| The History of Meditation | | | | principles of yoga and of Buddhism, which arrived |
| Tibetan Buddhist meditation has a long history, but | | | | in Tibet from India beginning in the eighth century. |
| not as long as the history of meditation itself. | | | | Meditation in Tibetan Buddhism is focused on |
| Buddhism was a branch of Hinduism and so | | | | tantric principles, and another name for Tibetan |
| meditation was practiced in Hinduism before it | | | | Buddhism is Tantrayana Buddhism. One purpose |
| was practiced in Buddhism. Buddhist thought is | | | | of tantra is to help turn the base human desires |
| that there are three things one must accomplish | | | | such as greed and envy into something good, like |
| before enlightenment. Virtue, Wisdom, and | | | | love and compassion. There are many steps in |
| Meditation. Meditation is practiced in many of the | | | | tantric Buddhism, these include lamrim (things that |
| eastern religions, and even in western religions. But | | | | should be reflected on and meditative activities), |
| I will focus this article on Hinduism and Tibetan | | | | preliminary practices, contemplation, Dzogchen (an |
| Buddhism meditation practices. | | | | advanced step which is the last step on the |
| Hinduism is the oldest living religion that practiced | | | | Tantrayana Buddhist practitioner's path). |
| meditation. Meditation in Hinduism is thought to | | | | Ways to Meditate |
| have developed out of man's need to find | | | | In Tibetan Buddhism many forms of meditation |
| Brahman (God's) true nature. Hindu practitioners | | | | are comprised of thinking about certain things in |
| would sit and think about who God really was, and | | | | order to clear your mind and help make the path |
| by sitting for hours like this they began to have | | | | to enlightenment open. Some topics to meditate |
| moments of clarity. These moments of clarity are | | | | on include being charitable to others, seeing |
| what many practitioners even today are trying to | | | | yourself and those around you as equal, and |
| achieve through meditation. | | | | developing compassion. |
| The difference in meditation in Buddhism and in | | | | In yoga and Hinduism, meditation is the path and |
| Hinduism is that Buddhist practitioners did not | | | | the goal. There are many different forms that |
| believe that meditation is a means by which to be | | | | yogic meditation can take. Because meditation in |
| closer with God, but that it is instead a way for | | | | yoga often starts with pranayama, or breathing |
| those meditating to become closer with | | | | exercises, meditation can also start with the |
| everything on earth. It is said that Buddha | | | | breath. There are also forms of meditation where |
| (Siddhartha) found enlightenment by meditation | | | | you meditate on a mantra, or prayer. There is |
| underneath a Bodhi tree. | | | | meditation through kirtan, singing. There is also |
| Meditation in yoga | | | | meditation on sound that can occur with music or |
| In yoga, meditation is practiced after breathing | | | | in a kirtan session. And in both Hinduism and in |
| exercises, or pranayama. The original philosphy of | | | | Tibetan Buddhism there is meditation on an |
| yoga was that is was important to meditate after | | | | object, such as a Buddhist statue or a Buddhist |
| practicing asanas, or the physical aspect of yoga, | | | | thangka. |
| because the body would be prepared to relax and | | | | There are many different forms of meditation in |
| loose enough that sitting on the floor would be | | | | both Hindusim (yoga) and Tibetan Buddhism. |
| comfortable. Breathing before any type of | | | | Whichever path one chooses in meditation, it is |
| meditation is a good practice, because slow | | | | important to first find a spiritual guide. A spiritual |
| breathing slows down your heart rate and calms | | | | guide can help you understand how to meditate |
| the mind so that the body is able to move into a | | | | and help guide your meditation path in ways that |
| tranquil place. | | | | we cannot do on our own. Remember, even your |
| Meditation in Tibetan Buddhism | | | | spiritual guide started with a spiritual guide of their |
| Tibetan Buddhism was formed out of the | | | | own at some point. |