FRUITS OF SERENITY MEDITATION

The happiness that is enjoyed by mental concentration is achieved by the practice of Serenity Meditation (Samatha Bhavana). There are several objects that can be used for the development of Serenity Meditation such as meditation on kindness, or meditation on in and out breathing etc. which takes the mind into concentration (Samadhi).

Metta bhavana (Meditation on Kindness) yields much fruit during this very life to the one who develops it and makes much of it.
They are

1. he sleeps well
2. he wakes up well
3. he does not see bad dreams
4. he has a radiant face
5. he is pleasing to human beings
6. he is pleasing to non-human beings
7. he receives the protection of the devas (deities)
8. he is not affected by heat or poisons
9. his mind goes into concentration easily and quickly
10. he dies mindfully and peacefully.
11. If one does not attain Nibbana in this life, he will be born in the Brahma worlds.

One must also practise kindness in one's day to day life. It is one of the most powerful tools to overcome obstacles in life.

The Pali word Samadhi means a mind that is calm, tranquil, concentrated, well-collected and released from the five hindrances. The essential condition is that the mind must be released from the five hindrances when one sets these five hindrances aside, even temporarily, one experiences the bliss of Samadhi. However, as soon as one of the hindrances were to manifest again, the mind looses that state of bliss.