A Short History of Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation

What is the history of Buddhist meditation practice? In this video we'll look at some changes that have taken place in mindfulness practice in particular, following some recent research. We'll also look at some other forms of meditation practice as well.
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✅ Suttas mentioned:
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✅ Other references:
Bhikkhu Anālayo, “Mindfulness in Early Buddhism”. In Journal of Buddhist Studies, Vol. XI, 2013.
Bhikkhu Sujato, A History of Mindfulness, Rev. Ed. (Taiwan, Santipada, 2012). santifm.org/san...
✅ Thread at SuttaCentral:
discourse.sutt...
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#onlinedharmainstitute #buddhism #earlybuddhism #secularbuddhism

[@DougsDharma]

Free mini-course at the Online Dharma Institute: onlinedharma.org!

[@OldSchopenhauer]

How do you have a post two days old on a video that was uploaded today?

[@DougsDharma]

😄 I always upload videos in advance of publishing them. My patrons over at www.patreon.com/dougsseculardharma have the option to get early access to these videos if they want!

[@Adroyo]

Best KZbin channel I know.

[@theylhompst]

I can always come here and learn from Doug about philosophy, and the Buddha's teachings. It relieves me of my stress and anxiety, from which I've cultivated from news and other youtuber's. From where everyone thinks the world is about to end, I come here to learn that everything is okay.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks Duke, though I'd never want to claim that everything is OK! The First Noble Truth tells us otherwise. 🙂

[@theylhompst]

@@DougsDharma Yeah, I also learned that Abert Camus absurdism kinda took that notion and just made a more radical argument with it, which is super cool. I just get really happy watching your videos, even in the midst of suffering. I was wondering if you could do a video about certain philosophers who have used buddhist idea's in their own works, because I always find that there are pretty linear correlations between western and eastern philosophy that just comes by coincidence.

[@lmansur1000]

I appreciate your clarifications about Buddhist thoughts, teachings from the different groups and also times. So very helpful! Thank you!

[@DougsDharma]

My pleasure!

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

As a retired teacher I can say that you are superb as an instructor; you really care about your students...🎋

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

@@DougsDharma Another confirmation! 😻

[@P.G.1966]

YEAH!!! I refound you again. It's been a very long time since I've seen you on KZbin. Last I heard...you had a fire in your house. But here we are. So glad to hear your Vids.

[@DougsDharma]

Welcome back!

[@patrickstarr2428]

Hello Doug. I don't know how much you read your video comments and I hope/trust you'll read this at some point. If part of your intention with your "Doug's Dharma" KZbin channel is to make the many topics in Buddhism more accessible to people, then you've done a commendable job! I've been one of those kinds of aspirants where I've studied and practiced "on and off" for 27 years, so many of the topics you speak on are both new and not new to me. Now, at 49, I've crossed a commitment threshold where I really get that there's no time to waste. I will be taking refuge as soon as possible and officially embark on my Buddhist path--and I think it's fair to say that your video explanations have played a part in my interest in being fully committed to my study and practice. I've found a Tibetan Buddhist teacher who I think will accept me as a student--and I will continue to enjoy your videos :) I'm so grateful for the nuanced explanations you provide when sharing and discussing the various subjects. So really, just a note of gratitude to say *THANK YOU* and let you know that your videos have made a difference in my spiritual practice and life (and I'm certain that I speak on behalf of many others, too.) _/\_

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks so much Patrick, that’s indeed my intention: to make the dharma of early Buddhism more accessible and understandable to people. I’m so glad to hear you’ve found a path that you are confident in and committed to. Keep in touch and be well! 🙏🙂

[@patrickstarr2428]

@@DougsDharma Thanks for your kind reply and let's do that :)

[@linogomic4981]

I did not take Buddhism seriously for many years until I began pursuing courses in Indian and Chinese Religions at the University of Winnipeg and Menno Simons College. What a big luck!

