How To Meditate I, What is Meditation

In this first video of the series, Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu explains the word meditation by comparing it with medication: something that restores the mind to its natural state rather than giving temporary pleasure. He says practice can feel unpleasant when it meets stress, worry, anger or addiction. The method he introduces is a “clear thought”, a mantra that names ordinary experience as it happens, such as “pain”, “thinking” or “angry”. He organises experience into four foundations: body, feelings, thoughts and mental states, and gives examples of noting each.