Concentration: Questions & Answers

　　1. How does one go about practicing concentration

　　2. What benefits come from practicing it

　　3. How many kinds of concentration are there

　　4. What is needed for concentration to be maintained

　　5. What is the essence of concentration

　　1. The first question — "How does one go about practicing concentration

　　" — can be answered as follows: The first step is to kneel down with your hands palm-to-palm in front of your heart, and sincerely pay respect to the Triple Gem, saying as follows:

　　Araham samma-sambuddho bhagava

　　Buddham bhagavantam abhivademi (bow down)

　　Svakkhato bhagavata dhammo

　　Dhammam namassami (bow down)

　　Supatipanno bhagavato savaka-sangho

　　Sangham namami (bow down)

　　Then showing respect with your thought, words, and deeds, pay homage to the Buddha:

　　Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma-sambuddhassa (three times)

　　And then take refuge in the Triple Gem:

　　Buddham saranam gacchami

　　Dhammam saranam gacchami

　　Sangham saranam gacchami

　　Dutiyampi buddham saranam gacchami

　　Dutiyampi dhammam saranam gacchami

　　Dutiyampi sangham saranam gacchami

　　Tatiyampi buddham saranam gacchami

　　Tatiyampi dhammam saranam gacchami

　　Tatiyampi sangham saranam gacchami

　　Make the following resolution: "I take refuge in the Buddha, the Pure One, completely free from defilement; and in his Dhamma — doctrine, practice, and attainment; and in the Sangha, the four levels of his Noble Disciples, from now until the end of my life." Then formulate the intention to observe the five precepts, the eight precepts, or the ten guidelines — according to how many you are normally able to observe — expressing them in a single vow. For those observing the five precepts:

　　Imani pañca sikkhapadani samadiyami (three times)

　　For those observing the eight precepts:

　　Imani attha sikkhapadani samadiyami (three times)

　　For those observing the ten precepts:

　　Imani dasa sikkhapadani samadiyami (three times)

　　For those observing the 227 precepts:

　　Parisuddho aham bhante parisuddhoti

　　Mam buddho dhammo sangho dharetu

　　Now that you have professed the purity of your thoughts, words, and deeds toward the qualities of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, bow down three times and sit down. Place your hands palm-to-palm in front of your heart, steady your thoughts and develop the four Sublime Attitudes: good will, compassion, appreciation, and equanimity. To spread these thoughts to all living beings without distinction is called the immeasurable Sublime Attitude. A short Pali formula, for those who have trouble memorizing, is:

　　"Metta" — thoughts of good will (benevolence and love for oneself and others, hoping for their welfare),

　　"Karuna" — thoughts of compassion (for oneself and others),

　　"Mudita" — thoughts of appreciation (taking delight in one”s own goodness and that of others),

　　"Upekkha" — thoughts of equanimity (imperturbability with regard to those things that should be let go).

　　This finished, sit in a half-lotus position, right leg on top of the left, your hands placed palm-up on your lap, right hand on top of the left. Keep your body straight and your mind on the task before you. Raise your hands in respect, palm-to-palm in front of the heart, and think of the qualities of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha: buddho me natho, dhammo me natho, sangho me natho (The Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha are my mainstay). Then repeat, buddho buddho, dhammo dhammo, sangho sangho. Return your hands to your lap, and repeat one word — buddho — over and over in your mind, at the same time focusing on your in-and-out breath until your mind settles down into one-pointedness.

　　This is the beginning step in practicing concentration. If you”re steady and persistent, the desired results will appear in your heart. For people who are really intent, even just thi…

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