buddhist meditation:without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of buddhism cannot fly

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Buddhist Meditation: Buddhist Meditation: Without the wings of thought Without the wings of thought and meditation, the “bird” of and meditation, the “bird” of Buddhism cannot fly” Buddhism cannot fly”

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Page 1: Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

Buddhist Meditation: Buddhist Meditation:

““Without the wings of thought Without the wings of thought and meditation, the “bird” of and meditation, the “bird” of

Buddhism cannot fly”Buddhism cannot fly”

Page 2: Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

A Buddha is a being A Buddha is a being who has awakened who has awakened from the sleep of from the sleep of ignorance in which ignorance in which others live, who has others live, who has broken through the broken through the cognitive barriers cognitive barriers that impede that impede understanding and understanding and become omniscient become omniscient through a long through a long process of mental process of mental training. training.

Page 3: Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

MeditationMeditation or or “cognitive “cognitive restructuring.” restructuring.”

BhāvanāBhāvanā [2 types] [2 types] ŚamathāŚamathā - Pacifying the - Pacifying the

mind and quieting the mind and quieting the mental confusion, strife. mental confusion, strife.

VipaśyanaVipaśyana - Developing - Developing clear understanding of clear understanding of Buddhist tenets, the four Buddhist tenets, the four noble truths impermanence noble truths impermanence selfless or cultivating direct selfless or cultivating direct perception of the true perception of the true nature of reality (the nature of reality (the dharma eye). dharma eye).

Page 4: Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

Prescriptive AspectPrescriptive Aspect A teacher of meditation or guru will often A teacher of meditation or guru will often

prescribe the specific type of meditation that prescribe the specific type of meditation that suits the needs of the individual. suits the needs of the individual. An angry person may be prescribed a An angry person may be prescribed a

meditation that cultivates feelings of love, or meditation that cultivates feelings of love, or patience. Love and compassion are patience. Love and compassion are incompatible with anger, and so the more incompatible with anger, and so the more one cultivates these two, anger dissipates. one cultivates these two, anger dissipates.

A person strongly arrogant may be A person strongly arrogant may be instructed to meditate on impermanence and instructed to meditate on impermanence and no-self. No amount of money or fame can no-self. No amount of money or fame can forestall death, hence meditation on bones, forestall death, hence meditation on bones, on the world as filled with skeletons walking on the world as filled with skeletons walking around around

Page 5: Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

Meditation and Sexual DesireMeditation and Sexual Desire

A person strongly attached to sexual desire A person strongly attached to sexual desire may be instructed to meditate on the may be instructed to meditate on the hideous features of a dancing girl: hideous features of a dancing girl: concentrating on her snot, poop, pee sweat, concentrating on her snot, poop, pee sweat, bile. A Buddhist seeks a proper state of bile. A Buddhist seeks a proper state of detachment from this life. detachment from this life.

Page 6: Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

End Result of MeditationEnd Result of Meditation

Buddhist Literature has extensive literature Buddhist Literature has extensive literature about specific mental states attained about specific mental states attained through specific practices. The end result of through specific practices. The end result of meditation is to reduce the force of desire meditation is to reduce the force of desire and cultivate an attitude whereby all living and cultivate an attitude whereby all living beings are equal, and that feelings of beings are equal, and that feelings of attraction and revulsion are transient attraction and revulsion are transient results of afflicted mental states. results of afflicted mental states.

Page 7: Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

Dhyānas – the Meditative Dhyānas – the Meditative RealmsRealms

Shared by most Indian traditions. The four Shared by most Indian traditions. The four concentrations correspond to levels within the realm concentrations correspond to levels within the realm of form, the second of three levels of cyclic existence. of form, the second of three levels of cyclic existence. First Dhyāna: overcoming the subtlest levels of First Dhyāna: overcoming the subtlest levels of

attachment to the Desire Realm, the lowest level of attachment to the Desire Realm, the lowest level of cyclic existence. One in mediation first views this cyclic existence. One in mediation first views this desire realm as gross and the first dhyana as subtle desire realm as gross and the first dhyana as subtle and endeavors to attain to this level of and endeavors to attain to this level of concentration. The next three are similarly viewed concentration. The next three are similarly viewed as increasingly subtle mental levels, or dimensions as increasingly subtle mental levels, or dimensions of consciousness. of consciousness.

In the first two, joy and bliss are thereIn the first two, joy and bliss are there In the third, joy is gone but bliss is still present. In the third, joy is gone but bliss is still present.

