Buddhist Meditation

How To Perform Buddhist Meditation, Become Aware Of The Higher Truths

Buddhist Meditation , , , , , ,

Meditation as a whole and not just Buddhist meditation is a process that a person uses to quiet the mind and body so one can become away of a higher truth. Meditation has been incorporated in virtually all religions around the world. Of course not all religions use the actual term “meditation”, it can be referred to as praying the rosary and so on. Meditation is not always and does not need to be associated with religion. There are plenty of people that meditate daily who have no religious affiliation or even believe in God. Meditation can stand on its own without religion, do to the many health benefits both physically and psychologically. A successful meditation is when the mind becomes quiet without thoughts and the meditator is no longer aware of the body.

Buddhist meditation does not have the goal of contacting a religious figure, seeing the future or any other end goal such as this. In Buddhist meditation the mind and body are joined together as one. Through meditation the goal becomes “no goal” and the mind becomes silent with an increased awareness. Another way of stating this is, in meditation, meditation is performed for the sake of meditation and the cultivation of wisdom. The purpose of Buddhist meditation is to still the mind and stop the never ending flow of thoughts we all have. There are several different ways to perform Buddhist meditation. These Buddhist meditation techniques have been practiced for a long time and are proven to work. There are no right or wrong places to practice Buddhist meditation. It has been shown that when Buddhist meditation is practiced in a group that the meditation experience is much deeper. It is also known that when Buddhist meditation is practiced in the same place at the same time the meditation becomes deeper much faster. Of course these things are not required, but will only aid the meditator in the practice of Buddhist meditation.

There are a several passages from the Buddhist scripture that point to the fact that our mental states, thoughts and emotions are the determining factor to literally everything in our lives. If our thoughts and emotions lean towards hatred and contempt our worldly experiences will reflect this. The same is true if we lean towards peace, love and compassion, our world will reflect this. Buddhist meditation is turning inward away from the outside world and cultivating the inner world. By doing this the outer world we experience is transformed. With the practice of Buddhist meditation we most encourage certain inner states to grow and flourish. These states are concentration, calmness and focus.

There are several beginning ways to practice Buddhist meditation. The first is to concentrate on your breathing. Sit in a comfortable position with your spine straight, but not rigid. Next focus the mind with eyes closed on your breath coming in and out of your lungs. Do not try to control your breath, let it flow naturally. You may notice at first your breathing speeding up. Do not worry this is normal and will soon quiet down. You will also find that your mind wonders and thoughts come racing in. Again this is normal, just bring your concentration gently back to your breath coming in and out of your lungs. Try to practice this for about 20 minutes each day.

Another thing you can do is count the breaths as they come in and out. This is much harder then it sounds. With your eyes closed slowly count the in breaths for a period of 20 minutes. When you loose count, start again from one. This method can be rather fun, as you are challenging yourself to concentrate through the counting. Do not be discouraged if you can not get to 10 breaths counted without a lot of practice.

Another form of Buddhist meditation is the concentration on the flame of a candle. The idea is to fix your gaze on the upper tip of the flame and maintain it there. Concentrate on keeping your focus on this point of the candle and bring it back when your mind wonders.

Buddhist meditation is actually the second step in the three fold path of Buddhism. The first step in the Buddhist training are the five ethical precepts or guidelines on how to live a life without harming others or yourself. These five ethical precepts are as follows.

1. To undertake the training to avoid taking the life of beings.
2. To undertake the training to avoid taking things not given.
3. To undertake the training to avoid sensual misconduct.
4. To undertake the training to refrain from false speech.
5. To undertake the training to abstain from substances which cause intoxication and heedlessness.

Buddhist meditation becomes the second step after the first step has been committed to by the individual. The purpose of the first step is to create a simpler, healthier life without guilt’s and a clear conscience. The first step and Buddhist meditation lead to to the development of wisdom. With this development the person becomes aware of their true nature and the true nature of the universe.

