Meditation
 Meditation
is found in some form or another in all major religious traditions
but in Buddhism it is integral to the path to enlightenment.
The practitioner trains his or her mind so that it can understand
the four-points that form the core of the Buddha’s teaching:
suffering, what causes it, the end of suffering, and the path
to that end. Consequently, the art of meditation is a highly
developed one in Thailand. One doesn’t need to be a Buddhist,
or even be interested in Buddhism, to benefit from meditation.
A valuable training that can be applied to daily life, it greatly
helps concentration and can lead to a state of peace and calmness,
no matter where the meditation is performed.
There are two main branches in Buddhist meditation: Samatha
(calmness, concentration) and Vipassana (insight), which stresses
mindfulness.
 The
techniques of Samatha meditation are many, some of them older
than Buddhism itself. Amongst the most commonly practiced in
Thailand is Anapanasati, or “mindfulness with breathing”. Mantra
meditation, in which given words are repeated over and over
to help focus the mind, is also widely practiced. Kasinas, where
mediators concentrate on an object outside themselves, such
as a crystal ball and candle flame, is yet another form.
Sati, or mindfulness, is the key to Vipassana meditation. When
the mind is untrained it is wide open to outside disturbances,
and the objective is to be aware of what happens but not dwell
upon it. So you train yourself to be  aware
of the body’s movement, the rise and fall of the chest as you
inhale and exhale, the movement of the legs and feet as you
walk, and your feelings and state of mind. Walking, sitting
and lying meditation are a few of the Vipassana techniques,
and to avoid distractions as far as possible the retreats are
usually held in isolated and peaceful surroundings.
Meditation teachings are widely available in Thailand for Thais
and visitors alike, ranging from English language day classes
in Bangkok through to intensive month-long Vipassana courses
at remote retreats in the provinces. |
