The purpose of meditation

If somebody asked me what was the purpose or aim of Buddhist meditation I would tell them it helps lead us to see our true nature.  More generally, meditation is the concentration of thought on a particular object or point.  In, itself, this doesn’t engender gnosis or the ‘seeing’ of our true nature which means that meditation is only a means—not the end.  Outside of this, what is called ‘meditation’ is somewhat of a misnomer.

Turning to the particular object of meditation if it is incorrect then our efforts will fail no matter how much we practice.  It is somewhat like having the wrong coordinates with which to navigate.  We will never reach the Isle of Jewels, i.e., nirvana.  This is why it is so very important to study the discourses of the Buddha.  The Buddha is trying to teach us about our true nature which we have yet to realize.

Since we live in the degenerate age, the age of counterfeit dharma (pratirûpakadharma), we have to be vigilant making sure we don’t misunderstand the purpose or aim of meditation.  If, for example, someone tells us that meditation has no purpose than just to sit we have to inquire if the Buddha actually taught this.  If someone tells us we are already Buddhas so there is no need to see our true nature, again, we have to inquire if the Buddha actually taught this.  If he didn’t teach this then we must reject what we have been taught since it is wrong meditation.

 

Comments

[Java Junkie Junebug Julius]

ahh, so you liked the 17 point list about "citta's importance in sutta"

I thought someone would like it.

[Reikon]

New Java Junkie's video is killer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbqTXx7m9j4

[Reikon]

I understand only a little bit of Zen, but what I learned from the Zennist is that the true purpose of meditation is hishiryo:

http://zennist.typepad.com/zenfiles/2008/04/authentic-hishi.html

Really isn't the most marvellous insight to see that there is something that is neither thinking (shiryo), nor not-thinking (fushiryo)?