Buddhist Beliefs and Meditation

• Karma: Actions have consequences ,so our lives are conditioned by our past actions
  

• Rebirth: Consciousness continues after death, and finds expression in a future life

• Liberation from karma: By following the Buddha's path one escapes the cycle of craving and suffering

• The Four Noble Truths: As Buddha sat beneath the Bodhi tree; he experienced the four noble truths that underline all his teachings. 
  
  Dukkha: Every existence is unsatisfactory and is filled with countless sufferings.
  
  Trsna: Clinging to the wrong things leads to suffering. In fact, trying to find stability in a changing world is never the right way to lead a meaningful life.
  
  Nirvana: This is the only possible way to end our sufferings.
  
  The Noble Eightfold Path: It is the way to find an effective solution to our sufferings and bring them to an end.
• Enlightenment: The highest goal of life is to reach Enlightenment; a state of being that goes beyond suffering and all worldly ties.

• Dharma: An effective way to nirvana.

Meditation is at the heart of the Buddhist way of life. It basically helps you in to attain a higher level of consciousness. We first learn to identify our negative mental state known as 'delusion', and then develop peaceful and positive mental state or 'virtuous mind'. 

We overcome our delusions by becoming familiar with our virtuous mind. Later, we have to maintain the virtuous minds we have developed and use our wisdom to solve the problems of daily life. As our mind becomes more positive, our actions become more constructive and our experience of life becomes more satisfying and beneficial to others.

Anyone can learn basic meditation techniques and experience great benefits. However, the progress beyond basic meditation requires faith in the Three Jewels - Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. It is usually seen that this develops naturally as people experience the benefits of their meditation practice. 

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