One attains to meditative equanimity in the third One attains to meditative equanimity in the third concentration, which is strengthened in the fourth concentration, which is strengthened in the fourth concentration to the point where bliss also concentration to the point where bliss also disappears and is replaced with a pervasive disappears and is replaced with a pervasive equanimity. The reason joy and bliss are eliminated equanimity. The reason joy and bliss are eliminated is that they interfere with mental stability – is that they interfere with mental stability – ŚŚamathamathā ā

Page 8: Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

Three WorldsThree Worlds

1. The Desire Realm (where you are 1. The Desire Realm (where you are now)now)

2. The Form Realms – 2. The Form Realms – dhydhyāānasnas meditative states but “real” “places” meditative states but “real” “places” for existencefor existence

3. The Formless Realms – Higher 3. The Formless Realms – Higher states with no imagery or conceptionstates with no imagery or conception

Page 9: Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

Four Formless AbsorptionsFour Formless Absorptions Arupya samāpattiArupya samāpatti: these correspond to four yet : these correspond to four yet

more subtle realms or dimensions within more subtle realms or dimensions within sasaṃṃsārasāra. .

These are said to be the highest levels of These are said to be the highest levels of existence and still be in cyclic existence. One is existence and still be in cyclic existence. One is said to be born into these exceptionally complex said to be born into these exceptionally complex levels of being dependent upon the ability of levels of being dependent upon the ability of the individual to cultivate the corresponding the individual to cultivate the corresponding mental level within contemplation. mental level within contemplation.

These are… These are…

Page 10: Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

Four Formless AbsorptionsFour Formless Absorptions1.1. Absorption of limitless spaceAbsorption of limitless space2.2. Absorption of limitless consciousnessAbsorption of limitless consciousness3.3. Absorption of nothingnessAbsorption of nothingness4.4. Peak of cyclic existencePeak of cyclic existence

Page 11: Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

ŚamathāŚamathā

““Calming” – the cessation of Calming” – the cessation of anxiety-ridden thoughtsanxiety-ridden thoughts

To generate these higher mental To generate these higher mental states, one needs physical and states, one needs physical and mental pliancy. One has achieved mental pliancy. One has achieved a serviceability of mind and body a serviceability of mind and body such that the mind can be set on such that the mind can be set on a virtuous object of observation a virtuous object of observation as long as one wishes. as long as one wishes.

Page 12: Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

VipaVipaśśyanayana and and ŚŚamathamathāā

Vipaśyana: “Vipaśyana: “analytical insight,” The latter analytical insight,” The latter is an analytical task in which one considers is an analytical task in which one considers the emptiness or lack of self of the the emptiness or lack of self of the meditative object. This involves meditative object. This involves philosophical introspection. philosophical introspection.

The combination of The combination of ŚŚamathamathāā oror “ “Calming” the Calming” the mind is a necessary prerequisite for mind is a necessary prerequisite for attainment of analytical insight or attainment of analytical insight or VipaśyanaVipaśyana. The two are combined like two . The two are combined like two wings of one bird, enable the meditator to wings of one bird, enable the meditator to achieve high, subtle levels of consciousness. achieve high, subtle levels of consciousness.

Page 13: Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

Paths to NirvPaths to Nirvāāṇṇaa Path of Accumulation: collection of merit and Path of Accumulation: collection of merit and

wisdom, one enters this path with an intention wisdom, one enters this path with an intention merely to awaken all sentient beings merely to awaken all sentient beings

Path of Preparation: reaching the union of Path of Preparation: reaching the union of calming and higher insight with no-self as the calming and higher insight with no-self as the object of observation or the meditative objectobject of observation or the meditative object Stages: Stages:

1. Heat: fire of non-conceptual 1. Heat: fire of non-conceptual understanding on the path of seeing will understanding on the path of seeing will soon arisesoon arise

2. Peak: good karma accumulated at this 2. Peak: good karma accumulated at this point will no longer be lost point will no longer be lost

3. Patience: overcoming fear with regard 3. Patience: overcoming fear with regard to selflessness to selflessness

4. Supreme mundane qualities 4. Supreme mundane qualities

Page 14: Buddhist Meditation:Without the wings of thought and meditation, the bird of Buddhism cannot fly

The final paths of the The final paths of the bodhisattvabodhisattva

The Path of "Seeing" (The Path of "Seeing" (DarśanaDarśana Marga): reality as "zero" or Marga): reality as "zero" or sunyasunya with the consciousness with the consciousness of a minor bodhisattva of a minor bodhisattva

The Path of "Meditation” The Path of "Meditation” ((Bhāvanāmarga)Bhāvanāmarga): further : further cultivation of the cultivation of the consciousness towards consciousness towards omniscience in the Buddhist omniscience in the Buddhist sense of knowing reality in a sense of knowing reality in a qualitative rather than qualitative rather than quantitative sense quantitative sense

The Path of "No More The Path of "No More Learning," Learning," AkśaikśamargaAkśaikśamarga: one : one has attained complete, perfect has attained complete, perfect Enlightenment as a fully-Enlightenment as a fully-fledged Buddha.fledged Buddha.