Answer:
Through meditation and mindfulness, Buddhists aim to eventually attain Nirvana. Nirvana is a state of being in which you no longer have to go through reincarnation, the cycle of death and rebirth.
Buddhist meditation is a way of training the mind. It helps a Buddhist to 'know' him or herself, and to be aware of his or her own actions and thoughts. This type of meditation helps the practitioner to break out of the cycle of ignorance that keeps most people trapped in the death and rebirth cycle, and a Buddhist will know him or herself much better than most other people. Practitioners become aware of their motivations, and learn to overcome those parts of their personalities that hold them back.
Buddha's teaching explains the Four Noble Truths, the four states of being.
1. Life Means Suffering
The first truth is that there can be a dissatisfaction with our world. The world can be a place of suffering and unhappiness.
2. The Origin of Suffering is Attachment
We become attached to objects, wealth, to our desires. We give these things importance, and our lives revolve around these things. Because these things are not permanent, we are in fact chasing an illusion, this brings unhappiness and dissatisfaction with the world. We are ignorant because we don't understand that our mind is attached to impermanent things that have no consequence or value. We also become attached to our idea of 'self', to our image or our to how we are perceived in the world by others. None of these objects of attachment are permanent, but we suffer because we spend our time worrying and focussing on them.
3. It Is Possible to End Suffering
Buddha teaches that suffering is caused because we do not understand ourselves. Our actions and reactions bring consequences. Because we don't understand why we behave the way we do, or how to change, we suffer. If we can learn to understand ourselves through meditation we can end the suffering. Through meditation we can release those things we are attached to, and achieve Nirvana - freedom from worry, trouble, complexes and ideas of the self.
4. The Path to Ending Suffering
The path to put an end to suffering is one of continual self improvement and growth, and can take many lifetimes. The path is one of learning from your mistakes, meditating to understand yourself better, releasing attachments to transitory objects, craving, ignorance, delusions and ideas of 'self' and by this becoming a happier and more peaceful person. Through meditation and mindfulness, Nirvana is eventually attained.
Paths to End Suffering
Meditation helps Buddhists follow the Eightfold Path to Nirvana. The Eightfold path is:
Right View
Right Intention
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration
Right View and Right Intention are about cultivating wisdom within yourself and becoming wise.
Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood are about your moral and ethical conduct in your life.
Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration are about your mental development.
Following these is the way to end suffering in your life and it will also prevent any suffering you may cause to others. Meditation helps Buddhists to follow this path.
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