Meditation

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• Meditation is a process of mental and physical purification (thought/sensation connection) which eradicates suffering. The eventual GOAL of meditation is to reach enlightenment, a state of existence with no suffering.
• Mindfulness is but one aspect of meditation, defined by the ability to remain solely focused on a particular object of attention for an extended period of time (we are usually mindless - shower example). 
• Meditation is a practice that was discovered over 2500 years ago by Siddhartha Gautama (life history) or “Buddha” (awakened one), who is the most recent being that attained full enlightenment, and many of his devotees (including women) reached enlightenment as well. Buddha believed all humans can reach enlightenment. The Buddha had a more vast and thorough understanding of the “unconscious mind” than Sigmund Freud.

• We use very little of our brains consciously, less than 5%. Therefore we can and are guided by other forces. We can learn and have the ability to access more of our minds and to have more control practice. Meditation programs are a way to teach and learn mind control.
• As you become more mindful through meditation, the unconscious mind becomes more conscious, similar to psychotherapy.
• Traditional psychotherapy (drugs) has limited benefits and side effects. 

1. Right View – Understanding the 4 noble truths experientially (through meditation).
2. Right Intention – Good will, harmlessness, renunciation.
3. Right Speech – No lying, gossiping, slandering, abusive speech, idle chatter.
4. Right Action – No stealing, killing (all living things), sexual misconduct, intoxicants.
5. Right Livelihood – earning an honest living (don’t sell drugs/weapons) 
6. Right Effort - effort, diligence, exertion, and unflagging perseverance. Embrace/evoke wholesome mental states, avoid/eliminate unwholesome states.
7. Right MINDFULNESS – bare persistent attention, accepting reality in front of you without filtering through your perceptions. Embracing the honesty of the present moment. (fish out of water example)
8. Right Concentration –intense mindfulness leading to one-pointedness of mind. 8 levels of concentration. 

Concentration must be pure and based on moral principles (hunter example).

1. Initial/Sustained application of mind
2. Rapture (bhanga!)
3. Happiness/joy
4. One-pointedness/equanimity (beyond pleasure/pain).
5. Infinite space
6. Infinite consciousness
7. Nothingness
8. Neither-perception-nor-non-perception

Following the moral precepts will help your ability to focus your attention. Breaking the precepts will obviously make it difficult for you to reach higher levels of concentration (3 legged stool ). Follow the precepts out of selfishness if you need to.

Anapana is mindfulness of the breath. This practice can take you through all 8 levels of concentration alone. You are even able go beyond the 8 levels and “dip” into enlightenment. It is not possible to be fully enlightened by this alone but a large majority of suffering will be eliminated. 

Vipassana is “seeing things as they are” by mindfulness of sensations. This is the exact technique that led Siddhartha to his enlightenment.

 3 types of wisdom, experiential is the greatest form and best for learning (see for yourself, don’t believe anything until you experience it).

 Process of Vipassana 

• It should be learned/practiced at a silent retreat (10 days) the first time by a certified teacher. You need silence and strong concentration to feel the subtle, unconscious sensations through Vipassana (practiced after 3 days of Anapana). You observe the connection between your senses and outside objects which create a sensation in the body.

 5 aggregates: body, consciousness, perception, sensation, reaction. 

• Being equanimous to physical/mental defilements will make them weaker and eventually “uproot” them forever. All thoughts have a corresponding sensation in the body, usually subtle and unconscious. A particular painful memory, sensation becomes weaker and weaker as you observe with bare attention (mindfulness) and remain equanimous, without reacting with craving (pulling closer) and aversion (pushing away). 
• When you eliminate all of your defilements you will reach enlightenment, a state devoid of suffering.