Master of Buddhism Lesson 6

1. What do you think is the ultimate goal of meditation? Is it enlightenment, or something more personal?

Perception of what life really is all about is the sole purpose of meditation. In the beginning, it may be to find peace or calm, but as one continues, there comes a realization that these chattering thoughts that rush around in our heads are a distraction from what is really happening. Perhaps there is the realization that thoughts we experience are about things. The real object is not truly perceived because of the filters we apply to life. For example, perhaps a person is viewed as a viscous person. But this is a filter that has been applied. It is an opinion. The so-called viscous person is not being viewed completely. Missing are that person's background history, other relationships, how they perceive the world, etc.

The goal of meditation is to allow a view that removes habitual filters and to see things as they are without the aid of our opinions.

2. What are some of the misconceptions westerners might have about meditation?

One misconception is that meditation takes a specific skill or that there are levels of meditation. In Buddhism the point of meditation is to cut through extraneous thoughts and perceive things as they are. The skill that is required is practice. Constant practice. There are no levels; there is only seeing correctly and not seeing correctly. Seeing correctly is when we have dropped viewing the world through our habituated opinions. Seeing incorrectly is when we do not. It is not so much a matter of levels, but more a matter of consistency ... and this comes back to the idea of continued practice.


3. Practice mindfulness. Begin by mindfully eating a piece of fruit (or candy if you like). Try to begin
incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine.