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Samadhi, Vipassana, and Buddhist meditation
In the language of the Noble Eightfold Path, samyaksamādhi is "right
concentration". The primary means of cultivating samādhi is meditation. Almost
all Buddhist schools agree that the Buddha taught two types of meditation, viz.
samatha meditation (Sanskrit: śamatha) and vipassanā meditation (Sanskrit:
vipaśyanā). Upon development of samādhi, one's mind becomes purified of
defilement, calm, tranquil, and luminous.
Once the meditator achieves a strong and powerful concentration (jhāna, Sanskrit
ध्यानम् dhyāna), his mind is ready to penetrate and gain insight (vipassanā)
into the ultimate nature of reality, eventually obtaining release from all
suffering. The cultivation of mindfulness is essential to mental concentration,
which is needed to achieve insight.
Samatha Meditation starts from being mindful of an object or idea, which is
expanded to one's body, mind and entire surroundings, leading to a state of
total concentration and tranquillity (jhāna) There are many variations in the
style of meditation, from sitting cross-legged or kneeling to chanting or
walking. The most common method of meditation is to concentrate on one's breath,
because this practice can lead to both samatha and vipassana.
In Buddhist practice, it is said that while samatha meditation can calm the
mind, only vipassanā meditation can reveal how the mind was disturbed to start
with, which is what leads to jñāna (Pāli ñāṇa knowledge), prajñā (Pāli paññā
pure understanding) and thus can lead to nirvāṇa (Pāli nibbāna).
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