Buddhist Meditation Techniques

 

• BuddhaNet's Loving-Kindness Meditation - Instruction in Loving Kindness meditation.
• Buddhist Meditation - A text by Francis Story (The Anagarika Sugatananda)from the Buddhist Publication Society on different forms of meditation including Anapana Sati, Samatha, and Vipassana.Bhavana
• Meditation Techniques - Survey of seven meditation techniques for beginners.
• Wildmind Online Meditation Lessons - Wildmind provides a complete guide to simple meditation techniques.

Dzogchen

• RIGPA  - International network of meditation centers and groups under the guidance of Sogyal Rinpoche, author of the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, and H.E. Dzogchen Rinpoche.
• Dzogchen - The Importance of Sem-dé in the Aro gTér by Khandro Déchen Tsédrüp Rolpa'i Yeshé. A way of approaching the Dzogchen teachings through the gradual development of meditative experience.
• The Dzogchen Community in America - The Dzogchen Community of Choegyal Namkhai Norbu in America. Audio teachings by Rinpoche. On-line bookstore.
• Dzogchen Foundation - Biography, images, detailed Dzogchen lineage, teaching schedule, and selection of dharma teachings.
• Dzogchen Lineage - The international community of Dzogchen Shri Singha International, practicing under the guidance of Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche. Featuring background and historical resources on Buddhism and Dzogchen, current activities, and links to local organizations within the community.
• Elias Capriles: Buddhism and Dzogchen - Two books and several papers by Capriles, on Dzogchen and Buddhism. Texts are available in zip format for downloading.
• Ligmincha Institute - Site for Dzogchen in the Bon tradition, the native religion of Tibet. Ligmincha was founded by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, the first teacher of Bon Dzogchen in the West. Includes useful information on Bon Dzogchen, audio files of mantra chanting and an on-line store.
• Namgyalgar - Choegyal Namkhai Norbu's Australian Dzogchen Community. It contains a description of Dzogchen and its relationship to Tibetan Buddhism, Norbu Rinpoche's biography, retreat schedules, and information on the Australian and Oceania Communities.
• mist-real - Mike Dickman's translations of several essential Dzogchen texts and commentaries. Mipham, Garab Dorje, and Dza Patrul Rinpoche. (March 14, 2003)

Koan

• Hekigan Roku: Case 89: "The Path of the Boddhisattva" - Commentary by Subhana Barzaghi.
• Koan Commentaries by Barry Magid - Barry Magid teaches at the Ordinary Mind Zendo as an affiliate of the San Diego Zen Center.
• Koan Practice - An explanation of Koan practice by Genjo Marinello.
• Random Koans - Read a koan picked at random from the text.
• The Sound of One Hand Clapping - A brief explanation of this famous koan, by Hakuin.
• Stop the Distant Rowboat Using Just Your Mind - An explanation of a Zen koan, from a metaphor used by Dogen.
• Working with Koans - Teisho by John Tarrant Roshi.
• Zen Buddhism Koan Study Pages - Extensive bibliography on commentaries from the Zen Buddhism WWW Virtual Library.
• Zen Koans: Transcending Duality - A list of well-known koans.
• Case 2: - Commentary by John Tarrant Roshi.
• Case 4 - Commentary by John Tarrant Roshi.
• Case 6: "Every Day Is a Good Day" - Commentary by John Tarrant Roshi.
• Case 5: "Hsueh-feng's Grain of Rice" - Commentary by John Tarrant Roshi.
• Case 11 "Huangpo's Gobblers of Dregs" - Teisho by John Tarrant Roshi.
• Case 10: "Mu Chou's Theiving Phoney" - Commentary by John Tarrant Roshi.
• Case 3: "This Fire Runs Through All Things" - Commentary by John Tarrant Roshi.
• Book of Equanimity : "Yang-Shan's Mind and Environment" - Commentary by John Tarrant Roshi.
• Stuck in a nest of Reeds: Shoyoroku: Case 68 - Commentary by Robert Aitken, Roshi.
• Gateless Gate, aka Mumonkon  - The classic collection of koans usually used in introductory koan training.
• Bodhidharma Pacifies the Mind: the Gateless Barrier Case 41 - Case and commentary by Barry Magid Senesi, of the Ordinary Mind School.
• Case 5: "Hsiang-yen: Up a Tree" - Commentary by John Tarrant Roshi.
• Case 5; "Hsiang-yen: Up a Tree" - Commentary by John Tarrant Roshi.
• Face to Face: the Meaning Comes Alive - A talk on Mumonkan case 6 and Dharma Transmission, by Jiko Linda Cutts.
• Ma-Tsu 'This Very Mind is Buddha' - Commentary on Wu-men Kuan Case 30 by Ross Bolleter Roshi.
• Ordinary Mind is the Tao - Talk by James Ishmael Ford Sensei on Wu men Kuan Case #19.
• Who is Arguing About the Cat? - Moral action and enlightenment according to Dogen.
• The World Honored One Twirls a Flower - Commentary on Mumonkan Case 6.
• Wu-Men Kuan Koans - Comprehensive and factual information about the Wu-Men Kuan (J. Mumonkan, E. Gateless Gate) koan collection as used in the Zen training.

Samatha

• Mindfulness of Breathing (Shamatha) - A traditional explanation of mindfulness of breathing by Dr. C. George Boeree, University of Shippensburg.

Tonglen

• Compassion Practices of Tonglen: Introduction - A brief description by Christine Longaker of three Tonglen or loving-kingness practices and how to adapt the practice for every-day life. Based on the teachings of Sogyal Rinpoche.
• Practice of Tonglen - Teaching by Pema Chodron with a description and instructions.
• The Seven Points of Mind Training - A meditation to cultivate fearlessness and open the heart. Tonglen is the practice of sending and taking.
• Tonglen - Taking and Sending Meditation - Brief instructions given by Thrangu Rinpoche.

Vipassana

• Buddhist Meditation from Thailand - The fundamentals of meditation by Phra Ajahn Plien Panyapatipo, Wat Aranyawiwake, Thailand.
• The Ganges Sangha - An extensive collection of articles to support Vipassana practitioners.
• A Gradual Awakening - Excerpts from Stephen Levine's meditation manual.
• Vipassana - Downloadable books by Nina van Gorkom and Sujin Boriharnwanaket, and many texts from the Tipitaka.
• Vipassana Meditation - Instruction in vipassana as taught by S. N. Goenka.
• The Vipassana Page - Site of the vipassana email list.
• Vipassana Research Institute - Based in Igatpuri, India. Information on the Vipassana meditation technique as taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin. Pages include Vipassana Newsletter and details of courses and centres.
• Vipassana Support Institute - Information on the basic theory of vipassana meditation, also known as mindfulness or insight meditation. Articles and tapes from Shinzen Young.
• Vipassana.com - Meditation in the Theravada tradition. Online meditation course.

Zazen

• The Alexander Technique for Buddhist Practitioners - Explanation of the Alexander Technique as used for Zazen practice.
• From a Zazen Journal - A two-year daily meditative record of morning meditations, and attendance at extended sesshins, by an American Soto Zen practitioner.
• How to Meditate (Zazen) - Detailed instructions from Zen Mountain Monastery on how to practice Zen meditation.
• Sesshin For Newcomers - Some words about sesshin for newcomers to Zen, by Aitkin Roshi.
• Zen and Recovery - Description of the benefits of Zen meditation, and instruction in meditation for the beginner. Focuses on the benefits of Zen meditation in recovery from addictions, but is useful to any meditation beginner.