A STUDY GUIDE FOR SAMATHA-VIPASSANA MEDITATION BASED ON THE FIVE MEDITATION TECHNIQUES

Book excerpt: The National Coordination Center of Provincial Meditation Institutes of Thailand was established with the commitment of Directors from 338 Meditation Centers (out of over 400) invited by the National Buddhism Organization to a conference at Wat Yannawa, Bangkok, April 23-25, B.E. 2551 (2008). There were fi ve objectives. Three were established at the conference and the last two were added later. 1. To support the Sangha Body’s Provincial Meditation Centers to administer Buddhist Education effectively, 2. To cooperate with Provincial Meditation Centers to teach meditation at the same high standard for all people at all levels, 3. To assist Provincial Meditation Centers with academic scholarship. 4. To cooperate with the Chiefs of the Sangha Regions and Directors of the Provincial Meditation Centers to raise academic training techniques to the same high standard. 5. To support the Sangha in stabilizing, protecting and developing Buddhism under the rules of the Discipline, the Law and the Sangha Rules. The committee members agreed to publish A Study Guide for Samatha-Vipassanā Meditation based on the Five Meditation Techniques, as a book. Those fi ve techniques are the Triple Gem Meditation (buddho), Mindfulness of Breathing (ānāpānasati), Rising-Falling (infl ating-contracting), Mind (nāma) and Body (rūpa), and Dhammakaya Meditation (sammā arahang). The purposes for this publication were for disseminating the Right Dhamma Practice to the directors and meditation masters of Meditation Centers across Thailand and Buddhists worldwide who study and practice the Right Practice of Lord Buddha, and, most importantly, for all meditators independently practicing any one of these based on one’s own temperament. The book has been translated by Phra Maha Natpakanan Gunanggaro, and edited by Phra Maha Wannapong Wannavanso, David Dale Holmes, Eunice E. Cerezo, Mr. Sakrapan Eamegdool, Mr. Watcharapol Daengsubha, and Ms. Jessica Dawn Ogden. Please address any questions or comments to www.dhammacenter.org. I would like to thank everyone for their strenuous efforts and to congratulate them on this successful contribution to the promulgation of the Dhamma. May these meritorious actions lead all to have prosperity of life and to achieve the Paths, Fruits and Nibbana. May Lord Buddha bless you all, as well as your meritorious work.