Why Meditation?

Why is meditation central to the Buddhist way? What is its purpose and its aim?

Sherab

Hi,

I might be confused, but the average mind yacks to itself almost incessantly about the world around it - experiences and "others", judgements on experiences and "others" (beneficial or not so great), judgements on the judgements. etc., etc., etc.... (zzz...)

So we meditate first to get the mind to calm down, be at peace; then use that peaceful mind to contemplate bigger things like karma, dependant origination, emptiness and so forth.

Many fall short of the mark by thinking that the bliss, or for lack of a better way to express it, "energy", which sometimes spontaneously arises as a result of a quiet, or peaceful mind is enough.

But again I may be confused.

Best wishes.

need to add...

Then once some of the bigger things settle in, become familiar, part of experience, one can simply abide in the state that results from that - many also refer to this abiding as "meditation".

Gerry, I like your explanation very much