Meditation is a holistic discipline by which the practitioner attempts to get beyond the reflexive, “thinking” mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness.
The historical Buddha was said to have achieved enlightenment while meditating under a Bodhi tree. Buddhist meditation is fundamentally focused on transforming the mind and using it to explore itself and other phenomena as a path to enlightenment. There are many practices of meditation and Master Gunika focuses on teaching two forms of meditation, Zen and Vipassan?.
The Zen tradition emphasizes that enlightenment of the Buddha came through self-realization in Dharma (True Wisdom) practice and meditation. Therefore, it is primarily through Dharma practice and meditation that others may attain enlightenment and become Buddha’s as well. In Zen Buddhism, zazen (literally “seated meditation”) is a meditative discipline practitioners perform to calm the body and the mind and experience insight into the nature of the existence and thereby gain enlightenment.
Vipassan? is one of the world’s most ancient techniques of meditation, the inception of which is attributed to Buddha. It is a way of self-transformation through self-observation and introspection. In English, Vipassan? meditation is often referred to simply as “insight meditation”.
Researched Benefits
· Improved cognitive ability and overall brain function.
· Improved concentration.
· Increased creative ability.
· Increased relaxation ability.
· Improved perception and memory.
· Increased intelligence.
· Improved breathing ability.
· Decreased stress.
· Decreased blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
· Anti-aging qualities.
· Improved immune system function.
· Greater realization of “self”.
· Decrease in addictive behaviours.
· Improved productivity in function.
· Improved relationships.
* Increased spirituality and enlightenment.