Discovering Your Fundamental Ground

Do not prolong the past.
Do not beckon the future.
Rest in cognitive lucidity free from concepts.

The first step to the practice of calm abiding, or shamatha, is to tame or pacify the mind.

In our current state we have this mind that never sits still.  We are constantly replaying past events and interactions, needlessly caught up in future plans and speculation.  Whenever we do find a moment of freedom in our busy and stressful life, usually the first thing we do is turn on the TV or hop on the internet and mindlessly get caught up in a moments entertainment.  

It is a strange thing, but we are often so caught up in action and doing, that when we choose to rest or meditate we find a lot of anxiousness.  We spend so much of our time caught up in our heads that when we sit down to meditate we have a steady stream of thoughts and plans pulling us off into some far off dreamscape.  

When we sit in meditation we need to drop the baggage and armor that we have been carrying through the day.  We need to embrace an open presence that doesn't turn away from the rawness of the present moment.  

So the first step is to calm this monkey mind, this mind that is compelled to jump from one object to the next in its unceasing restlessness.  In this regard it is important to understand how the mind works.  The Buddha's teachings break down the mind, or what we normally consider mind, into eight different aspects.

Five sense consciousnesses- eye, ear, nose, mouth and touch
Conceptual consciousness- responsible for the infinite variety of thoughts, opinions and value judgements
Afflicted consciousness- our habitual tendencies, neuroses, predominant mental states like anger, jealousy and lust
Basis-of-all consciousness- the foundational stream consciousness, the subtle consciousness that carries through our whole life, and connects life to life.

The five sense consciousnesses simply experience their subject matter, they do not interpret, judge, express delight or contempt for whatever is appearing.  That is what the sixth, conceptual consciousness excels in.  It is this consciousness, this reactionary and fixated aspect of our minds that we are trying to calm and pacify.  

We have several methods that we can use to accomplish this task of calming the mind.  The two that we taught in the meditation class were:

1) Resting with a conceptual focus (the white thigle in the palm of the hands)
2) Resting in the natural state without a conceptual focus

The purpose of both techniques is to develop a state of natural rest.  This is not a state that is a lifeless and dull nothingness.  Rather it is an open, calm lucidity like that of a perfectly pristine ocean during the daytime.  To rest in that state of cognitive lucidity free from concepts, that is how we approach the practice of meditation and calm abiding.  

That is how we grasp the mind that previously has not been grasped.  That is the start of the journey, and the destination has never been too far away.  

Weekly challenge:  Start meditating, today.  Set aside five minutes of your day to establishing your ground.  Simply rest in the present moment for a few minutes each day, and you will find that the practice naturally develops on its own.  You will find that in the wake of your previous thoughts and emotions, there is an open clarity that is beyond description.  

 

Ocean of Definitive Meaning

In preparation for the upcoming Stages of Meditation course, I would like to introduce the text that we will be using as a basis for study and contemplation.  While the weekly meditation sessions will focus on practical experience and techniques of meditation, each week there will be blog posts that further clarify the meditation sessions and serve as a platform for discussion and inquiry. 

The text we will be using is the Ocean of Definitive Meaning, written by the Ninth Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje in the late 1500's. This text is one of the most detailed and direct instruction manuals within the Mahamudra tradition. 

We can broadly distinguish the Mahamudra tradition into two categories: the path of liberation and the path of method.  The path of method is characterized by the practice of the Six Yogas of Naropa.  The path of liberation is exemplified in this present text by the Ninth Karmapa.  The true nature of the path is to tame this mind of ours, whether it be according to the Mahayana Sutra, Mahamudra or Dzogchen vehicles.  This present text serves as a step-by-step guide by which we can accomplish this primary aim- to gain our own experience and to realize the ultimate meaning, our own self-arising primordial wisdom. 

The text is divided into three main sections- the preliminaries, shamatha or calm abiding, and vipassana or insight.  Each week we will address the main topics in a rather brief way, though it will provide a firm support for your own study and investigation. 

I am really looking forward to this upcoming class, as always feel free to ask questions and look forward to starting class soon!

Tibetan New Years!

This is a guest post by Daniel Patrick McNamara

This Tibetan New Year is, officially, no time for celebration-
too much loss, too much sadness, too much tribulation.  

So in lieu of celebration, aspiration.

May we all meet this Year of the Water Dragon with our heads held high, determination in our minds and deep compassion in our hearts.  
May all be free from suffering and its causes.
May all those whose minds churn with storms of judgement and negativity be calmed.
May we all let go of anger, of the urge to blame and seek retribution, so as to finally end these endless cycles of suffering.  
May all beings find contentment, freedom and peace.

Happy Losar!

Random Acts of Loving-Kindness

In celebration of Generosity Day I would like to invite everyone to engage in random acts of loving-kindness.

3 Simple Steps
1. Act out random acts of generosity towards your friends, loved ones and strangers.
2. Rejoice in the act, feel free to share it using the #generosityday hashtag or post on www.facebook.com/generosityday
3. Share this message with your friends and family.

May you bring generosity to the world around you.
May you encounter happiness around every corner.
May you find love in all those you meet.

Happy Generosity Day!

Generosity Day

February 14th

Are you ready for Generosity Day?  Big things are about to happen.

As you act generously, and as you witness acts of generosity, please keep folks updated using the #generosityday hashtag or post on www.facebook.com/generosityday

For more information, visit Sasha Dichter's blog.