Buddhist meditation

Buddhist meditation - Page 1

Buddhist meditation encompasses a variety of meditation techniques that develop mindfulness, concentration, tranquility and insight. Core meditation techniques are preserved in ancient Buddhist texts and have proliferated and diversified through the millennia of teacher-student transmissions.

Non-Buddhists use these techniques for the pursuit of physical and mental health as well as for non-Buddhist spiritual aims.^[1] Buddhists pursue meditation as part of the path toward Enlightenment and Nirvana.^[2]

The closest words for meditation in the classical languages of Buddhism are bhāvanā^[3] and jhāna (Pāli; Skt.: dhyāna).^[4]

Given the large number and diversity of traditional Buddhist meditation practices, this article primarily identifies authoritative contextual frameworks – both contemporary and canonical – for the variety of practices. For those seeking school-specific meditation instruction, it may be more appropriate to simply view the articles listed in the "See also" section below.