What Is Meditation?

The question "what is meditation?" is an easy yet somewhat complicated question to answer. The descriptive terms most people are familiar with are words like focused, centered, relaxed, insight, and trance-like. All of which describe either meditative states or benefits of incorporating this practice into daily life.

Achievement of these meditative states can be accomplished through a variety of techniques. Some of these techniques include the use of prayer, chanting, bells, breathing, music, and binaural beats, also known as brain entrainment. I personally use a combination of all of these methods for entering meditative states.

Dictionary Definition's of Meditation

Depending on which dictionary you consult, you are likely to find very different definitions for this term as evidenced below.

For instance, the Merriam-Webster dictionary describes it as "a discourse intended to express its author's reflections or to guide others in contemplation."

Dictionary.com uses several definitions to define meditation. Two of the more appropriate ones, at least for this discussion; are:

• Continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation.
• Devout religious contemplation or spiritual introspection.

Another dictionary, The Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism, provides yet another definition. They define the term meditation as:

"The practice of focusing the mind on one point in order to purify the spirit, eradicate illusions, and perceive the truth."

Meditative Focal Points

For my tastes, I think the last definition above is probably the most applicable for the purpose of this discussion. I would add though that when the definition says "focusing the mind on one point" it doesn't necessarily mean an external point like a Buddha or Blessed Mother statue or some other religious or spiritual picture or object. No, these external focal points can also include a candle flame, incense smoke, a picture of someone, or whatever YOU choose to focus on.

Meditative focal points are not limited to external objects. They can also include internal objects of focus and often do. For instance: focusing on your own breath while meditating is a very common practice. Other internal focal points can include: a thought you might be having, a prayer, a person you might be praying for or thinking about, a mantra etc.

Remember: this is your practice and your spirituality. Modify and customize it to meet your particular needs.

In Summary...

The truth is every major and probably all the minor world religions, have some type of meditative or contemplative component in their practice. So, whether you're a Christian, Muslim, Wiccan, or Jew, you have probably been or currently are exposed to some form of meditation.

And for the lay practitioner, reaching a meditation stage can be more easily achieved through the use of various audio CD's and other devices. Binaural beats / brain entrainment, and other "meditation assistance" type programs like:

• The Silva Method - includes The Silva Life System and The Silva Mind Power Center
• Nightingale Conant - carries a number of meditation and other life transformation titles
• Centerpointe Holosync Technology

...are all very reputable self-help programs that have aided users in improving their meditation practice and other areas of life. I haven't actually used any of the Silva Method CD's, but I have heard and read many good things about their programs.

So, defining "what is meditation?" as I previously stated, is an easy and at the same time complicated concept to describe. As with anything, the results will vary from person to person. Your meditative achievements will be directly influenced by the amount of effort you put in.

Nichiren Buddhist Community Center

On Sunday August 25, 2005 I made my first visit to the SGI-USA, Nichiren Buddhist Community Center in Columbus, OH. The trip was a rewarding experience that I am not likely to forget. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous about going there as I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I realized shortly after my arrival that I had been overly anxious for no good reason.

As with the warm welcome I received during my first visit to a member's home for evening gongyo, my first visit to the community center was equally welcoming. I was greeted by two SGI members with warm smiles and friendly dispositions. Their kindness really helped to put me at ease.

The two members I met that day at the community center were Sharon and Kimmie. Kimmie, a native born Japanese, approached me with a bright smile, and an endearing little bow as is customary in Japan and other Asian nations. Sharon, a native born American was equally warm and welcoming.

The three of us chatted for a while. We talked about where I was from, what brought me to Columbus, how I found out about Nichiren Buddhism etc. After our little chat the ladies showed me around the center.

The Gohonzon Room

The first stop on the tour was the Gohonzon room. This is where the butsudan containing the Gohonzon (object of devotion) is housed. The Gohonzon room is the area at the community center where chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo occurs.

Actually, the Columbus community center had two or three Gohonzon rooms. I can't remember which. The one I'm referring to however is considered the "main" Gohonzon room.

The Community Center Book Store

After the ladies showed me around the other areas of the center, we stopped off at the SGI book store. The store contained a variety of materials including the Living Buddhism magazine, incense, butsudan's, bells, various other books, and prayer beads / juzu beads.

I browsed through the various offerings at the store and came away with a few things including:

• The Buddha In Daily Life
• The Basics of Buddhism
• For Today & Tomorrow
• Juzu Beads
• Incense

Once I made my final selections I paid for the items and chatted with Sharon and Kimmie for a few more minutes. Sharon was quite helpful in explaining a few core Nichiren Buddhist concepts to me. On subsequent visits to the community center she took me under her wing and helped with any questions I had, and also assisted with recitation of the Lotus Sutra chapters.

