Vipassana meditation

Vipassana is the Pali term literally means Insight or seeing thing as they truly are. Seeing this body is not permanence, it is subjects to change, it is subject to pain, suffering, it is subject to decay and death.

So how do we practise this meditation? To begin with this meditation initially we always emphasize on our in and out breathing, while we focus on our in and out breath, we must not think about other things which is happing around us. if it happens we just let it pass or ignore it and the thing you need to do is just watch your breath. There are some more thing that you need to make your meditation better. Such as places, time and postures because if you do meditation in the rush area like in the public place or public building, because that is not a good place to do meditation. that's why you ought to find a calm place with no any sounds or disturbances from the outsiders and the place also must be a suitable place, it is not too cool, it is not too hot but the temperature must warm and you can’t practise meditation all the time you need but it must be all the time it requires and the last one is postures, you can’t sit with your back bow down but you have to sit straight. Then you will be able to do it well.

For more explaination on Vippassana wisit http://world.std.com/~metta/lib/bps/leaves/bl085.html

Samatha meditation

The word Samatha is the Pali term which always translates as Calm or peace, calming the mind down from all kinds of irritations that arise through the six doors. So then if our mind does not get peace by any manners, the only way which was taught by the Buddha is Samatha meditation.

So how can we practise Samatha meditation?

To practise this meditation (according to Visudhimagga) There are many techniques to practise Samatha.Normally, when we say about Samatha we refer to the 40 methods such as:
1. Ten special meditation objects, or Kasina(10)
2. Ten loathsomeness or impurity, or Asubha(10)
3. Ten reflections or Anussati (10)
4. Four sublime states of mind, or Brahma Vihara(4)
5. Four formless spheres, or Arupa(4)
6. One perception of food loathsomeness, or Sanna(1)
7. One absence of the cycle of existence, or Vivatthana(1)
Samatha meditation is a bit complicated than Vipassana because we have to practise accordingly, which means we have to choose the technique depend upon our character.

E.g if you are a Dosa character then you have to choose loving-kindness meditation. But as for nowadays, mostly people are practising Loving-kindness meditation because this is the easiest way to practise and especially it is popular with the westerners. The word loving-kindness is used to substitute the Pali term Meta (Meta + bhavana) bhavana means develop or cultivate so the Metabhavana is to develop or cultivate Loving-kindness in our heart.

Ethic is the basic of the path to liberation

Essentially, the word ethic does not only exist in Buddhism but also in other religions and society as well.
According to the Buddha’s teaching in some suttas and especially in Visudhimagga is has explained that before one cultivates or try to fulfills one’s own perfection, one must have to practice Sila Samadhi and Pañña. Otherwise one cannot be reached at the level of perfection as one wished to achieve. Because the Visudhimagga itself has clearly explained that before one wishes to pour the water into the glass or the bottle, that glass or bottle must, actually, have the bottom with no hole or any damage. Otherwise one cannot put the water into that glass or bottle and the reason is because there is no bottom to sustain the water, that’s why you can’t put the water into those jars or bottles. Likewise, even in Buddhism if you wish to fulfill your perfection or to achieve any kind of Janas, you might have to observe Sila initially and only then you can proceed to the next step as mentioned the Visudhimagga.
Not only those reasons that made ethic as the basic path of liberation. There are many reasons which we have to learn more and take into practice in our daily life. Like the ethic of life in the society. How to lead our-levies to be a good citizens of the country, good people of the society, good member in the community and good person to yourself.