Why Meditate? What Does Meditation Offer?

Why meditate? What benefits does meditation bring, and why might we want to take the time for practice? Phakchok Rinpoche, in this video teaching from a talk at Rangjung Yeshe Gomde New York, New York, points out very concrete benefits.

Buddhist Philosophy

Why meditate? What does meditation offer? There are so many ways to spend our time these days. So, what benefits does meditation bring? And why might we want to take the time for practice? Phakchok Rinpoche, in this video teaching from a talk at Rangjung Yeshe Gomde New York, New York, points out very concrete benefits.

Why Meditate?

Three Measurable Benefits

Our minds become calmer
Good qualities increase
Our minds become more flexible

Calmness is easy to understand, and most of us prefer to be calm. We seek out places that provide that sense of peace.

When we speak of good qualities, we think of positive characteristics. Here, Rinpoche mentions compassion, wisdom, dignity, understanding, patience, and generosity. We value these qualities in ourselves and in others.

Flexibility: Minds as Well as Bodies

When our minds become flexible, we don’t suffer so much and we also don’t cause others to suffer. Normally, we operate with a lot of judgment. Because of that, we judge others and we also judge ourselves. We react emotionally and we operate with a lot of assumptions. But when our mind becomes flexible, we don’t hang on to all these things. That means that we don’t stay stuck in bad moods or negative thinking. Flexible minds allow us to deal with whatever comes our way — we’re less stressed and uptight. We learn how to let things go!

We have all come to understand the importance of keeping our bodies flexible so they don’t become stiff and rigid. In the same way, if we keep our minds flexible, then we can avoid tight, closed mental states.

Boredom Happens–That’s Ok!

When we start meditating as beginners we may feel bored. We should not feel surprised if that happens. Our minds are conditioned to crave distraction. In our busy lives, we often forget how to accept boredom. And that’s why it is important to know these three positive results of meditation. Knowing these results help inspire us to keep practicing!

If you are interested in exploring meditation, you may be interested in Samye Institute’s support program, Training the Mind: An Introduction. This short home-study program offers more video instruction from Phakchok Rinpoche and is suitable for all levels.

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About the Author

Phakchok Rinpoche

Phakchok Rinpoche was born in 1981 to Kyapjé Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche and Sangyum Dechen Paldrön, within the family lineage of the great treasure revealer (terchen) Chokgyur Dechen Zhikpo Lingpa. Rinpoche was recognized as the reincarnation of the 6th Kyapgön Phakchok Rinpoche, one of the three throne holders (kyapgöns) of the Taklung Kagyü seat (densa) at Marthang Kham Riwoche monastery. Among Rinpoche’s previous incarnations, the 4th Kyapgön Phakchok Rinpoche was a devoted disciple and patron of Terchen Chokgyur Lingpa. During that period, it was the unwavering support of the upholders of Riwoche Monastery that created the auspicious circumstances for Chokgyur Lingpa’s awakened activity to spread and flourish. Under the guidance of his root gurus—Kyapjé Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Kyapjé Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, and Kyapchok Soktse Rinpoche—Phakchok Rinpoche has received and practiced the profound Dharma teachings handed down in an unbroken lineage from Mahaguru Padmasambhava. Inspired by the life and legacy of Guru Padmasambhava, Terchen Chokgyur Lingpa and the upholders of Riwoche Monastery, Rinpoche has devoted his own life to spreading the teachings of Guru Rinpoche, particularly the Profound Treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa (Chokling Tersar). Mahaguru Padmasambhava is renowned for his role in guiding the establishment of Samye Monastery, thereby creating the auspicious causes and conditions (tendrel) for more than a thousand years of authentic practice to unfold in the land of Tibet in an incredible lineage of accomplishment that continues to this present day. Reflecting upon these auspicious beginnings, Phakchok Rinpoche has given his organization the same name, Samye, which means inconceivable. Just as this ancient Tibetan institution lived up to its name, becoming a truly inconceivable source of the Buddhadharma, Rinpoche’s aspiration is for today’s Samye mandala to do likewise and become an inconceivable beacon of wisdom, compassion and dignity for our present world and into the future. In honor of Mahaguru Padmasambhava, Rinpoche has chosen a seal to represent Samye that traces back to Guru Rinpoche himself. This esteemed emblem was originally revealed by the Mahaguru and given to Dharma King Trisong Detsen’s royal heir, Lhasé Murup Tsenpo. Murup Tsenpo subsequently concealed it as a treasure (terma) for the benefit of future generations. Much later, in 18th century Tibet, it was discovered as a treasure by Lhasé Murup Tsenpo’s reincarnation, Terchen Chokgyur Dechen Zhikpo Lingpa. Today, it serves as the emblem for the Profound Treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa and for all Dharma activities led by Phakchok Rinpoche and his sangha.

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Samye is a place where students from all corners of the globe explore how to work with their minds in order to lead meaningful lives. Drawing from authentic Buddhist wisdom traditions, our online platform offers live teachings, structured courses, interactive forums, and community for the digital Dharma sangha. Samye Institute aims to be to the digital world what Nalanda was to India and what Samye was to Tibet.

The Five Successive Stages of Understanding

On this Guru Rinpoche Day message, Phakchok Rinpoche shares some simple benchmarks to measure our progress in our practice. We all go through five successive stages: 1) lack of any understanding, 2) forming misunderstandings, 3) partial understanding, 4) near-complete understanding, and 5) perfect understanding. These five stages equally apply to the view, practice and conduct. Rinpoche then starts explaining each stage. Finally, Rinpoche concludes by inviting us to study these to be able to recognize them, and thereby identify our own level of progress on the path.

Overcoming Mara’s hosts

On Guru Rinpoche Day, Phakchok Rinpoche shares the key point of all the practices and teachings: overcoming the four great obstacles, the four maras, namely, the mara of the aggregates, the mara of the Lord of Death, the mara of the afflictions, and the mara of the gods. Rinpoche then explains each one and advises us to study and contemplate them. Furthermore, Rinpoche explains the root of them all and how we can overcome them. Finally, Rinpoche mentions how his root guru Kyabjé Nyoshül Khen Rinpoche used to say Dharma means only one thing: transformation.

Buddhahood Within Our Reach

On this Guru Rinpoche Day, Phakchok Rinpoche explains the famous opening verse of Omniscient Gampopa’s “Jewel Ornament of Liberation,” as well as the key points we should understand as we read the verses; mainly, that all beings have the cause of Buddhahood within their being, but it is also important that they meet with the right conditions for this seed to bear fruits. Rinpoche further explains how to cultivate the right conditions for our transformation.

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Dharma Reflections

"Compassion grounded in dignity guides us like a moral compass, whereas compassion mixed with pride makes us moral police."

Phakchok Rinpoche, Awakening Dignity, Chapter 10: The Compassion to Act

Why Meditate? What Does Meditation Offer?