Eastern Philosophy and Meditation
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philosophy and meditation Buddhism * Zen
Buddhism explained: *
Your guide to practicing the Buddhism religion: * Buddhism religion - the 3 Dharma seals: The central concepts of Buddhism religion explained * Buddhism religion - a path leading to insight: The main features of Buddhism religion - a path of insight * Buddhist meditation as taught by the Anapanasati Sutra: Buddhist meditation according the the Anapanasati sutra - gaining peace, happiness and emancipation. * Right Views - the first step on the Noble 8 Fold path: The Noble 8 Fold Path is the last of the 4 noble truths propounded by Buddhism religion. The first aspect of the Noble 8 Fold Path is right views. * Right Thinking according to the Noble 8 fold path: The second step in the Noble 8 Fold Path is Right Thinking. There is a famous saying in Western Philosophy- “I think therefore I am”. This is where Western Philosophy (as opposed to Western religions) and Eastern Philosophy diverge and go their separate ways. This Buddhism outline will cover some of its messages as to the 4 Noble Truths, what is meant by Nirvana and how we can (intellectually at any rate) see what a liberated person sees. * Interesting fact about Buddhism: An interesting fact about Buddhism is its history. Buddhism first developed in India through the teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha about 2500 years ago. His teaching is carried on in the Theravada tradition of Buddhism or the Teaching of the Elders. The Buddhist doctrine is a vast field for study. Ten fact about Buddhism (in no particular order of importance) are as follows: 1) Be lamps unto yourself - Buddhism stresses experiential understanding and transformation. Hence it stresses self-effort and testing out teachings through personal experience. Some of the Buddhism religion facts are as follows: Buddhism is not a faith or even a doctrine. It is a method to attain enlightenment and it takes the form of a dialogue. Any dialogue must necessarily to tailored to meet the needs of one person with his individual requirements. This article is an answer to the question, when was Buddhism founded? Buddhism originally arose out of the teaching and enlightenment of Siddharth Gautama. Siddharth Gautama was the first of many Buddhas - or enlightened masters - who have enriched the Buddhist tradition. Hinduism and Buddhism a comparison In this article I will be discussing some points, which make up Hinduism and Buddhism a comparison. Buddhism differs from Hinduism only in the way the doctrines are presented. Certain points are emphasized in Buddhism, which are mentioned in the Hindu scriptures but not stressed by them. Buddhism and facts are in close agreement. In fact the basic propositions of most Eastern philosophies have now been verified by modern science. Modern science now seems to be reaching the same conclusions about the Universe as the ancient mystics of the East. In this article on Buddhism religion history, I will mention some interesting details about its history in India, where it originated. I cannot in a short article cover its history in other countries as these countries cover almost the whole of Asia- excluding perhaps Russia. 5 facts Buddhism are explained below in this article. These are also the basic Buddhism beliefs. They make up the Buddhist doctrine of salvation. This doctrine of salvation along with the Buddhist beliefs in the 3 Jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha form the accepted Buddhist beliefs common to all traditions at Buddhism. This article explains the basic beliefs of Buddhism. These constitute the Buddhist doctrine of salvation and belief in the 3 Jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. As regards the doctrine of salvation Buddhism is based on 3 precepts Some points about Buddhism beliefs practices are mentioned in this article. On this page I will briefly cover Buddhism beliefs and then explain in more details some Buddhist practices that I have experimented with. How we can use the mystical insights of the Zen Master Bodhidharma to transform our lives Hinduism *
Hinduism, the main religion from India *
Essential messages of Hinduism religion *
The message of the Hinduism *
Hinduism, the ancient India religion - essential truths *
Major Indian religion - Hinduism * The message of the Bhagavad Gita : This is the first in a series of a 3 articles on the Bhagavad Gita - the song celestial - the sacred book of Hinduism religion. * Karma Yoga - action and the Bhagavad Gita : In the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita we come across a very important sloka. The situation is this - Arjuna is caught between his duty to wage war and revulsion at the prospect of killing his elders, kith, kin and family whom he has known all his life. * The world-view of the Bhagavad Gita : The Bhagavad Gita is a code of conduct, a form of practical spirituality that is based on a view of the world - a metaphysic. If we are to make sense of the code of conduct we must first understand the metaphysic. * Important holy sites of Hinduism : In this article there is information about some important holy sites of Hinduism. These are some of the Tirthas and Dhaams - the most important holy sites. You can go to a tirtha as a tourist to discover the soul of India. For the devout Hindu however a visit to a tirtha is a voyage of personal and spiritual discovery. These places are charged with the power of God and he visits them for that purpose. * Chief God of early Hinduism : One of the chief God of early Hinduism is Vishnu (the preserver). The two other chief gods are Brahma (the creator) and Shiva (the destroyer). Vishnu is worshipped in many forms in India, The main focus of religion is the worship of God and Hinduism has accepted that God can be worshipped in any form.