A trained hypnotherapist for 13 years, practicing meditation since 1994. A trained yoga and meditation teacher, living on the road traveling the world since 2008.
View original article – How to Perform Buddhist Meditation.
More information – Learn to Meditate

Find More Buddhist Meditation Articles

Buddhist Meditation: Lurking in Dark Blindness: Charlatan Buddhas

Buddhist Meditation , , , , , ,
Buddhist Meditation: Lurking in Dark Blindness: Charlatan Buddhas

Buddhist Meditation: Lurking in Dark Blindness: Charlatan Buddhas

 

Buddhism claims enlightenment and illumination for its follower. It looks into the universe and inner self of the human being but understands nothing and comprehends nothing. It does not unveil the reason of our being, the reason of the universe and the ultimate reason for meditation.

Buddhists claim to look for truth. It purports for self-knowledge but blinds itself to the most real in the reality itself :God.

Buddhas, all these charlatans Buddhas have nothing understood, nothing comprehended, nothing seized, after all their efforts for meditation, they have missed on the most obvious truth: God.

Buddhists claim for the ‘destruction of selfish egotism’, but achieved nothing but immersed in their most egoist selfishness.

They aimed to depart from themselves and deny themselves to achieve absolute tranquility of the soul but they never departed from their own selves.

On the contrary they enhanced their egoist selfishness and strengthened their feelings of selfness. There is nothing more self centered than Buddhist meditation. Centering on point-object leads ultimately to center on ones’ own being for denying God means remaining in one’s own circle.

Denying God means centering on one’s own self as a God.

By denying God as they were instructed by their masters the charlatan Buddhas, Buddhists lurk in absolute darkness of their own cave of ignorance.

They cannot possibly be released and feed from their own prisons and achieve transcendence for they keep within their own selves.

How can a Buddhist be freed from his own cave if he cannot even acknowledge God, his creator and the creator of all his masters the blind Buddhas? How can Buddhists see into the universe while they are blind to God the creator? How can Buddhists look into themselves and no acknowledge their creator? What farce? What irony to take Buddha as a God while Buddha himself has denied God?

They make for Buddha shrines and temples, offerings on his altars, invoke his mercy and guidance, his help and assistance.

But they erect statues of stones that cannot speak to them, they cannot hear them and do not see them, and lesser still can answer their wishes and hopes.

How blind Buddhists are to look into the universe and not see God? They are not only blind and but are in utter ignorance of the cause creator of their object of meditation: the universe and themselves.

How can they be enlightened and awakened while they miss the light and guidance in their absolute un perishable forms God All Mighty?

But Buddhas in their darkness they lurk and so their followers, blind, ignorant souls of evil.

 

https://secrets2meditation.com/goto/?url=http://www.tergar.org ~ In this short teaching, Tibetan Buddhist meditation master Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche discusses the essence of meditation, and how learn…

Find More Buddhist Meditation Articles

Achieve Serenity and Happiness – Buddhist Walking Meditation

Buddhist Meditation , , , , ,

If you want to experience serenity and happiness, Buddhist walking meditation is one path. It is achieved by bringing a moment to moment awareness (power of now) into your daily life. The walking meditation provides many benefits, takes only 15 to 20 minutes per day and is an easy 5-step process.

Benefits of walking meditation:

* Feeling sense of serenity and happiness
* Achieving a deeply relaxed state
* Naturally “letting go of thoughts” (of the past or future)
* Experiencing Law of Impermanence (all things rise and pass away – nothing permanent – (Anicca or Anitya in Sanskrit)
* Feeling compassion and loving-kindness for all sentient beings

Walking meditation instruction:

General note: Wear comfortable clothing and choose a location (a seashore, a park, a quite neighborhood, your backyard, etc. Allow about 15 – 20 minutes for walking meditation.)

1. Keep your eyes open and start ‘conscious breathing’ by breathing in through your nose and breathing out through you mouth. Be sure to make the breathing audible.