Anyway, I conversed with the ladies for a few more minutes, thanked them for their help and off I went. I was very enthusiastic at the prospect of learning more about Buddhism. I looked forward to curling up with my new found reading materials to soak it all in.

Final Thoughts

In spite of my slight initial anxiety over approaching something new, I was extremely glad that I had finally taken the initial steps to pursue learning and experiencing Buddhism outside of a book, magazine, or newspaper article.

So, my trip to the Nichiren Buddhist center in Columbus, Ohio turned out to be a gratifying and worthwhile experience. My curiosities were put to rest, and I was now well on my way to discovering the Buddhist spiritual path.

Come to think of it, I never did chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo at the center that day, but I made definite plans to return to take a stab at chanting daimoku. I returned a week later to do just that!

Hello my fellow bodhisattvas. My name is Jeff West and I am a Buddhist. I have been interested in Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy since at least the early 90's. However, I never thoroughly explored Buddhism outside of a book until August, 2005.

What Led Me To Buddhism?

Great question glad you asked! Well, as I said previously I have been interested in Buddhist philosophy for quite some time. And what really got me motivated to learn more and start searching for answers was a lot of pain in my personal life, a seeking mind, and complete disenchantment with the Christian faith.

Here's an extremely abridged version of the events which precipitated my taking the final plunge into my new found spirituality.

• Jun 2002 - an extremely difficult and painful relationship break-up
• Aug 2002 - the loss of a very close friend to the aids virus
• Oct 2002 - job loss
• Dec 2003 - a cousin committed suicide
• Jan 2004 - a cousin was killed in a very freak car accident
• Feb 2005 - moved away from family to Columbus, OH for a job
• Mar 2005 - my grandmother "Nana" died:-(
• May 2005 - my uncle, a father figure when growing up, died
• Aug 2005 - experienced my first Nichiren daimoku (chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo)
• Oct 2, 2005 - I received my Gohonzon on World Peace Day at the USA-SGI Community Center in Columbus, OH. That's me in photo's 2-5 from top left.

Needless to say, I felt a bit NUTS at the time, but please keep in mind that I am not telling you all of this in order to illicit some sort of sympathetic response. I'm only presenting this timeline in order to provide you with a better understanding of the difficult things that were going on in my life during this time, and to show a clearer picture of what led me to seek a spiritual path.

While we're on the subject of spiritual paths it is probably an appropriate time to say that I was raised a Catholic. My parents did not force Catholicism, Christianity or any religion for that matter down my throat. I am extremely grateful for that.

I suppose they took a "more inclusive" and "less arrogant" approach to spirituality. I never heard them say that Christians were "all right" in their beliefs, and that everyone else was "all wrong" because they didn't believe the same things.

No, I was fortunate enough to be spared the "hell and damnation", "fire and brimstone" routine growing up. Don't get me wrong! As a child I was read bible stories, told about God and Jesus and all of that, but as I grew older I was allowed to decide for myself what I did and did not believe or what did or did not ring true. I am very thankful to my parents for instilling morals and values while simultaneously allowing me to have a mind of my own.

My First Nichiren Daimoku Experience

My first exposure to Buddhism was through the Nichiren Buddhist sect or tradition. I was living in Columbus, OH at the time, and went to an SGI-USA meeting on an invite from a friend. That first meeting was very "eye opening" and I received a first hand glimpse of how the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin worked.

The hosts of my first meeting were very gracious, and all the members were very helpful and eager to share. It was a very warm and welcoming evening.

After all the members arrived, everyone gathered around the butsudan (Buddha house) to partake in the evening's daimoku. The host and leader of the session opened the doors of the butsudan to reveal what at the time seemed to be a very odd and mysterious, but beautiful Japanese scroll. This scroll I was later to find out is called a Gohonzon, the object of devotion in Nichiren Buddhism.

Once the butsudan was opened a bell was rung and everyone chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo three times in unison. After that, "all hell broke loose." The chanting began with enthusiasm and vigor. Everyone seemed to be enjoying this strangely captivating activity.

It All Seemed So Odd!

What can I tell you? It was, at least for me; the strangest thing I think I'd ever seen! All these people sitting on the floor chanting words in a foreign tongue to what appeared to be nothing more than a piece of paper written in a foreign language. "How odd" I thought. In spite of the seemingly odd nature of the evening's events, I held true to my nature, (my Buddha Nature) and kept a wide open mind.

After about fifteen minutes the group finished up the evening's gongyo with some silent prayers, and a few more rings of the bell. The host bowed to the Gohonzon, and then closed the doors to the butsudan.

That evening left a lasting impression on me. Something about the rhythmic, almost melodic, chanting spoke to my inner being. I knew that I'd be back to do a little chanting of my own.

Stay tuned! I'm going to add a part two to this post about my first experience with Buddhism. It will be "My First Visit to the SGI-USA, Columbus Community Center"