[@DougsDharma]

Oh neat! Yes I learned about it seriously for the first time at university as well.

[@ericmichael7975]

I'm Kadampa Buddhist, and I find your teachings very inspiring and helpful.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks Eric! Glad to hear it. 🙏🙂

[@TheAllisonLab]

You certainly know your subject, sir🙏🏾

[@DougsDharma]

I try! 🙏

[@prashanttambe6464]

Very helpful!! These videos are products of very well indepth study . Lots of metta to you!!

[@DougsDharma]

Glad it was helpful!

[@marekgrzybek7167]

Another insightful video. THANK YOU! Encountering Early Buddhist teaching while ago I was amazed by the fact that we really don't know what exactly Buddha himself said about "how to meditate?" staff. He never really give a precise, step by step, instruction on how to do that. Huge amount of later commentaries and differences between theme (as sometimes among modern teachers) is astounding and even sometimes discouraging when it comes to practice of meditation. Sometimes I miss zen "just sitting" attitude :)

[@DougsDharma]

That's right Marek, and we can get too deep into the details, missing the forest for the trees. "Just sit" is the best place to start.

[@marekgrzybek7167]

@@DougsDharma That is true. Thank You. Fortunatelly, during sitting on the cusion nothing matters except breathing in and breathing out :)

[@photistyx]

Wow! What an excellent video. Thank you so much for answering my question. That was just the sort of stuff that I wanted to learn!

[@DougsDharma]

Great! Glad to hear photistyx. 🙏

[@gabrielchan4359]

thank you . your video is a treasure for me

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@-tu7cuocsong]

Thanks very good

[@sisyphus_619]

Love your teachings.

[@philmcdonald6088]

you do the buddhadhamma a great service thank you 🕸

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome Phil!

[@-tu7cuocsong]

Buddha preceded science, bringing to the world the way to escape suffering

[@dianajimena9]

I love your videos! Thank you for all your work and effort.

[@bobg.7976]

Interesting talk...there are a number of meditation teachers who feel the deepest levels of absorption described in the Pali Canon, where the bhikkhus have transcendent and paranormal experiences are no longer accessible to us moderns. Our consciousness has evolved to process increasingly high levels of interrupts.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for that Bob. I think the deepest level of absorption in the Pāli Canon is the Buddha's "dwelling in emptiness", which is a bit obscure but seems to be something available to any awakened person. There is also the "cessation of perception and feeling", but as to whether this is a real state or just a kind of placeholder is an open question to me.

[@bobg.7976]

Doug's Secular Dharma I wrote to Leigh Brasington and asked him if there wasn’t a strong element of suggestibility in framing states of absorption as jhanas. To my surprise, he wrote back and agreed there was. If you go on a 10 day retreat with Leigh and really give it your all your consciousness will be altered...along the lines he describes most likely, that is into the first jhana. If you hang out with Soto Zen types who encourage the practice of shikantaza and go on a rigorous 7 day sesshin you’ll experience what they call “choiceless awareness”. A psychologist who wrote a paper for American Psychologist on mindfullness meditation calls ithis OM or Open Monitoring Meditation, the highest state of mindfullness meditation. According to the Goenka Vipassana school, you’ll have a visceral apprehension of anicca and thus experience liberation! And so on....I love to meditate and would continue to do it even it was proven there was no higher state to attain!

[@DougsDharma]

Yes thanks Bob, Leigh is a great teacher. I had the privilege of spending a couple of days with him a few years ago in a weekend long series of sits. As to meditation, who knows? It would be interesting to research it all somehow!

[@starshiptexas]

6:24 It seems to me that the 8 fold path is not ordered in any particular way and that you need to be practicing/aiming for all of them at the same time. Many say you have to have right view first but unless you're practicing all aspects of 8FP you will never obtain right view.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, though in the early texts ethical action is viewed as a preliminary to meditative success, and in the Eightfold Path they are organized in that way. I have a course on the Eightfold Path over at the Online Dharma Institute where I go through how it can be seen as a kind of spiral of progress.