2. Start walking at your normal pace (you can walk in a circle – no beginning and ending or you can walk forward and come back). After a while you might naturally walk slowly. NOTE: There is no destination only the journey.

3. Observe your breathing and allow all thoughts to come about. You might notice how your mind takes you to the past (by remembering something from the past or by trying to re-write ‘history’) or takes to the future (planning something in the future, imagining, day dreaming, etc). It is important that you do not try to get rid of all your thoughts. Letting go is a natural process that occurs by simply bringing awareness to your breathing, and thus into the present moment.

You might experience both thoughts and your breathing, and so you are in the present and observing your mind at work.

4. After you finish you walking meditation you can stay still or even sit down on a bench and close your eyes.

5. As you feel deeply relaxed, conclude your meditation with the loving-kindness mantra – Metta in Sanskrit. This should be done from the depths of your heart.

Loving-kindness Mantra (Metta as shared by Lama Surya Das) May all beings be happy, content and fulfilled, May all beings be healed and whole, May all beings have whatever they want and need May all beings be protected from harm and free from fear, May all beings be awakened, liberated and free, May there be peace on earth and the entire universe. As you continue doing walking meditation daily, you will achieve serenity and happiness by bringing yourself to the present moment (power of now). By using loving-kindness mantra (Metta), you will start cultivating compassion towards all sentient beings. The 5 step processes will make a profound difference in your life.

May you be happy!

Spencer Isaac – is a 4th generation Shamanic Healer, Massage Therapist and author. Spencer was initiated by Spiritual Elders in Kazakhstan and receives guidance through his Spirit Guides. He uses 41 Kumalak (Ancient Kazakhstan Shamanic Divination oracle) to provide accurate insights and guidance for your questions including relationships, health, career, and business affairs. Spencer is a clairvoyant and clairsentient and has practiced Buddhist meditation for over 8 years. He is also a massage therapist – and offers Massage Therapy (including many styles to suit your needs such as Swedish Relaxation and Hot Stone Massage), Energy Healing, and Shamanic Healing in Vancouver, Canada

Qualities Arising From Buddhist Meditative Practice : buddhist meditation

Buddhist Meditation , , , , , ,
Qualities Arising From Buddhist Meditative Practice : buddhist meditation

The goal of Buddhism is to decrease and eventually free the mind of attachment, which is the direct cause of dukkha, or suffering. Dukkha is an inherent component of samsara, or the cycle of death and rebirth. This freedom from attachment is therefore the antithesis to samsara, known as nirvana. Nirvana is a “blowing out” of the three fires, each of which represents a specific class of attachment. The method of achieving the cessation of dukkha is prescribed by the Buddha in his fourth Noble Truth, which is the Noble Eightfold Path. Within this octangular obligation eight practices are situated in three divisions, called prajna, sila, and samadhi, or wisdom, ethical conduct, and concentration, respectively. Prajna and samadhi are directly related to meditative practice.

Two principal psychological qualities are said to emerge from the proper practice of Buddhist meditation: samatha and vipassana. Samatha is a “calm abiding” or “remaining in rest.” Vipassana is a “discerning sight,” “introspection,” or as most commonly translated, “insight.” Both qualities arise from meditative practice and have also influenced styles of meditation, designed to target the appearance of the sought-after qualities. Samatha meditation seeks to compose and steady the mind using objects of concentration as a central point of focus, such as a mantra, the breath, or a visualization. Vipassana meditation strives to enable one to identify skandhas, or the five aggregates of experience, through contemplation and self-observation exercises. The enhancement of sustained attention is achieved through samatha meditation, resulting in samadhi. Insight into the true nature of experience is a result of vipassana meditation, and from it grows prajna.

In rudimentary language, samatha meditation calms the mind and vipassana meditation helps determine why the mind wasn’t calm from the beginning.

