Starting Out in Meditation

There is more to the Buddhist Path than meditation alone. However, if one is seeking enlightenment it is central to it. The principle concern of the Buddha was for us to open our own eyes to the reality of our existence in the world and to do what is necessary to be forever released from all forms of suffering. This awakening can begin through meditation.

Much of our daily life is played out thoughtlessly, without awareness, on auto-pilot. We act but we don’t always look at our motivations or the consequences of our actions. As a result, suffering, unsatisfactoriness and stress are brought into our lives, and our relationships become tainted by anger, hurt and jealousy. Our self-image also becomes distorted. By training the mind through meditation we develop greater awareness, we can begin living consciously and changing our relationship with the world around us, as well as discovering our own true nature. Importantly, we become kinder, more compassionate, joyful and balanced people.

There is also more than one way to meditate, so the choice of a single technique or a combination of techniques is up to each individual. However, it is best to avoid mixing in more than one approach per sitting. The suggestions here are based on the teachings of the Buddha in the Pali Canon, and have been in use ever since and are part of a living tradition. If you feel that techniques that have helped others are also reasonably likely to help you, that is enough to proceed.

Time spent meditating is quality time. Starting out, one could consider a 20 to 30 minute session each day, then gradually increase it as circumstances allow. Eventually after many months, two daily sessions of 30 to 60 minutes would be beneficial.

The benefits of meditation will start appearing soon after taking up regular practice. In time, with patience and belief, these will blossom into real wisdom and incredible calmness and joy. Truly mastering a form of meditation will take a number of years for most people.

It is true that there are many ways to meditate, and many schools offering different approaches. Whatever choices one makes, it is essential to put in commitment, discipline and effort, since nothing worthwhile is achieved without these. So, while being gentle, be persistent too.

Planned Future Posts

Over coming weeks and months I plan to include summaries of texts, images, audio and video files representing my encounter with the teachings of the late Buddhadasa Bhikkhu.

For me he has been one of the most influential thinkers in building an understanding of the Dhamma. His approach to being a Buddhist monk and handling the challenges of life has been an inspiration to me as well as countless other students of the Buddha.

I also plan to publish my notes while I was studying the basic doctrines of early Buddhism with the IBC of Thailand in 2009 and from my meditation program in 2010 with the Vipassana Fellowship of London .

Who was Buddhadasa? Why is he Influential?

I would have to say Ajahn Buddhadasa (1906-1993) is one of my favourite Buddhist writers. 

Buddhadasa Bhikkhu ("Slave of the Buddha") remains perhaps the most influential Buddhist teacher in the history of Thailand.

He went forth  as a monk in 1926, at the age of 20. After a few years of study in Bangkok, he was inspired to live close to nature to investigate the Buddha-Dhamma as the Buddha had done. He established Suan Mokkh ("The Garden of Liberation") in 1932 near his hometown in southern Thailand. At the time it was one of the few places dedicated to vipassana meditation and the only forest Dhamma centre in the region.

He worked painstakingly to establish and explain the correct and essential principles of pristine Buddhism based on extensive research of the Pali texts, especially the Buddha's discourses (sutta pitaka), followed by personal experiment and practice with these teachings. From this, he uncovered the Dhamma which truly quenches dukkha, and which he in turn shared with anyone interested. His goal was to produce a complete set of references for present and future research and practice and his approach was always scientific, straightforward, and practical.

Although his formal education was limited to seven years, plus some preliminary Pali studies, he has been given eight Honorary Doctorates by Thai universities, and numerous Doctoral theses have been written about his work. His books fill a room at the National Library and influence all serious Thai Buddhists.

He studied all schools of Buddhism and all major religious traditions. He had a practical rather than scholarly interest - to unite all genuinely religious people (those working to overcome selfishness) to work together for world peace. He drew friends and students worldwide, including Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs.

His other projects included an International Dhamma Hermitage where foreigners could study and practice in English, retreats in Thai, a small training centre for foreign monks, and the Dhamma Mata project to raise the status of women through better opportunities and support in Buddhist monastic life and meditation practice.

Ajahn Buddhadasa died at Suan Mokkh on July 8, 1993.