[@howardleekilby7390]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@stephenrizzo]

I think that mindfulness of body, feelings, mind, etc… are conducive to living the eightfold path. By being aware of suffering, intentions, how we are speaking, acting, going about our business, we can make adjustments and recover when we are going off the path. I think there is a reason why the four foundations sutra and the eightfold path are both said to be the path to nirvana. They are one and the same.

[@DougsDharma]

That's right Dread, literally speaking the Four Foundations of Mindfulness comprise the seventh stage in the Eightfold Path (Right Mindfulness).

[@poikkiki]

The suicide story gave me shivers! I remember I started to meditate with Analayo's instructions to his latest Satipatthana book (which is very focused on the body, death and insight and not so much on the breath) and I felt my emotions going downhill very quickly. I figured this could be because mindfulness was low and I hadn't practiced enough concentration meditation. Recently I switched to his instructions in his latest book on the Anapanasati discourse and it really helped. I think that getting into insight meditation with a low level of mindfulness and concentration can be quite dangerous for people who have suffered or currently have some kind of mental illness (in my case, I suffered from generalized anxiety disorder for many years). Even though you discussed a subject that is controversial, you got no dislikes! That will give you a hint of how well this video was done :).

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks poikkiki, perhaps it means I haven't been incisive enough! 😄 Anyhow yes you are right that those suffering through mental illness or the effects of trauma may not be indicated for quiet meditation. It depends on the case, and should probably be done under the supervision of a competent, experienced professional.

[@tomeryaha6151]

Hii, what is the names of the books?

[@Zipjin]

Thank you for the nice video!! May I suggest adding sections in the video for easier referring back to the rich content 😄

[@DougsDharma]

Yes it's something I'd like to get to.

[@RP-mm9ie]

Thanks 😢

[@benniethai7829]

I like this channel 🙏🏽 น่าหลงใหล

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks very much Bennie! 🙏🙂

[@babeksaber2702]

Thank you

[@DougsDharma]

My pleasure, Babek.

[@vegahimsa3057]

Great talk, Doug. I'm fairly certain that emphasizing vipassana (as if it were a meditation technique or prerequisite attainment) has no basis in the suttas. Fx AN 10.54: ‘lābhīmhi ajjhattaṃ cetosamathassa, na lābhī adhipaññādhammavipassanāyā’ti, tena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunā ajjhattaṃ cetosamathe patiṭṭhāya adhipaññādhammavipassanāya yogo karaṇīyo. Established in ceto-samatha, one should develop adhi-paññā-dhamma-vipassanā ... (and/or vice versa)

[@DougsDharma]

Right, one needs both calm (samatha) and insight (vipassana) to attain awakening.

[@vegahimsa3057]

@@DougsDharma right. Sujato's assertion that vipassanā is implied by satipatthana, anapanasati, or any of the referenced suttas is a groundless stretch. Vipassanā is mentioned in none. The words are congegations of anupassa-, passa, passasati, etc which mean literally to see, look, observe, (or even 'breathe' regarding similarly spelled words in these suttas). He can't add vi- because he whimsically wants to believe it.

[@ramkumarr1725]

This works. Good. Love. Trinity and Neo.

[@value8035]

Sathipatthana translated as "Foundations of Mindfulness" does not sound correct to me. It should be more like "Establishing mindfulness" And also, you take as the early version "seems to have been" shorter and expanded later on. What is the basis of this claim? What are the evidence you have to think so.? Thank you Doug.

[@DougsDharma]

Evidence comes from scholars like Bhikkhu Anālayo and Bhikkhu Sujato, who have done some deep comparative work. For example see Sujato's History of Mindfulness: santifm.org/santipada/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/A_History_of_Mindfulness_Bhikkhu_Sujato.pdf . There are many ways to translate "satipaṭṭhāna", but "Foundations of Mindfulness" has sort of become the norm now. I use it so as not to confuse people.