The primary aim of samatha meditation is to establish the mind in the tranquility of one-pointedness (and ultimately, no-mindedness, or nirvana). However, the immediate aspiration is the suppression of the five hindrances which impede progress with concentration. The five hindrances include sensual desire, anger, sloth, restlessness, and doubt. Sensual desire is a craving for pleasure within the six senses. Anger is an aggressive malice directed outward or inward with the intention to manipulate experience. Sloth represents any action performed without mindfulness or concentration. Restlessness is usually a worry interfering with the ability to calm the thoughts. Doubt is a deficiency of conviction in the dharma. The conquering of the five hindrances establishes the mind in the first jhana, one of nine distinguished meditative states.

A jhana is a dual (and further, non-dual) absorption with the object of attention, upon which a full concentration allows a gaining of insight as it eventually falls away and the meditator observes his own flux of experience. The first four levels of attainment are termed the rupajhanas, or material jhanas. The first jhana begins with the suppression of the five hindrances and the emergence of the five absorption factors. The first is applied thought, which directs the mind to the object of concentration. The second is sustained thought, which keeps the mind focused upon the chosen object. Third, a joyous rapture is manifested as one approaches the fourth absorption factor, bliss. Bliss is sukkha, the opposite of dukkha. Lastly, a unification with the concentration object is achieved (one-pointedness). The growth of these factors in the first jhana reduces the mind to only the most subtle movements concerning the right intentions of meditative pursuit. In the second jhana, the first two absorption factors are eliminated as the mind completely situates itself in a calm abiding. The mediator experiences an absence of doubt as a complete confidence pervades. In the third jhana the meditator acquires a more fully blissful experience as the joyous rapture is terminated. The fourth jhana exchanges sukkha for equanimity, leaving only pure consciousness. One-pointedness is now secured.

Once one-pointed, the mind is capable of vipassana meditation, the consequence of which is the culmination of prajna and jnana, or knowledge. Prajna is the wisdom of attaining right view and right thought or intention, which are the first two spokes of the Noble Eightfold Path. Right view is a proper understanding of the five aggregates of experience. These five aggregates explain experience without summoning a concept such as a soul. Right view of the aggregates leads one to the revelation of anatman, or the non-self, insinuating the lack of permanent individual existence. This impermanence is anicca. A proper mental grasp of the aggregates leads to a comprehension of dukkha, which arises from clinging to the aggregates. Thus insight leads to prajna, which leads to jnana, or knowledge, specifically of the three marks of existence, anatman, anicca, and dukkha, all of which imply sunyata, or the voidness of reality. Things in reality are void of individual enduring existence as explained in the idea of dependent arising, which elucidates the interconnectivity of all things.

The fifth through eighth levels of concentration represent levels of attainment beyond the material jhanas, exploring the insights of sunyata and beyond. These are the arupajhanas (immaterial jhanas), and are, sequentially, the formless dimensions of infinite space, infinite consciousness, nothingness, and neither perception nor non-perception. In the fifth jhana, the meditator finds the personal limits of the body dissolving and expanding to the furthest reaches. Next, the mind fills this enlarged sense to become cosmically conscious, or all-perceiving. If further stillness is attained, all is abandoned as the meditator enters an experiential realm of nothingness, or non-perception. In the eighth and final arupajhana, zero mental activity remains yet a pure sense of being is obtained. This is neither perception nor non-perception, but consciousness without an object. Or, finally, no-mind.

Through this high level of samatha, combined with vipassana, a ninth jhana is possible. There is a complete cessation of feeling, without even a sense of being. The ninth jhana is totally un-conscious, or non-sentient. There has been a dissolution of the body, space, the mind, and all other forms of delusion, together known as ignorance. There has been a complete cessation of the cravings commonly called greed. The inverse attachments, or aversions, have disappeared, removing anger altogether. Ignorance, greed, and anger are the three fires which bind beings in samsara. As the “blowing out” and extinguishing of the three fires is performed, a flash of nirvana occurs. Nirvana is beyond perception, non-perception, both, and neither. It is a total transcendence of samsara.

The meditator is now free. What remains is a choice. Choose the moment to take mahasamadhi and achieve parinirvana, or continue within samsara, compassionately practicing the paramitas, or perfections, of the bodhisattva for the sake of others, until all sentient beings obtain moksha, the liberation from the chains of samsara. Although, from the perspective of the dharmakaya, the choice contains no meaning or relevance, since samsara is nirvana, and nirvana is samsara.

 

For more information on buddhist meditation, such as the buddhahood, please visit Jared B. Hobbs at his blog Meditations and become a Scholar of Consciousness!

 

Relax - Buddhist Meditation Music - Zen Garden - Kokin Gumi

www.yusuf-yusuf85.blogspot.com ALBUM Relax – Buddhist Meditation Music – Zen Garden – Kokin Gumi – Da New AGe – Chill Out – Lounge Music https://secrets2meditation.com/goto/?url=http://www.yusuf-yus…
Video Rating: 4 / 5

More Buddhist Meditation Articles

Buddhist and Western Meditation : buddhist meditation

Buddhist Meditation , ,

We all hear over and over again how meditation can help us with stress, reduce blood pressure, and so on. Westerners most often hear about TM, which is just a form of basic Buddhist meditative techniques. If all you have been practicing is this, however, then you are cheating yourself out of a greater benefit.

TM is just a small, tiny part of the entire Buddhist meditative tradition. It is basic, but very important. It’s as simple as repeating the same patterns over and over again. You can count your breaths, sheep, or repeat a word of your choosing each time you exhale.

However, if this is all you practice, then you are a cheating yourself. You are cheating yourself out of a higher understanding of yourself, and a better control over your reaction to stressful or sad situations.

Oftentimes referred to as the objectless meditation, mindfulness will help you understand how your brain functions at all times-particularly during unpleasant times. Objectless meditation, or mindfulness, is the practice of simply acknowledging whatever may be happening in your mind. These activities that you acknowledge could come in the form of thoughts, feelings, desires, fantasies, etc.. Anything. Absolutely anything that goes on in your head. As you acknowledge these activities, you learn more about yourself.

As you learn more about yourself in different situations, you become better equipped to recognize and predict how you will feel based on what is happening in your mind. Generally, Buddhists will teach you to only recognize these feelings and stop there. However, I recommend that you also make note of any causal connections that you quickly notice. This would help you understand yourself even better, and prepare you for analytical meditation (which I recommend, but more on that later.)

Let me explain how being skillful in meditation as well as mindfulness will help you not only to drastically decrease recovery time from an unpleasant situation, but also rewire your reactions.

With basic meditation, you have become adept at staying focused on an object of your choosing. With mindfulness, you have become adept at understanding yourself and precursors to various emotions. Due to your increased mindfulness, you may be able to pick up on a pattern of thoughts or feelings that you know will lead to a bad state of mind. The moment you pick up on that, you “preemptively” strike by meditating on ANYTHING.

If you don’t have time for formal meditation, you simply meditate on whatever you are doing. Perhaps you’re showering, or brushing your teeth, driving to work.. etc. Doesn’t matter. As long as you are focusing on some object (whether it be literally an object, or an activity), acknowledging entering thoughts and returning to your object, you are meditating. That’s all it takes. You will be surprised to see how the few hours of getting over bad news or a bad incident of some kind can turn into just a few minutes.

When you first begin to meditate this way, you will notice that your recovery time is MUCH faster. However, this will remain mechanical for a while. What I mean by that is that you will have to stay on top of what is going on in your head, and continue to preemptively strike with meditation until your mind gets used to doing this. After some time, your mind will automatically react this way, and bad situations will not feel so bad anymore. It’s very interesting, but our minds generally store any kind of actions that result in a positive outcome rather easily, so training your mind to do this should come relatively quickly. This brings me to one final point. When you succeed at reducing your ‘recovery’ time, allow yourself to feel proud and happy. The better you feel about your success, the more impact it will have on your mind and the faster your mind will reprogram itself.

