To: K-list
Recieved: 2001/01/30 04:17
Subject: [K-list] on Buddhist meditation
From: Jb789
On 2001/01/30 04:17, Jb789 posted thus to the K-list:
Hi,
Yesterday, I joined a couple of friends to a lecture on 'What is
Buddhist meditation'.
The speaker (who belongs to Tibetan Buddhism) pointed out that
relaxation (as in Yoga Nidra), and other forms practiced by new-
agers, though good is not Buddhist meditation.
He said that Buddhism uses: contemplation (going into greed for
example to see what it is),
visualization ('Buddhist Tantra', f.ex. visualizing a golden Buddha
sending white light to one's head, red to the throat chakra, and blue
to the heart)..ceratin mantras/sounds would be used along with the
visualizations; this he said is part of an 'indirect path' in the
sense that it only gives a taste of the nature of the mind (empty
causeless space) but also it should purify some accumulated
tendencies in the mind; and finally 'concentration' which in practice
should be just sitting concentrating on whatever happens around one
and within. The last one, they regard as the direct path and the
highest form of meditation (I believe it is part of
Dzogchen/Mahamudra); however as a help to be able to notice when one
becomes not present/unaware, they recommend watching and counting the
breath.
He said that the outcome of that 'concentration' is a 'bobbling
feeling' of alive happiness, love and compassion, without a
cause/motive and seeing things as they are.
The 'true nature of the mind' he added, is something we all already
have, and we just have to discover it.. 'We are all Buddhas'.
Someone asked him :'Who does the concentration ,.. the ego ?'
The speaker said he did not know.
Another asked: 'How long does it take until it works,.. until one
gets established in the -causeless nature of the mind- ?
He said that he was told by his teacher (Ole Nydhal, a Danish Lama)
that it can take from 16 to 25 years. (The speaker said that he has
been a Buddhist for 16 years,.. and is not established in the 'true
nature of the mind')
My thoughts about this:
The map he has drawn on the various approaches, seems to me to be
quite valid/so.
His introducing Time (16-25 years..) however, might result in an
attitude of complacency and suppression of the fire of urgency and
interest, the listener might have.
As far as I understand, J. Krishnamurti f.ex., does not regard any of
these activities as 'meditation', though it comes close to what the
Buddhist speaker calls 'concentration without object'. However K. is
very carefull to discriminate between concentration and meditation or
non-directional motive/choice-free awareness.
As for 'we are all already Buddhas', I do not know.
The evidence, seems to show something else.
What do you think about all this ?
I am not looking for an exchange of the scholastic 'comparative
philosophy'-type, but rather responses arising out of one's own
direct perception/understanding.
Have a good day !
JB.
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