[@adm_108]

When there is concentration, do you think that there is also mindfulness? In my experience it seems that they are supporting each other and also supporting the other elements of the eightfold path and vice ersa. I’ve learned a lot from your channel, Doug. Thanks and be well!

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome Adam! I don't think there's necessarily mindfulness with concentration, though there would be with "right" concentration. Right mindfulness and right concentration do indeed support each other and the rest of the path, as you say. They are two practices that improve alongside each other.

[@adm_108]

Thanks - Makes sense!

[@namename-kq8wt]

Hi Doug, I think you mentioned here or somewhere else that you take turns at leading your local meditation group. I'm just wondering if your local group is IMS affiliated? I'm looking for a group focused on early Buddhist meditation where I live (Wales, UK). I have attended an IMS retreat and while I found it great, it definitely had more of a syncretic approach as opposed to following early Buddhism. Just wondering if you know of any groups specifically following the early teachings. For example, would Goenka's Vipassana meditation courses be more closely aligned to the early texts in your view? Thanks as always for what you do :)

[@DougsDharma]

My local group is small and very eclectic, though my "main" sangha is at New York Insight, which is affiliated with IMS. I don't know of any groups following the early teachings, only a few teachers like Bhante Sujato or Bhante Anālayo, or from a more secular perspective Andy Olendzki. Goenka's approach is similar to early Buddhism but stems from Theravāda and my understanding (not having attended one) is that their retreats really follow a specific "Goenka" approach pretty strictly.

[@wiser.kinder.calmer.6530]

What about “The Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing”. Is that also a sutras from the original texts? (I find it quite similar, even a pre-requisite, of The Four Establishments of Mindfulness)

[@NullStaticVoid]

I think it is an obvious product of taking the mendicant approach to meditation and founding an institution such as a monastery which concentrates many mendicants together. This will naturally cause refinement and elaboration of techniques such as mindfulness. This kind of progress would never happen in the more solitary lifestyle of mendicant saddhus. Even when they do gather it is more in a master/pupil relationship, not comparable to monks gathering in their dozens and hundreds and co-habiting for decades. I've studied meditation practice as Zen, Tibetan and Theravada Buddhist. They are all quite different approaches with accompanying philosophical divergence. For example the Zen practice is excellent at quieting the monkey mind. The Tibetan approach on the other hand is adept at distilling concentration to a laser-like point. Or expanding awareness to the entire field of perception. Theravadan seems to emphasize sitting practice as concentration, not so much on mental states in the way that the Mahayana branch does.

[@DougsDharma]

There are significant refinements in all schools of Buddhism. It’s up to us to find whichever one suits our practice preference.

[@AscendingGuru]

If you want to actually reach concetration as in Samadhi, I think mindfullness must come first. For example, you want a highly detailed visualization, or you want to essentially "trip", you need to become the floatation tank. This is done by being completely still, nothing, for a short duration of time. Maybe even chasing the sleep. However, when I think of mindfullness today, I think of the preparation that will enable absorbtion in Samadhi later. Think like, you copy something, then it appears in a dream. That is a form of absorbtion. I ought to know man, I've seen some shit while meditating. No joke.

[@AnattaAnattata]

สาธุ! สาธุ! สาธุ! 🙏🙏🙏

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@Dhammaeveryday]

Hi Doug, a good video would be what is jhāna?

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, thanks! I did an earlier video where I discussed jhāna in the context of the eighth step along the Eightfold Path, but I plan to do another one to make it a bit clearer and easier to find.

