Buddhism in Five Minutes - Elizabeth J. Harris
26. Why do Buddhists Meditate?
Buddhism in Five Minutes - Elizabeth J. Harris
Sarah Shaw [+]
University of Oxford
Sarah Shaw is a Member of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the University of Oxford and Honorary Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies.
Description
Why would anyone want to practice meditation? The best answer comes from the life stories of the Buddha and his awakened followers. It is sometimes said that wisdom is more important than meditation in Buddhism. But wisdom, the Buddha said, needs meditation, just as meditation needs wisdom (Dhammapada verse 282). And if we look at the stories of the Buddha and his followers after their awakening, we find they all still like to practice meditation. It was not just a necessary chore on the way to enlightenment. They clearly enjoyed it, and found it was where their minds felt most at home. Perhaps that is the reason why most other Buddhists meditate too and find it so helpful for daily life.