Types of Meditation : หน้า 82/200

78 MEDITATION TYPES OF MEDITATION Buddhist texts, such as the Visuddhimagga¹, describe forty different methods of practice. All of them have the same goal: to train the mind to be still and to attain Buddhahood. The practice of meditation can be divided into three types based on how the mind is positioned and the locations of its bases: positioning the mind outside the body; positioning the mind somewhere in the body; positioning the mind at the center of the body. Positioning the mind outside the body - Most people practice with this method because they are accustomed to the habit of looking outward. The downside is that the images seen tend to be illusionary, not real. This is not the right practice if you wish to achieve the highest level of attainment. Positioning the mind somewhere in the body - This is keeping your consciousness, your feelings or emotions inside your body. This method is practiced by very few people. False images seldom appear and a wide range of knowledge can unfold, but you won’t arrive at the path that leads to the ultimate attainment. Positioning the mind at the center of the body - This is the method of settling your mind at a point in the center of your body. You train your mind to be perfectly still until it reaches the right balance, at which stage you’ll experience inner mental phenomena leading to higher knowledge and bliss. This is the direct practice that leads to the path of liberation. ¹Visuddhimagga: Path of Purification