unbigoted mind. The Buddhist path requires courage, patience, flexibility and intelligence.\n\nIn Buddhism, understanding is the most important thing and understanding takes time. So do not impulsively rush into Buddhism. Take your time, ask questions, consider carefully, and then make your decision. The Buddha was not interested in having large numbers of disciples. He was concerned that people should follow his teachings as a result of a careful investigation and consideration of facts.
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Because it's not Christianity! \nThe Buddha had a philosohpy that spread peace and understanding not violence and hate. He spread a belief that leads to enlightenment and ultimate unity with nature, self, and the present.
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It comes from buddism
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i THINK THAT MEDITATION IS VERY HELP FUL TO THE SOUL. i ALSO BELIEVE THAT CAN BRING INNER PEACE THIS COMING FROM MY OWN PERSONAL TACTICS . IT HELPS ME WHEN I AM ANGRY OR UPSET.MY DAY ACTUALLY BEGINS WITH MY MEDITATION TIME AND THAT DICTATES HOW MY DAY WILL BE..  TAKE TIME TO YOURSELF SO YOU CAN BE YOUR SELF...........
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Basic Buddhist beliefs. \n\nThe Four Nobel Truths:\n1) All worldly life is suffering. Causing us to lead an unsatisfactory, disjointed life.\n2) Suffering is caused by the ego. Things such as attachment and desire are rooted in the ego through ignorance.\n3) There is a way to end suffering. \n4) The way to end suffering is found in the Noble Eightfold Path\n\nThe Noble Eightfold Path: (Divided into three categories)\n>Wisdom\n1) Right Understanding - Looking at the world without attachment and desire, without ego.\n2) Right Thought - Keeping the mind on what is at hand and being resolved on renunciation, freedom from ill will, and on harmlessness.\n\n>Ethical Conduct\n3) Right Speech - Abstaining from lying, divisive, abusive and idle chatter.\n4) Right Action - Abstaining from taking life, stealing and improper sexual activities\n5) Right Livelihood - Doing what is right with ones life.\n\n>Concentration or Mental Development\n6) Right Effort - A persistent desire and an matching endeavor to participate in proper activates the are good and just. \n7) Right Mindfulness - Remaining focused on ones actions, speech, thoughts and lively hood. \n8) Right Concentration - by abandoning all selfishness and adopting a heart of compassion, keeping ones mind on what needs to be do including the helping of others.\n\nTo sum all of this up and cover a few other basic ideas, Buddhists believes that all beings are united in this world, we are all a part of each other, thus the ego is in fact detrimental to our own happiness since if we embrace the ego, we will unintentional hurt others. And if we are all united, then we will in fact be hurting ourselves. \n\nBuddhists also believe that compassion is the key to happiness and that the Buddha Mind, that which we must nurture if we wish to become enlightened, is our natural state. As Michelangelo talked about stripping marble away from the sculpture the was contained within, so do Buddhists talk about stripping away the self to release the Buddha within. \n\nOn a more spiritual level, Buddhist generally believe in reincarnation, a cycle of birth, death and rebirth. When we reach enlightenment, this cycle is broken and we are able to move into the next step of existence, Nirvana. \n\nA few notes. Buddha is NOT god. Some Buddhist believe in a god or gods, others do not. The common factor is that the perception of gods or a god are that he/she/they are not responsible for us, but rather we are responsible for ourselves. Most Buddhist do not have faith in a god or gods in the traditional western sense. In fact, a god would be little more then a being that has exceptional y good karma and will one day be born again as a human. \n\nI hope this helps.
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well I was a catholic ,then a Christain ,then an atheist and now I do agree with a lot of buddhist beliefs.Buddhism alwyas will put experience over scripture.Buddha was an enlightened person.nothing more.\n Buddhism accepts that science and spirtuality can coexist.......are in fact facets of the same "godhead"
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Zen is the purest form of meditation & it can be practiced alongside any belief or religion.\n\nIts benefit cannot be fathomed, not by all the Buddhas combined.
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I am a Soka Gakkai International Lotus Sutra buddhist. We believe that everyone can achieve enlightenment and make no distinction between men and women, rich or poor, young or old, class, race or whatever. \n\nThe founder of my path was Nichiren, a 13th-century Japanese fisherman-monk who thought Buddhism should be democratic and not just belong to the rich, the aristocratic or the priests. Everyone can achieve enlightenment, here in this world, and the best thing is you don't have to live multiple lives to erase bad karma and become happy, you can do so now if you take responsibility for your actions! In order to achieve this we chant "nam-myo-ho-renge-kyo", meaning the spiritual and the material work together for the development of the human soul, symbolized by the lotusflower that starts in the dark and mud and then grows towards the light to open as a beautiful flower. Lotus Sutra Buddhism is said to summarize the whole of Buddhist teachings in one path, and Nichiren summarized Lotus Sutra buddhism in the single mantra mentioned above. SGI is a lay movement that believes World Peace can be achieved through culture and education of the Buddhist values of the Soka Gakkai. (Soka Gakkai means: creating value). The lay movement has no temples but we regularly meet at people's homes, share the amazing experiences we have, eat, drink, dance, sing and celebrate! We chant everyday for as long as we like, and we believe that earthly desires fuel our journey towards enlightenment. (for instance, I might want to have a car. So I get a job and work for one, and on the way I realize I work with others and I learn from them, and after that I may realize that four people can fit into a car and we can travel together! And it can be used for something good like taking a sick old lady to the hospital). And after the car I may want something else, and achieve that, too. And so I develop on to become a kinder, greater-hearted human being.)\n\nIn order to keep the intentions of our movement pure and because of some unhappy experiences in the past, SGI-members do not trade amongst each other. Money is something that should be carefully separated from religious practice.  \n\nI don't feel my life is restricted because of my beliefs. Rather, my vision widens because I learn to understand that my life is connected to that of everyone on this planet and to all life, and in this I have a place and a responsibility to develop with courage, wisdom and compassion, to become a fully human being.   \n\nI believe because I know that everyone on this planet is related. Since material circumstances do not show what I believe, I believe that Love is what binds us all as the human race and other inhabitants of this earth (animals as well). Faith is the all-encompassing instrument, field and tool to demonstrate this.\n\nOur philosophy is not opposed to homosexuality. We look at the soul's journey, and whatever state or situation people are in says something about where they are in their development. Since everyone has the enlightenment potential, we respect the soul's individual path. The ultimate goal for everyone is to become happy. We chant to remember and realize this, while working. So: chanting and undertaking action!\n\nNichiren buddhism contains a very important tale: a nine-year old girl approached the Buddha with a small gift for which he granted her immediate enlightenment. She told all the old wise Indian male scholars and disciples who were sitting around him: "Watch me achieve immediate enlightenment" and changed appearance before their eyes. The Buddha did this to teach them humility, for as you know, women were not considered very worthy by men in India in those times (and still are not, in many places).\n\nSince I've grown up in profoundly multi-religious and multi-cultural societies, I see no deep differences among the religions in this world. Just differences according to place, time and culture. \n