The Buddhist practices of concentration and mindfulness are found in both the "Seven Factors of Enlightenment" and the "Noble Eightfold Path" teachings. According to renowned teacher Alan Watts, both studies guide the practitioner in overcoming "hindrances" in meditation and attaining enlightened awareness. Buddhist tradition instructs daily practice of meditation on both the Noble Eightfold Path and the Seven Factors of Enlightenment as a preparation for the difficulties found in life.
Hindrances in Meditation
Meditation means thinking about or contemplating. In meditation, you one come into contact with the five hindrances or troublemakers of life: desire, anger, boredom, worry and doubt. These five hindrances can be balanced by practicing the Seven Factors of Enlightenment. One of the seven factors, concentration, can be practiced to negate the hindrance of worry.
Concentrative Meditation
Through the practice of concentrative meditation, a follower can train his mind to become entirely focused on a single thought, object or sound. Oftentimes a candle, mandala, breath or held tone is used as the focus of attention. The goal is to become completely focused on the single thought in order to clear the mind of other thoughts, including the hindrance of worry.
Noble Eightfold Path
The Noble Eightfold Path is the fourth of the Buddha's Four Noble Truths. These four truths serve as the foundation for all Buddhist teaching and practice. The Eightfold Path consists of eight methods of dealing with the life issues of: wisdom, ethical conduct and mental discipline. Mindfulness and concentration are both paths toward mental discipline.
Mindfulness and Enlightenment
Mindfulness is found in both the Noble Eightfold Path and the Seven Factors of Enlightenment. D.T. Suzuki points out that mindfulness is the effortful act of remaining fully aware of the here and now without allowing the mind to be in the future or past. Mindfulness is fully engaging with all sensory experiences that are occurring in the present moment.
References
- "The Way of Zen"; Alan Watts; 1957
- "Fully Present: The Science, Art, and Practice of Mindfulness"; Susan Smalley, et al.; 2010
- "An Introduction to Zen Buddhism"; D.T. Suzuki; 1964
- "A Buddhist Bible"; Dwight Goddard; 2011
- "Mindfulness in Plain English: Revised and Expanded Edition"; Bhante Henepola Gunaratana; 1996
- "Psychology: An Exploration"; Saundra Ciccarelli, et al.; 2010
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