Lamrim Meditations provide a pathway to Enlightenment, but side-roads along the journey, essential to explore, can lead to Dark places.
The Void
Several years ago, I arranged my life to spend several hundred hours in float tanks practicing Lamrim in total sensory deprivation.
Through years of meditation practice, I learned to hear the distant streams in my mind.
The voices and forces I hear are both the raging rivers and the quiet voices, barely noticeable, difficult to tune.
I had time to meditate in sensory isolation — lots of time. I developed a sensitive radio dial.
It’s a practiced skill, nothing more.
Like hitting golf balls.
I marvel at the Power of the mind. Anyone who devotes time to practice, can achieve this.
I’m not the first. The Buddha achieved this 2,500 years ago, and went way, way beyond.
He taught meditation.
The monks who’ve been following his footsteps ever since, same thing.
You are more powerful that you realize.
Much more powerful.
I’m odd.
But it’s the kind of Odd that piques your interest, doesn’t it?
Enter Zen from There
An apt analogy comes from a Zen Buddhist story.
Master and disciple sit in meditation. The Master was calm, peaceful, open to life. The disciple was uneasy, his mind aflutter.
The disciple asks, “Master, How do I enter Zen?”
The Master sits and listens. Meanwhile the disciple’s mind is agitated by impatience for an answer.
The Master finally says, “Do you hear the mountain stream?”
The disciple turned his attention away from his disturbing thoughts and listens for the distant faint sounds of cascading water.
He observed.
He became peaceful.
His mind fell silent as he focused on observation.
After some time, and focused concentration, the disciple heard the stream.
Excited, the disciple exclaims, “Yes!, Master, I can hear the stream.”
The master replied. “Enter Zen from there.”
(the end)
Jack Kornfield, The Roots of Buddhist Psychology was Buddhism 101 for me. I’ve listened to all 9 hours many, many times!
My Most Challenging Meditation
One of the virtues you meditate on is called Equanimity. Scholars come up with all manner of odd interpretations, but it’s basically about balance.
Ideally, you want to hold all people in your heart Equally.
No favoritism.
Sounds like a nice goal to aspire to, but when you get down to the mechanics of it, it’s really, really hard.
My Most Hated Enemy
I no longer have enemies, but I did at one time.
Many people collect enemies like marbles they can use to weigh down their Heart.
When I thought about this person, all manner of hatred and bile would spring forth, flooding me the negativity and that sickly stench of Death would poison my heart.
I would meditate on my victim story, beating this person mercilessly in my mind.
Over, and Over, until my heart turned to stone.
It wasn’t wise.
No, No, a Thousand Times No
My Equanimity meditations, prompted me to examine this behavior and try to turn Darkness into Light.
I decided to meditate on My Enemy’s good qualities, their accomplishments, and look for those items I found admirable.
HOLY CRAP! NO WAY!!!
Well, my mind did provide some resistance to the process.
A little.
For a second or two.
War was raging in my heart.
The Lynchpin
When I won that battle, my heart cracked open, like it broke free from its chains.
I released that enemy, and all my other enemies ran to the door.
Yes, I still had work to do, calling up each one, admiring them, and setting them free.
There is no get-out-of-jail-free card. You still have to do the work.
But once it’s done, a pure heart, no longer dragged down by those marbles of hate is all by itself, Life’s greatest reward.
~~wink~~
Anatta
About Anatta. How to Quote Anatta. Contact: selflessanatta@gmail.com
Anatta only responds to requests from the Heart.