[@Dhammaeveryday]

@@DougsDharma No I meant in reference to the great jhāna debate for example, can you think in jhāna for example, differences in Sutta style jhāna Vrs Vism style jhāna etc

[@DougsDharma]

Ah that one I’ve done already: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHXSpZeLfrRrn68

[@roastmaster2000]

this is interesting... but I guess ultimately there is no conflict. Jhana is abstract. I guess that's why texts like the risshukyou exist. maybe, the problem is ; how can we think such divine thoughts but think the most selfish, arrogant and hateful thought simultaneously...? I don't know...when I solve that problem I probably wouldn't have anything to say. Deep meditation and survival of the integrity of the mind lies deeply on the belief of karma and your reliance of you ability to stick to the basic vows of conduct to stabilize your reality. The belief in yourself that you can become enlightened and fulfill the ultimate pledge is important and no psychologist can help you with that... even your own master.

[@DougsDharma]

Thoughts of any kind may arise at any time, the question is what we do with them. If we let them be, over time they will tend to come up less often and be less compelling. That can help lead us to greater freedom.

[@bodhidharmafpv1971]

Great teachings and a great channel, I appreciate your efforts, deep academic knowledge and understanding. Doug, the teachings are traditionally given away, I got it free, so did you. Charging for teachings is contrary to the fundamental principle of others first as our intention, the student comes before the teacher in all things, if one is to lead by example. We care enough to give the teachings away, this is a fundamental part of my training and values, wisdom is always free. I like your channel and the many free teachings that are given away, will you eventually give the teaching mentioned in the description (Get 20% off my new course: Work, Money, Pleasure, The Buddha's Teaching to Laypeople. )? I recognise the need for money, but find this western adaptation of Buddhism is contradictory to the Buddha's core message, others before oneself with a clear mind and intention is the path to a joyful heart. I would find it difficult to feel the wind of compassion at my back if I charged a dime. This is not an ethical or moral objection, but a pragmatic one, of self consistency. Selflessness means others before oneself, this is as close as you get to an end point in a secular practice short of a peaceful death. What you are doing here is more academic than traditional teaching though, so there are many ways up this particular mountain too I assume the teachings you charge for will eventually be free, I'm retired and taught as an avocation, not as a way to make a living. We are moving Buddhism into another culture and new media, so spreading the dharma is easier than ever in some ways and harder than ever in others. I'm renewing my teaching practice after retiring from work and teaching in 2012 and moving across the country to my old home town. I let my practice slip too and I'm renewing it now and preparing to form a local meditation group. I'll send new students to a free online MBSR course for curriculum and basic training palousemindfulness.com/ I'm looking over the secular buddhism site and just joined, I figure this channel and the secular site might be a good place for students to continue the on a secular path after evidence based MBSR starts them off on the right foot. Thanks for your efforts and this is not a criticism, but it is a concern, because others first as our intention, is a foundational principle of my preceptors, practice and teachings.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for your thoughts Bodhidharma. This is a matter I thought about quite deeply for many months before taking the plunge. I have a video on my thinking which you can see here: Making a Living Teaching the Dharma (and Otherwise) kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYq3ZoyjopKthac

[@P.G.1966]

Btw..how can we subscribe to your channel???

[@DougsDharma]

There should be a "subscribe" button you can click, below the video.

[@luizr.5599]

Meditation got better with secular mindfulness. No ascetic concepts to get in the way, simpler goals and realistic psychology kicked in.

[@DougsDharma]

It’s good to have options.

[@philmcdonald6088]

anapanasati sutta?

[@DougsDharma]

Yes I have a playlist on that sutta here: kzbin.info/aero/PL0akoU_OszRj6xxWhLgQdd8guwFu1ZASM

[@iallalli5223]

Sun (korea Zen Japan Chan China) is come from Dharmachakkappavatta sutta. Sun is the 4th Jhana, which is nondual, Nirvana. Therefore Jhana is really Sun Korea, Zen Japan, Chan China. Bahiya sutta is Sun, the 4th Jhana. When people are nondual Nirvana people use Bahiya sutta. Unnavhabrahmana sutta is the same sort of Jhana, which is Nirvana. Ananda had enlightened by Balki Bhikku's that Nirvana song. Koan and Hadu is nothing else but Nirvana way, which people call Middle way. Which is written word Me, in that Dharmachakkappavattana sutta. That Me is Dharmabody, which is Tathagatha'S Self Dharmabody. Doug's real I. Cosmos's Origin. Have nice day.

