AN ANALYSIS OF THE ESSENCE OF MEDITATION PRACTICE IN THERAVADA BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY

Abstract

The objectives of this research article are : 1) to study meditation in Buddhism, 2) to study the essence of meditation practice in Theravada Buddhist philosophy, and   3) to analyze the essence of meditation practice in Theravada philosophy. This research was a qualitative research, then presented by descriptive and analytical methods.The results of the research showed that the word “Samadhi” means determination, refers to a state in which the mind is stable. There are two types of concentration, which are momentary meditation called Khanika Samadhi, and longer-term meditation for those who are about to meditate and see visions called Appana Samadhi. The essence practice of meditation according to the principles of Theravada Buddhist philosophy. That is, those who are interested in practicing meditation begin by studying the meaning of meditation until they fully understand it, thus bringing the essence of meditation into practice until the creation of more enlightenment in concentration. This is in line with the philosophical principle called epistemology, which means meditation practice will lead to knowledge and understanding of various dharmas. In here, it means that there are various principles such as the three characteristics (Ti-Lakkhana) etc.. Whereas, the analysis of meditation practice in Theravada Buddhist philosophy, it is practice by using concentration to determine and consider the three characteristics (Ti-Lakkhana) principle until being able to see the actual conditions in the three characteristics, namely the change of things (Aniccata), the inability to endure in the original state (Dukkhata), and the condition that cannot be commanded which is the nature of Sankhara and Visankhara (Anattata) and it is the point that achieves liberation.