We are currently living in the 21st century.
The majority of people in the present era were born in the 20th century and are living through the 21st century, experiencing numerous changes and advancements.
There is a need for an assessment of which meditation techniques are suitable for modern individuals, given the demand and importance of meditation in today’s society.
Are the traditional meditation techniques we are currently reviving and embracing truly applicable to this era?
While incorporating the essence and core of meditation that has been passed down for thousands of years, some degree of modification is required to accommodate the differences between ancient and modern times.
Using the example of the Buddha’s meditation techniques, the most significant difference between 2500 years ago and today is likely the diversity and volume of stimuli that people consciously and unconsciously acquire and are exposed to as they are born and grow.
Additionally, the speed of change in living through this era must also be taken into account.
Modern individuals living in the 21st century are facing unprecedented rates of change in human history, with an overwhelming amount of information acquisition that is incomparable to that of 2000 years ago.
Thus, the traditional practice of sitting still with closed eyes for concentration meditation, commonly accepted 2000 to 2500 years ago, may not entirely align with the pace and lifestyle of modern individuals.
In fact, many people attempt such traditional meditation practices only to find them incompatible and subsequently abandon them.
Therefore, for modern individuals, dynamic vipassana meditation may be more suitable than the static samatha meditation.
While both samatha and vipassana meditation ultimately focus on change, they are different names for meditation that target the same goal.
Tailoring meditation to the characteristics of this era and modern individuals, starting and practicing meditation with vipassana as the foundation allows for a clearer and more apparent observation of dynamic and rapid changes.