Buddhism in a Nutshell
Meditation

Goal:

The singular goal of Buddhist meditation is to cultivate the mind to its fullest, totally eradicating all defilements that continue to hold us back to this samsaric world, thereby attaining Nibbana.


Types of meditation:

  1. Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta)
  2. Breathing Meditation (Anapanassati)
  3. Insight Meditation (Vipassana)


Stages of Enlightenment:

  1. Stream winner (Sotapanna) - first stage of enlightenment

    At this stage of achievement, the first 3 fetters (samyojana) of false views of self, doubt and clinging to rites and rituals are eradicated. A stream winner limits his future births to a maximum of 7 in the happy human or heavenly realms.

  2. Once Returner (Sakadagami) - second stage of enlightenment

    The once returner does not eradicate anything extra but greatly attenuated sense desire and ill will. He is called once returner because he is bound to get enlightenment after returning to the world one more time.

  3. Non-Returner (Anagami) - third stage of enlightenment

    The non-returner fully eradicates sense desire and greatly weaken ill will. Thus, he does not get reborn in any of the sensual realms. If he does not penetrate higher, he will be reborn spontaneously in the Pure Abode, and from there into Nibbana. He does not return to the sensual realms.

  4. Arahant - fourth stage of enlightenment

    The arahant completely eradicates sense desires and ill will. In addition, he also eradicates the other 5 fetters - desire for existence in fine material and immaterial planes, conceit, restlessness and ignorance. Once all the 10 fetters are destroyed, there is no more rebirth. The arahant simply passes into Nibbana.


Meditation Posture

  1. Full Lotus (Padmasana)
  2. Half Lotus (Virasana)

5 Hindrances (Panca Nivaranas)

  1. Sensual desire
  2. Ill will (vyapada)
  3. Sloth and torpor (laziness)
  4. Restlessness and Worry, including remorse (uddhacca kukkucca)
  5. Sceptical Doubt (vicikiccha)


Phenomenon

Phenomenon should be examined according to its

  1. characteristic (lakkhana)
  2. function (rasa), and
  3. manifestation (paccupatthana)

The Jhanas

Click here for more information on the jhanas.


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