Feel free to contact me regarding any aspect of Buddhist meditation.

I’ll get back to you ASAP. Joe_taloe@yahoo.com

Find More Buddhist Meditation Articles

Buddhist Tours, Places to See and Places to Stay- Tour around or stay in comfort

Buddhist Meditation , , , , , ,

Article by rohan arora

Buddha spent the majority time of his life in the present north India. Therefore, the country is dotted with a large number of Buddhist sites. Buddhism was founded by Gautama Buddha between the 5th and the 6th centuries B.C. It is one of the three most widespread religions in the world. There is a wide range of opportunity for Buddhist Tours, places to see and places to stay in India.

Earlier, Indian kings and wealthy merchants frequented the Buddhist monasteries, which are today crowded by tourists from India and abroad. Today, Buddhism is the fifth largest religious group in India. In the 13th century, the ancient city of Nalanda in Bihar was the seat of Buddhist philosophy and religion. Buddhism was also popular in other Indian regions like the some pockets of the tribal areas in northeast India, Himalayan kingdoms of Bhutan and Sikkim.

The most attractive feature of your Buddhist tours is the Buddhist Gompas. If you want to meditate and follow the teachings of Buddha, then you must come to the various places of worship scattered in the Indian landscape. For the thousands of Buddhist pilgrims and tourists who come to the sacred destinations in India, there are many hotels, lodges and dharamshalas that provide comfortable and suitable accommodation to you.

Places to See during your Buddhist Tours

During your Buddhist tours in India, you will get an opportunity to witness a variety of beautiful paintings of the Buddha, Dharmchakras, Boddhisatvas, Dishapals and Mandals on the walls and the inner chambers of the gompas. The Hemis gompa is one of the biggest Gompa of Ladakh. Plan you visit during the summer festival at this gompa and be a part of the masked dances and religious ceremonies.

Besides the gompas, you can also visit the Buddhist monasteries, popularly known as vihara. The famous monasteries in India include Sanchi, Dhankar Monastery, Maha Bodhi Temple, the Tabo and Namgyal in Himachal Pradesh and the hilltop Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh

Your Buddhist tours would take you to Bodhgaya, the site of Buddha’s enlightenment, Sravasti, Sankashya, Nalanda, Kushinagar and Sarnath or Rajgir, where the Wheel of Dharma was first turned.

Places to Stay during your Buddhist Tours

The tourists

Meditation Trek in the Lower Everest Region of the Nepal Himalayas

Buddhist Meditation , , , , , ,

Article by Rio Andino

Meditation is the key to liberation, to freedom, to Love, to wisdom. If you can meditate for at least an hour or two a day, not to mention more, and attain a state of no mind, shedding the curtailments of the mind, in a way to become one without mind, you will gather all the fruit of this elated state. You will gain so much energy that this energy will keep you vibrant, imaginative, productive. That energy will allow you to see reality, the beauty of the way of life, the joy of life, the realization and remembrance of things that matter.

Meditation is a mind that focuses on an ethical goal, and that is the main cause of a emotional harmony, joy, love, and compassion. The practice of meditation is a way for our mind to become familiar with good values, character and the best quality of life there is. The more attuned our mind becomes with what is “good”, in harmony of all the positive energies, the more mellow and more relaxed it becomes.

When our mind is peaceful, we are free from problems, free from hurting, and suffering psychological pain, and as a result we encounter the state of true happiness.

If we instruct our mind to become tranquil we shell be happy all the time, even under the most agonizing conditions, but if our mind is not calm and at peace, then even if surrounded by paradise we shall feel pain and discontent, and rarely if ever be satisfied. Therefore, it is important to practice meditation, as whenever we meditate, we are nearing a state that renders us to experience inner peace, at present and in the future.