[@callumjayakody1145]

Hay Mate, The original Pali canon were written by Arahants in Sri Lanka. Then they were translated to any other languages by just scholars. This translations have been ( 99.999% )misinterpreted. Because those who translated in to other languages did not have the wisdom and skill to see the right etymology Or the exact meaning of those words given by Buddha. If there is any monk who has the Artha, Dhamma, Nirukthi and Patibhana wisdoms only can translate these dhamma in to any other languages with the right meaning. In Asankatha Sutta , Nibbana has been defined as eradication of Raga, dwesha and moha is called Nibana. It means if somebody has 100% eradicated Raga, Dwesha and moha in him, he is an arahant. So nowadays, we talking about Breath meditation. That is complete wrong interpretation. "Assasa " means Breath in. Thats right. But Buddha didn't say to breath in the air. That is a worldly meaning. But Buddha said to breath in Noble eight fold path. " Passasa " means breath out. That is in worldly meaning. But Buddha said breath out the ten defilement. Then only we can eradicate Raga Dwesha and moha. The other thing is the right mindfullness. We say eating eating eating... walking walking walking.... cutting cutting cutting..This is not right mindfulness. This was given by ancient Brahmans. That is not Right mindfulness. The real definition from buddha is to stay focus on what we do to see whether they are confronting us to do anything with Raga dwesha ans moha. Ex, if we feel like eating a chocolate in the fridge when we are not hungry. It means we have a desire to have that taste as we have attached to five aggregates from that taste. If we feel like listening to a music. It means we have attached to five aggregates coming from that sound. So like wise we have to stay focus on whether the things we do, speak and think are towards the desire aversion and delusion is called right mindfulness. Buddha didnt say to bring your mind to one thing ( Focus ), but he said to purify your mind from Raga dwesha moha. That was why this sathara sathipatthana sutta was preached.Meththe meditation is also wrong. as it doesn't intend to wish a happy life. There is no happy life as, as long as we attached to anything, we get Dukka dukka, viparinama dukkha and sankara dukkha. So there is no happy life is we think anything in this world is worth having. The main thing in Buddhism is Anichcha Dukka and anaththa. Anuchcha has been wrongly interpreted as Not permanant. It is actually " Not going to the way to our liking " Not being permanant is not a problem to us. But if that is not going to the way we want is a problem. For example when a boy is in love with a girl, if you say the boy that the girl is not permanant and she is gonna be sick, decay and die, but still the boy keeps loving as he knows that. But if you say the boy that girl never listen to you, never going to the way you want, he never marry her. Like wise anything in this world is not going to the way we want. As there are reasons got together and those thing appearing. As soon as one or many reason get apart the result we attached to is going to be change or disappear. So that was what bring us the suffering. So it is with Dukkha. And if the thing we attached to does not go the way we want and if that brings us suffering for sure, it is no worthy going after that. That is called anatta. It is not noself. Thats is also a wrong interpretation. Think about that. If you can understand this fact, letting go takes place automatically. You dont have to do anything. Only thing we have to understand deep in our mind is the fact that nothing is going to the we like, and hence if we attached to that, it brings us suffering and hence there is no point going after that. Hope this gives you a bit of understanding.

[@callumjayakody1145]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXnYlq1sorylm9U

[@callumjayakody1145]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/foWtaGevaNCSZ80

[@bandumathithennakoon1683]

Mewa hariyata wigraha karala tynne koheda?

[@RR-ur9no]

it is ‘dhyana’ and not ‘Jhana’

[@DougsDharma]

"Dhyāna" is the Sanskrit word, "jhāna" is Pāli.

[@user-kg7sw8gu2j]

i had 4 ads hit me till 18min , then i dropped.