Confucius *
The message of Confucius - a way of life *
Confucius quotes for you Taoism *
The ancient Chinese religion - Taoism * Through
the religion of Taoism we experience our oneness with the
Universe *
Yin Yang philosophy - an explanation of change * Essential
Taoist meditations (values) explained * Human nature - as understood by the Religion of China: This page explains how the religion of China is a tolerant and forgiving philosophy * Chuang Tzu of Taoism - the thought process of a Chinese sage explained: I was reading Alan Watts on Taoism. As I read the book I got the impression that the Taoism of ancient China is an outlook on ourselves and the world that is fundamentally different from our modern way of life. It is also totally different from the way I was brought up. It is totally different from the way people I know look at life. In fact I do not know anybody who looks at life in this way and that includes myself and I am interested in Philosophy. * Enlightenment and Taoism - a brief description of both.: Some further thoughts on Taoism, the religion from ancient China. This religion is similar in its core philosophy to almost all the other eastern philosophies and religions. The core message is that it is the well being of the whole that is important and not the well being of any individual being. In Quantum Physics scientists have reached the conclusion that the Universe is one organic whole. The following is the first on a series of 3 articles on Taoism outline. This is a way of looking at life completely different from what we are used to. Taoism outline consists of the following fundamental concepts - In this Taoism Outline you will find quotations from the Chinese sages describing the Tao along with my (few and far between) comments. I do not have much to say because I am not enlightened... An outline of essential Taosim would contain another key concept - that of Te (or virtue). Te is not virtue in the sense of being contrived or cultivated virtue as happens when we follow a moral code. It is not moral rectitude. It is the power that enables the plants to grow; which keeps the blood circulating in our bodies. Philosophy Quotes *
Timeless philosophy quotes and quotations Techniques of Meditation *
Eastern techniques of meditation will transform your
life * Vipassana
meditation - the teaching of the Buddha *
Essential information on Transcendental meditation *
Some tips to Japa meditation *
Your guide to Taoist meditation techniques *
Some tips for using meditation for pain management *
Some tips and techniques for relaxation and meditation
* How to meditate - some important advice: Learning how to meditate is very important. This page helps you decide how to go about it. How does meditation benefits stress? In this article I will describe how to bring meditation to your day-to-day life so that you can deal with stress as it arises. * The goal of meditation methods: The path and the goal of meditation methods The goal of mindfulness exercises Avoiding thinking fruitlessly is the goal of mindfulness exercises. You will live more intensely. Learn how. The challenges you will face in practicing and learning meditation
The goal is the journey. Find out how practicing and learning meditation in daily life helps you live life intensely
*
This too will pass: Vipassana meditation as taught by Mr. S N Goenka stresses on the experience of impermanence within our own bodies to attain Nirvana - the state beyond suffering. * The
doctrine of Karma: It is said that in the second watch of the night when the Buddha attained enlightenment he gained a different kind of knowledge, which complemented his knowledge of rebirth - The Law of Karma. *
The basics of Meditation: I was reading Osho Rajneesh just now on Meditation and one thing he was stressing is that the attitude we have as we do the meditation is very important. He says that it is necessary to start with a very optimistic attitude. *
Meditation for beginners: The question arises - why should we meditate? Attaining God or Nirvana is a very distant ideal. What are the benefits Here and Now? The first benefit of meditation is relaxation. *
The foundation of Meditation - the body: The body is the tool for meditation and all our efforts to know the Truth. If your body is impure, it will not be helpful. The body is not the enemy, not is it something of a lower sphere. You are not your body; it is a wonderful tool given to you. Care for it and it will help in your efforts to meditate. The first thing to know about the body is that there are many impurities or blockages in it. *
The foundation of Meditation Part II: Taking the old example suppose the boss has said something to you at work and you are feeling angry. *
The foundation of Meditation Part III: The body is an absolutely physical mechanism - however also the mind and the body are completely interconnected. You cannot distinguish between the body and the mind. *
Contemplation - an aid to Meditation: I was reading Osho Rajneesh just now and he told the story of contemplation regarding the Buddha. It is a famous story and very meaningful. The Buddha was born a prince and he was so brought up that he had no conception of the suffering that exists in this world. * The
Buddha said - We are not separate: The Buddha arrived at the gates of heaven and all was prepared with great fanfare to receive him. The gates were flung open, music was playing and angels were present to greet him with garlands. But the Buddha refused to enter heaven. *
Consciousness is bliss, Unconsciousness is misery: *
Mindfulness in daily life: And what is this wonderful method - it is the practice of Mindfulness. * Transforming
Anger: *
Transforming Anger Part II: * The
Fear of Death: If we are interested in religion or philosophy we may believe in eternal life as promised by the scriptures. The Christian faith, Hinduism and many other religions assure us that death is not the end and life continues even after the physical body dies. *