Day and night, throughout our life, we usually experience delusions, the confusions of a conscious mind, which are the opposite to emotional contentment, even despite that on occasion we may sense the experience of inner harmony. This may be a result of in our prior existence we might had centered our mind on good intentions.

An appealing premium target is one that provokes us to develop a peaceful mind when we place emphasis on it. If we concentrate on a purpose that causes us to produce non-peaceful mind, such as fury, bond or an attachment to things, arrogance and egotistic mind, all these are symptoms of our non-virtuous mind, many forms of a vice.

Buddha showed us that meditation provides two things. It can provide for achievement of wisdom, and it brings liberation. Wisdom and freedom are like two flowers, and they expand out of mediation. When you become silent, completely soundless, your mind still, you attain a state beyond the mind, and the two flowers will prosper within you. Having attained wisdom, you know what is and what is not. And knowing true freedom, you know now there are no longer any limitations on you, either of time or space. You become open-minded.

About the Author

Practice calmness and empathy, and trek in Solu, the lower of the Everest Region of Solukhumbu. Truly one of a kind experience, the Nepal meditation trek allows you to savor wonderful vistas of some of the most impressive mountains of the Nepal Himalaya. Interact with the Sherpa people, gain an insight into their life-style, traditions and culture. Above all, meditate and join ceremonies with monks and nuns of the local monasteries, and receive teachings on the Four Noble Truth and other precepts of Buddhism.

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.

Learning Meditation: Go on Retreat

Buddhist Meditation , ,

Article by Keira Adams

John Porter, an ad executive from San Francisco, had been around the globe to exotic locations and often stayed in posh resorts. Yet, while he was gearing up for his 2005 trip, he felt a strong desire to experience something different — something more meaningful. His deeper journey led him on a week-long sojourn to a meditation retreat on Scotland’s Holy Isle. There, John took courses to help him learn meditation practice, which he still uses almost five years later.

Travel and Leisure Magazine recently rated their top ten worldwideretreats for learning meditation. Number one on their list was Ananda in the Himalayas, a spectacular 100-acre estate in Uttaranchal, India, which has wide views of the Ganges River, the Himalayan mountain foothills and the temple villages of Rishikesh and Hardiwar. Amenities consist of a 21,000-square-foot spa, meditation and yoga pavilions, a tea lounge, an antique billiards room and the former maharajah’s palace.

Here, people will be given one-on-one guided meditation custom-made to their individual needs. Stretching, Buddhist meditation teachings, yoga and breathing exercises are taught in one-hour classes throughout the day. This retreat appeals to all types of people, including a good number of luxury travelers who have never visited a spiritual retreat till now.

Another place to learn meditation is the White Cloud Sanctuary in Santa Ana, Costa Rica. Just west of the San Jos capital, you’ll stay in a one-person tile-roofed casita with its own kitchen, bathroom and living area, while enjoying breathtaking mountain views. This quaint 13-acre property amid the jungle mountainside can only take one person at a time, so you’ll be completely alone in your rigorous study of Tai Chi and QiGong meditation. When you’re not meditating, you can take a walk through organic vegetable gardens, horse farms and groves of mango, banana and papaya trees. Meals aren’t included with this program, but you can purchase healthy food at the lodge.

A third destination to learn meditation is the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. Located on a 200-acre property surrounding a grand mansion, you’ll find 79 dormitory-style single and double rooms with shared bathrooms, dining facilities, outdoor Buddhist shrines and meditation spaces. For a more intense pilgrimage, you can stay at the Forest Refuge, a long-term retreat center set several miles back into the countryside. The practice here involves Vipassana (insight) and Metta (loving kindness) meditation. You’ll sit and you’ll walk, but your meditative practices will all be done in complete silence. Eventually, through silence, you will find insight and self-awakening.

About the Author

In today’s stress filled society, Zen meditation techniques might be just what you need to manage your life more effectively. Learn more about how meditation can calm and focus your mind by visiting Meditation Techniques.

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.