How does *Buddhist* meditation differ from others and lead to awakening?
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Very good question.
Buddhist meditation is based on the understanding of the mechanism of arising and cessation of suffering. Suffering arises whenever there is a conflict between "is" and "should". Craving for any "should" because of attachment to that (usually to a concept within a framework) is the generator of suffering. Letting go of the "should", or even better, transcending the boundaries of a framework that served as the foundation for the concept, leads to cessation of suffering.
Buddhist meditation involves methodically applying the above principle from coarse to progressively finer "shoulds".
As you thus let go of these attachments, preconceptions, prejudices, and overgeneralizations - the notion of self dissolves as the hidden counterpart of these overgeneralizations.
However, I think you got the relationship wrong way. It's not that the peace of no-attachment (no-should, no-overgeneralization) is a step that leads to selflessness which then leads to Enlightenment. It is the other way: freedom from attachments, preconceptions, prejudices, and overgeneralizations -- including the overgeneralization known as "Self" - leads to Enlightenment and Peace.
Non-Buddhist meditation is either trial and error, or something trivial like gazing at the candle or running water, or it is brute-force stopping the thoughts, or it is visualization of some images that has useful side effects, or working directly with psychosomatic energies. The last two types were later repurposed by Tibetan Buddhists and integrated into Buddhist framework of progressive attainment of suchness.
Upvote:0
Buddhist meditation practice leads to realizing selflessness since that is one of the targets of meditation. The purpose of meditating on another object, such as the breath, is to train the mind to focus on the object of meditation. Once the practitioner has the ability to pick and hold an object of meditation, the practitioner is able to choose selflessness or emptiness as the object, and eventually have a direct realization.
Upvote:0
The Visuddhimagga (english translation by Bhikku Nanamoli) chapter XXII.46 draws our attention to 'balancing the two powers of serenity and insight in such a manner that neither exceeds the other'. The canonical source from the 'Path of Discrimination' is also given. If serenity or samatha, based on breathing is equated to form/body, the power/energy behind the body is said to be atomic. If insight or vipassana based on thoughts and contemplating the three characteristics is equated to mind/consciousness, the power/energy behind consciousness is said to be cosmic. In Abhidhamma, the Higher Doctrine, we understand that the cosmic power is 17 times more powerful than the atomic. If therefore, it is necessary to 'balance these two powers' it means that the power of cosmic needs to be reduced and the power of atomic needs to be increased, in such a manner that 'neither exceeds the other'? The merger of these two powers presumably leads to a state of vipassana samadhi, which is clearly more powerful than the serenity or samatha samadhi. The yin/yang, shiva/shakthi, name/form.
Upvote:1
You have already answered this question yourself ---> "such as Hinduism which do not lead to realization of no self."
To be specific, Satipatthana is the key difference.
The whole technique of Satipatthana, along with observing the three marks of existence (Impermanence, Suffering, and no-self), is the key difference between Buddhism meditation with Tirthika that practices meditation.
Upvote:1
In the context of Buddhist meditation, there are 40 subjects of meditation (Kammaṭṭhāna). These are divided into
All the Samatha techniques were borrowed from contemporary meditation techniques. What is unique to Buddhism is Vipassanā which results in wisdom (Paññā).
In Buddhism, the practice has 3 folds:
- morality (Śīla) - developed though recollection of morality (Śīla)
- mastery over the mind (Samadhi) - developed through Samatha
- wisdom (Paññā) - developed through Vipassanā
Many contemporary teachers and even before and after the Buddha taught morality (Śīla) and mastery over the mind (Samadhi). Using these techniques you can develop morality to some degree and gain certain spiritual development. In religions like Christianity, there are many cases of pious people who have been able to perform miracles. The Hindus also had practices which resulted in Samadhi upto the highest Jhana. They reaped the benefits of developing Jhana. Alara Kalama has the 7th Jhana and Uddaka Ramaputta has the 8th Jhana. The Bodhisatta was not satisfied with these Jhana as the ultimate realisation investigated further found there still is a step further and found the way to develop Paññā. These 3 fold training, without any extremities and taking out any vital elements, in totality codified in the Noble Eightfold Path was the middle way.
Upvote:3
How a doctrine influences the outcome of meditation is both powerful & subtle.
For example, it can be observed on Buddhist chatsites how much certain individuals egoistically attach/cling to delusions about 'jhana'. These delusions about personal attainments of (imaginary) jhana arise from their emphasising of 'jhana' and their de-emphasising of abandoning 'self-clinging'.
Similarly, if a religion or doctrine teaches about 'True Self', 'Brahman' or 'God', then follower will develop an inclination or bent to regard meditative experiences as 'God' or 'Self' or 'Brahman'.
In short, the underlying doctrine or culture is extremely influential.
In genuine Buddhist doctrine, the Buddha strongly emphasised the abandoning of self-clinging & self-views. Therefore, if a beginner meditator attempts to do their very best to abandon self-clinging & self-views, this will affect the quality of concentration, which will be much more lucid, sensitive & free.
As such meditation develops, when subtle clinging arises, the mindful meditator (who is properly instructed) will quickly learn & act to dissolve that clinging.
Therefore, the more selfless the basic instruction, the more selfless will be the fruition of meditation and the more selfless will enlightenment be.
In MN 118 (final paragraphs) and SN 48.10, for example, the Buddha directly taught that right mindfulness and right concentration have the quality of 'letting go' ('vossagga').
This quality of 'vossagga' is what distinguishes genuine Buddhist meditation from non-genuine Buddhist meditation, which includes the non-Buddhist techniques found in the most famous later-day Buddhist commentaries, such as the Visuddhimagga, which emphasis force and suppression rather than letting go.
Buddhist meditation is the abandonment of craving, attachment and every type of self-conceit (I making & my making) without exception; including as much as possible from the very beginning of practise. About this, AN 4.34 says:
Monks, among things conditioned and unconditioned, dispassion is reckoned to be the best of them all: the crushing of all infatuation, the removal of thirst, the uprooting of attachment, the cutting off of the round, the destruction of craving, dispassion, Nibbāna. Those who have faith in the Dhamma of dispassion have faith in the best; and for those who have faith in the best, the best result will be theirs.
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