Helping the dying - some practical advice: * Gaining
solidity and a sense of being free: Perhaps I can illustrate this statement by describing what as happened today in my life. A few years ago I registered a criminal complaint against one of my colleagues who cheated me of a very large sum of money. *
Love yourself and Watch: Osho Rajneesh says that it is only if we love ourselves can we love others. *
Contemplating Death: We do not want to face up to the fact of impermanence because then we have to face up to our own demise. Yet impermanence is something that makes life possible. We would not have grown to be responsible adults had it not been for impermanence. * How to meditate - the approach and attitude to meditation: How to meditate and how to be fully alive each moment of our lives - this article explains how. * Being a witness - how it will help you meditate: How being a witness can help us to progress in our meditation practice * A powerful technique of meditation: Here is a powerful technique of meditation that can give you courage to face all difficulties in Life. * Transforming Pain and Suffering: Pain and suffering are an integral part of our lives. We have come to accept them as a fact of life. We do not know that it is entirely possible to transform it into peace and joy and thus grow spiritually. The first thing to realize is that living as we do in a world of duality we cannot escape either from happiness or unhappiness. How do we gain peace of mind? Or more to the point why are our minds so turbulent, why are we always so agitated? It is because we are not the masters of the mind. The mind is our master. We do not use the mind; the mind uses us. * Letting go of Anger and Pride: Why it is so difficult to let go of anger and pride? And why is it important and necessary that we do so?. Both of these feelings are by-products of the ego. * Personal and Spiritual growth through Acceptance and Surrender: One of the most useful concepts to grow spiritually and becoming happier is the method of acceptance and surrender. I have personally found this method to be perhaps the most workable and useful in retaining my poise and staying happier as I go through life. * From Relative Truth to Absolute Truth through the 5 Remembrances: If you read the sacred texts - amongst them the 5 Remembrances - of Buddhism you may find that many of the texts seem to contradict each other. For example you have the Four Noble Truths, which is a very important principle of Buddhism. Regarding Witnessing I was reading The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts and I came across a method that can make witnessing second nature and a habit for all of us. It is this: We all have this concept of ourselves as some being or entity that experiences life, which thinks or acts, chooses, decides or lives. * Scientific Findings about Reincarnation: I would like to say something in this article about reincarnation or life after death. There are plenty of authoritative books on this subject that you can read if you are interested. * Being a witness - why it is necessary: On being a witness, I am in the middle of reading Eckhart Tolle's new book - The New Earth. This article gives my views on this book. Eckhart Tolle's first book - The Power of Now - is a modern spiritual classic. I agree with almost every word written in that book and I consider it one of the most important books I have read. The culture in which we are brought up is such that we absorb certain concepts and accept them as true and never question them. It never occurs to us that there could be any other or different way of looking at life. One such assumption that most of us make in our modern, westernized culture is the assumption that we can enjoy the good things of life and avoid the bad. * Buddhism and Emptiness - seeing our relationship with the Universe: I have not done any contemplation on Emptiness. This is however a concept and a way of looking at ourselves and at the world that is revolutionary and is basic to Buddhism. Basically almost all of us regard ourselves as individual beings separate from the rest of existence. This view in universal to the human race and is the cause of many of our problems and shortcomings. * Buddhism and its path to happiness - Aimlessness: In Buddhism the three doors of liberation are Emptiness, Signlessness and Aimlessness. This article is about Aimlessness. Aimlessness basically means that there is nothing to attain, nothing to strive for, nothing that we are compelled to do. This enables us to be happy in the present moment, to live, to do the experiencing of life. * Gaining in well being and joy through the teachings of Buddhism: This article is about the third of these Four Noble Truths of Buddhism - cessation of suffering. According to the Zen Buddhist Master - Thich Nhat Hanh - cessation of suffering can also be looked upon as well being. We normally have many reasons to feel good about ourselves at any given time. The problem is that we do not recognize and value and treasure these reasons and our well being. When you have a bad toothache you suffer from excruciating pain. * How to read and absorb The Art of War and apply its teachings: The Art of War by Sun Tzu is marvelous. It is a look at the thinking process of a sage and a philosopher and a warrior. You will be exposed to a way of managing and handling conflicts that is different from anything else that you have ever experienced. Consider the following statement from the book: "To win without fighting is the best." * What is meant by Spirituality and being Spiritual: What is meant by spirituality runs like a common thread through all cultures and religious traditions. It is expressed in the Christian tradition by the words: "He that loseth his soul shall find it." A Buddhist poem expresses this intuition about spirituality in this way: "While living, be a dead man, thoroughly dead. Then whatever you do, just as you will, will be right." * Taoism and the state of Wu Wei: The highest state of