Errors of worldly meditation.

Grasping to the experience of infinite space,
grasping to the clarity of infinite consciousness,
grasping to the state in which experiences dissolve into nothingness,
grasping to the state of non-conceptuality.

These are the four errors of meditation as they occur in worldly meditative absorptions.

They are worldly because they still rely on mind and subtle craving that occurs within the domain of mind. They are errors because you are still bound by grasping and fixation and thus the root of selfishness is not cut.  

Significance.

Metaphysics seems like a silly game that philosophers play.  A lot of words and argument without much substance.  It is tainted by the stain of intellectuality in an era where we are all entitled to our own opinions and ideas about what is right.

Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that examines the fundamental nature of phenomena, self and other, you and your reality.  It is an intellectual game and there are parameters that might aid in how you play it.

First, choose the object of analysis.  It could be a physical object, an action, your self, your perception, your mind.

Second, set the extremes.  Existence or non-existence.  Right or wrong.  Virtuous or non-virtuous.

Third, determine the middle way free from extremes.  Could something exist, but not truly exist?  Could you do something right, but it turn out to be wrong?  Is your virtue truly virtuous?

Meditate on the significance of this middle way beyond extremes.

Does this significance effect your perceptual bias?  Your cognitive bias?  Your emotional bias?  Does this significance effect your view of yourself, your reality?  What is your reality?  

The ultimate significance of metaphysical analysis is that we no longer need to maintain fixed reference points.  Fixed reference points make us suffer.  They are the root of dissatisfaction and discomfort.  Maintaining a fixed position gives rise to all kinds of problems and obstacles.  But what are we trying to maintain?

This silly game has the potential to uproot our own crazy mind.  We might realize that we are our own troublemakers.  We might realize our stubbornness is the root of our problems.  We might see the significance that our ignorance and bias is the root of our own suffering.

And then we might be able to leave it all behind.

But it is not enough to believe this.  You need to see it in your own life, in your own experience.  You need to examine your own perception and view.  You need to examine your own mind.  You need to actually play the game. 

Most of us aren't brave enough to do that, it's easier just to be right.  

Spell check.

Lets pretend for a momant that we didnt have aplications built into our computing softwear that determined when we had made a mistake.  What would that be like.  Would we even notice hour errors.  Would it effect the way we communicate and interact with our world?

Would we create a lot of problems for ourselves?

Spell check is a discipline meant to identify inconsistencies and mistakes.  It is quite different than auto-correct which allows us to keep typing despite making a mistake.  Spell check simply says this is a mistake, then you need to go back and fix it. 

Discipline is much like this.  We often think of discipline as being constrictive or closing us off in some way.  Freedom is a concept that we so cherish that discipline seems antithetical to it.  I can do whatever I want.  This is the way I want to do it.  I don't need to follow the rules.

Of course that is fine, hopefully you will discover your own discipline for improving and breaking through resistance.  Regardless, you need discipline to improve, otherwise you will simply be typing gibberish and everyone will dismiss you no matter how important the point you are trying to make. 

Discipline allows us to progress, it fosters growth.  It points out our flawed action and gross ignorance.  It gives your direct feedback right after you do something.  If your practice is going to be carried off your meditation seat and change your life, it is discipline that is going to be your vehicle.  Committing and then subsequently failing is better than never committing at all. 

Commitment carries you forward.  Never commit and you'll never know when you have gone astray.

Your discipline doesn't need to prescribe every action you take during the day.  The simplest discipline you can have is to do no harm, cultivate positive qualities and train your mind.  

Eschew discipline and you will not accomplish your own aims, never mind the aims of others.