Nichiren Buddhism: Introduction To Meditation Practice

Meditation is a practice that Buddhist students use to alter our mental state in a positive manner. It also helps us to develop clear perception, which eventually allows us to see the nature of things as they actually are. While there are many different styles of meditation available to the practicing Buddhist, they all fall into two general categories, which are known as Samatha and Vipassana.

It is common for most students to practice some form of Samatha meditation before moving on to some kind of vipassana technique. Samatha meditation brings a state of calm to the mind and also helps focus the awareness of the practitioner. Samatha practice almost always focuses on something: the breath, a candle flame (a practice I used for years), a mantra, or possibly even some positive state of mind, like mettá. Chanting mantra is the most common form of Samatha practice.

The goal of Samatha meditation is to develop a deeper state of concentration. This is something most Western students need to work on with a lot of dedication because television viewing has trained them to view things in very short increments of time.

Vipassana meditation is designed to develop insight into the ultimate nature of reality. Usually, the student first enters a meditative state by using a Samatha technique, and then focuses on an object that they perceive to represent ultimate truth, such as an image of the Buddha, a mandala, or possibly even the nature of the mind itself.

This brief overview of meditational practices reveals the brilliance of the practice taught by my teacher, Nichiren. A Buddhist practitioner can chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo anywhere and receive the benefit of Samatha practice. However, when the student adds to that practice by focusing on the mandala, called "Gohonzon". Nichiren devised and gave to the world, he is also engaging in a form of vipassana practice that will open his mind and allow him to realize the ultimate nature of reality. When you add daily dharma study to this simple, yet profound practice you are equipped with a tool that any person can use to make great spiritual progress from any starting position. The practitioner also benefits by making a connection to the great Universal Law that will never be broken. Once you chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo you have a prediction of Buddhahood from the mouth of Shakyamuni Buddha, you are truly the Buddha’s child and heir to the Buddha’s spiritual throne.


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Have you then "entered the stream?"

 

Thanks for all the info... very enlightening.