MEDITATION (Part 1) “Better than one hundred years lived devoid of insight and unsettled, is one day lived with insight and absorbed in meditation.” (Dhammapada 111) So much has been written about how to meditate and why to meditate, from ancient Buddhist masters to the 14th Dalia Lama and in all three Buddhist traditions, that I think there is not much more to say. But recent questions lead me to write this short casual conversation about my thoughts on meditation. Meditation is not about achievements, mystical powers or jhana states. Because if you meditate for achievements, like jhana states, what you do not realize is that the more you chase after such things the more distant they are, like a mirage. If you meditate just because you’re told it is the right thing to do, you’ll still achieve nothing meaningful. For meditation to be a helpful practice it must be something that you see as a helpful tool in your life. You meditate because you really recognize the dissatisfactory (dukkha) nature of your distracted and craving mind, because of lack of clarity, and to pierce through the veil of your illusions. You meditate because you really know this is the way to end your suffering (dukkha) and because you want to affirm that all suffering (dukkha) and illusions arises from your mind. Meditation is not about lotus positions or half-lotus positions. If you’re spending meditation time in painful positions, you’re distracted at the discomfort and achieving very little. Sit comfortably on a meditation cushion or a chair; it’s about what works for you and reducing physical bodily distractions. Meditation is not about hand poses or hand mudras. If you’re spending meditation time on achieving energy currents through the hands or are having too many thoughts centered on your hands, you are engaging in illusionary thought. Just relax you hands in your lap in a way to reduce physical bodily distractions. You will find a straight back is more comfortable and reduces the tendency to slough forward and fall asleep. Meditation is not about squinting your eyes while looking at a candle. If you find so much of your focus is on keeping your eyes squinted or partially open, don’t waist you mind energy. Meditate with your eye closed, it’s okay and it reduces visual distractions. Meditation is not about doing it only in a special room or facing special directions. Meditate where there are few noise distractions. You can even meditate while sitting at your office desk for two minutes, to reduce your stress after a challenging phone conversation. You can meditate while standing in a long shopping line for a minute, to reduce you annoyed feelings. Two quick minutes of walking meditation can bring your mind back to a reasonable stability and calm, before you open the door to come home to your family. When it comes to meditation positions, use common sense and explore to find what works for you. Remember, meditation is not about the outward form; meditation is done within your mind. Upasaka Tuccho Pothila
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 15:10:40 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015