man - according to Taoism - is a state of no-doing. This is a state of Wu Wei (a Chinese word) or Mui (in Japanese). Before I got interested in eastern philosophy I read a number of American self-help books. None of these books did me much good. * Spirituality and lightheartedness: An article about spirituality. I read my first book by Alan Watts a few months back and he has become one my favorite authors. His insights and enthusiasm for eastern philosophy are entertaining as well as instructive and inspiring. The book that I am reading now is Become What You Are. It is just a series of articles that discusses many spiritual concepts and is not about any particular religion or philosophy as such. * A State of Concentration while you are meditating: Concentration while meditating. If you are doing meditation and I hope you are - you will face frustration from time to time because you will think that you are unable to focus well. I am doing Vipassana meditation and in this form of meditation we are told to develop concentration through awareness of the Breath I have spent a lot of time with books in my life and overall it was more than worth it. Books have opened my eyes to a world that I would never have known to have existed if I had not read them. They have enabled me to escape from myself and my problems when they were too heavy to bear. And in escaping from myself I got much needed rest and relief which would enable me to deal with my problems better. I had spoken of my experience with books in a previous article. Enough talk about myself. Here are my comments on some of them. I will be writing more than just this one article because I have loved many books and there is much that I want to say. In no particular order they are: * Still More Books I have loved: This is the third in a series of articles on books I have loved. I urge you to read my earlier two articles as well. If I have already emailed them to you then do not delete those emails and refer to those mails more than once. Here are some more of the books have loved. This article is on thinking, on taking thought and coming up with thoughtful solutions to the problems facing us and thus achieving our objectives. In this article I wish to comment on one of my favorite authors - Alan Watts. Many of Alan Watt's books are classics in the field of Eastern Philosophy. He writes engagingly and is able to explain clearly and well even the most obscure points of Eastern Philosophy. * Osho's most insightful book: “A master who lived as a hermit on a mountain was asked by a monk: ‘What is the way?’ ‘What a fine mountain this is ‘, the master said in reply. ‘I am not asking you about the mountain’, said the monk, ‘but the way’.
“I would like to spit in your eye but I am afraid that it will dirty my spit.” This sentence symbolizes for me what the book
Papillon is all about. Courage in the face of almost
insurmountable odds.Papillon was written in the 1930s if I
remember correctly and it is a classic that has been reprinted
many times. Even now almost 70 years after the book came out if
you want to purchase your copy you will find it easily
available. It remains in the market and sell
steadily. Attaining to serenity in Life: Why attaining to serenity of mind is difficult and how we can attain to that state The benefits - attaining the mindset of the warrior: Be so secure that you can laugh at your troubles and see them in perspective Making the Ultimate Dimension a part of our day to day life: How understanding our relationship with the world can transform our lives The Universe is an organic whole: Quantum physics as well as Eastern philosophy lead to the conclusion that the Universe is an organic whole. This can completely change the way we look at ourselves and the world. Using Impermanence to gain a true view of life: What we can learn from the Buddhist concept of Impermanence and how it aafects our life The journey on the spiritual path to God can change us from the inside out: Making God a part of our lives. Why we need to journey towards the mystical experience. Practical advice on how to benefit from this ecourse A simple technique of mindfulness that will enable us to care for our anger and transform it. Anger - three ways it manifests itself and how we can deal with it: Dealing with our habitual energies of anger and how it can transform our lives The greatest lesson of George Gurdieff's life: The lesson passed on to Gurdieff by his father on his death bed, watching our diet and consumption, compassionate listening Using communication to defuse anger: Regarding communication and how it defuses anger and concluding remarks. Building resolve through the habit of witnessing: The habit of resolve, of carrying through and completing our projects and goals is much valued in the work a day world. This page explains how we can build resolve through being a witness. Mindfulness of death and its benefits spiritually and in our day to day life: The Buddhist practice of mindfulness of death - a powerful meditation exercise Mindfulness of death - why preparing for our passing is important: Preparing for our end; why it is important and some resources to help us prepare ourselves and our loved ones for death Helping the dying - some practical advice: Helping the dying - 8 tips to making their passing peaceful Dealing with loss after death of a loved one: Dealing with loss after death of a loved one can be traumatic and the sorrow can persist for years. Learn to deal with your grief and sorrow and transform it. Gaining poise and self confidence: How Eastern Philosophy and the habit of witnessing helped me gain in poise and self confidence and how you can do the same. Better relationships through mastery of self: Being self sufficient and peaceful leads to better relationships; how we can grow to that state; ending a bad relationship Beating stress through Eastern Philosophy: A ancient way of dealing with a modern problem
- stress *
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