Meditation
is essential in Buddhism. Therefore, in order to achieve , Buddhists must know how to meditate properly.
There are two main kinds of meditation:
- Samatha meditation - This is known as calming meditation and Buddhists believe that it leads to deeper concentration. It is important as it allows Buddhists to let go of cravings and therefore achieve . It focuses on mindfulness of breathing.
- Vipassana meditation - This is known as insight meditation. When a Buddhist meditates, they believe that they can see things as they really are. This allows them to gain realisation and understand the impermanence of things and the nature of reality. It is not just about focusing on breathing - it is also about focusing on exploration. It can even be done when walking.
The practised both forms of meditation. Buddhists imitate his methods in order to achieve enlightenment. Both forms of meditation are important, and Buddhists take time to make sure their meditation is suited to their needs.
Visualisation
In meditation, Buddhists imagine the Buddha as a way of understanding Buddhist teachings. Tibetan Buddhists often use visualisation in meditation with the aim of imagining the Buddha so that they can understand the true nature of existence and become awakened. Therefore, skilled meditation practice and a focus on visualisation are important elements of the path towards achieving enlightenment as a Buddhist.
Death and mourning
Buddhists believe in the cycle of . Therefore, their beliefs about death are focused on the idea of rebirth. Until a Buddhist achieves nibbana, they will not escape the cycle of samsara. Buddhists therefore believe that death is not the end - it is part of a bigger cycle.
Death ceremonies provide mourners with a sense of comfort, but they also allow mourners to acknowledge that death is a part of life (this is related to the idea of , or impermanence). The death ceremony also allows for to be obtained, as mourners can be charitable and generous during the period surrounding a death.
Different groups of Buddhists have different death ceremonies:
- death ceremonies - They may have a sky burial, which means the ceremony is held as high up a hill as possible in order to be close to places where vultures live. This is because Tibetan Buddhists leave bodies outside, where they may be eaten by animals such as vultures. This is important as Tibetans believe that vultures help the process of rebirth in the cycle of samsara.
- death ceremonies - They may include a funeral service of the kind often used in other religious traditions. The body is placed in a coffin and there may be readings from Buddhist scripture.
- death ceremonies - As opposed to holding a more formal service, Theravada Buddhists may prefer to donate to charity or other worthy causes. This is because Buddhists believe in ‘transfer of merit’, which means they can pass on the positive effects of good deeds to people who have died. They see this as a more positive experience than mourning.
