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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 13

Meditation in Everyday Life

By Venerable Dharma Master Cheng Yen

Cheng Yen (born 1937) is a Taiwanese Buddhist nun, teacher, and
philanthropist. She is the founder of the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu
Chi Foundation, ordinarily referred to as Tzu Chi, a Buddhist humanitarian
organization based in Taiwan but with operations globally. Master Cheng
Yen leads by example, and firmly believes that true compassion is more than
passive sympathy for another’s plight: It is concrete action aimed at relieving
suffering directly. In founding Tzu Chi, her wish was to give ordinary people
the chance to actualize their compassion, and find inner peace and joy while
saving the world. She is often called the “Mother Teresa of Asia”, has been
nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and honored on TIME 100: The Most
Influential People in the World list. But worldly accolades cannot encompass
the full impact of the immense and tangible relief Master Cheng Yen and Tzu
Chi bring to those in need and distress around the globe.

The state of “samadhi” that I often “contemplation” and “spiritual Right Mindfulness and Right
speak of isn’t about sitting in cultivation” in general. Concentration, which are part of
meditation without hearing any the Noble Eightfold Path towards
sounds. Rather, it’s about remaining Another Sanskrit term connected to enlightenment and ultimate
in a state undisturbed by the meditation in Buddhism is dhyāna, liberation from suffering.
environment. This is true samadhi. which relates to “mind training” and
involves efforts to lessen sensuality, In the short-term, meditation
The practice of meditation is unwholesome qualities and brings tranquility through the
central to the Buddhist path. There discursive thought; while developing calming of our naturally turbulent
are many methods and forms of concentration, absorption, minds, which in turn brings
practice, yet they’re all associated tranquility, equanimity, mindfulness mental happiness and peace.
with bhāvanā, a Sanskrit term and alertness. Progressively, as Practice that focuses on pacifying
that can be translated as “mental mental defilements decrease and the mind is called “calm-abiding”
development,” “cultivation,” insight and awareness grow, sublime (Sanskrit: śamatha) meditation. As
“nurturing,” “making become” or states of meditative consciousness the mind becomes tranquil, it also
“calling into existence.” can be attained. becomes more lucid, and “insight”
(Sanskrit: vipaśyanā) meditation
Bhāvanā often appears in a Samadhi (Sanskrit), which is focuses on that. In the long-term,
compound phrase, signifying the single-pointed concentration to meditation brings full awakening.
development of a specific mental the point of complete absorption,
state or quality: Maitrī- bhāvanā for is also connected to the practice While the majority of practices
instance, which is a meditation of meditation. It is one of the Six pertain to seated meditation, the
practice focused on loving-kindness, Perfections that one strives to goal is to extend “formal practice”
one of the Four Infinite Minds. cultivate, and the mental discipline into our daily life, so that each
On its own, bhāvanā refers to it demands comprises Right Effort, moment “post-meditation” is also