Why Some Buddhists Grow Spiritually—and How You Can Too

Have you noticed that some Buddhists—lay or monastic—seem to become more peaceful and happier? It may be because they have grown spiritually. What do I mean by that?

For lay Buddhists who don’t yet desire the ultimate ending of suffering, the recommended practice is dāna, sīla, and bhāvanā. Dāna (giving) is mentioned first because it’s the easiest to understand and practice, followed by sīla (moral conduct). Bhāvanā is the most challenging, but it is also the most important for becoming more peaceful and happy.

In this article, I want to help you understand bhāvanā correctly so that you can practice it and gain its rewards.

Bhāvanā Is More Than Meditation

Many Buddhists misunderstand bhāvanā as “meditation.” While meditation is a kind of bhāvanā, the scope of bhāvanā is actually far greater. Bhāvanā means “cultivation”—specifically, spiritual cultivation. While meditation cultivates the mind, bhāvanā extends to how we live—how we respond to challenges, treat others, and let go of habits that cause suffering. Here are some specific examples:

  • Have you become less likely to act rashly?

  • Have you become more confident in facing challenges?

  • Have you become better at receiving criticism?

  • Have you become more generous?

These are all signs of spiritual growth.

Bhāvanā in Practice

Bhāvanā is of course also not about meditation techniques. We can use meditation techniques, but they are merely tools—which may or may not help cultivate the qualities you need. So, instead of getting hung up on techniques, we are better off thinking in terms of what we want to cultivate first. Only afterwards should we consider how to achieve it.

For example:

  • If you tend to have anxious thoughts, what you need is to cultivate composure. For this case, meditation is an important part of your cultivation. Specifically, body awareness is helpful. Apart from that, you also need to address the underlying beliefs fuelling these thoughts. (For more, see Dealing With Anxiety.)

  • If you tend to act rashly, what you need is to be more mindful in daily life. Then open awareness meditation is what you’re looking for.

  • If you feel lost and need direction, what you need is to cultivate wisdom in this area. Perhaps you should consult a wise teacher.

More on Bhāvanā

Why bhāvanā? The reason is simple: We want to be happy. The more spiritually cultivated we are, the less we suffer.

What do we cultivate? All the qualities that are the foundation for freedom and peace—such as confidence, wisdom, and composure.

How do we know if we’ve become more cultivated? Simple: We become freer from suffering and more at peace.

Clarifying Dāna and Sīla

Regarding generosity mentioned earlier, note that this is not the same as dāna, which simply means “giving.” Giving may be done not out of generosity, but merely out of a desire for merit. If one gives without expectation, that’s generosity (cāga).

Similarly, sīla (moral conduct) may be practised based on not-so-spiritual reasons—such as self-righteousness or fear of bad karma. But if one practises sīla based on understanding right and wrong, then that’s true sīla.

Parting Words

There’s so much to gain through bhāvanā, so don’t limit yourself to just dāna and sīla. Though bhāvanā may seem difficult at times, once you notice the benefits, you’ll be glad you made the effort.

There’s much to learn in this process—far too much to do it entirely on your own. So, do find a competent teacher to guide you on your journey.


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