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Continuation of previous request.
Post: Meditation For Beginners
Forum: General Yoga Discussion
Assigned Moderators: N/A
Posted by: The Scales
Original Content:
[QUOTE=AmirMourad;55509]“For the sake of argument, let’s say it’s true, that the ultimate goal is just to remain in silence, or nirvichara samadhi. Though it may be true, that is the ultimate goal, the highest state. You don’t want to make the mistake of trying to get to the highest state right away”
The work of the expansion of consciousness towards one’s liberation has very little to do with attaining to certain altered states of consciousness. Because you can live in a state of samadhi and yet remain in a deep sleep, no insight has arisen which has warped your understanding of existence, or which has managed to cut away in a single moment all of the psychological hindrances which are preventing oneself from coming to one’s freedom. There is a certain transformation that happens spontaneously, but it should not be misunderstood for mere fleeting states of samadhi, or coming to a vegetable-like state of thoughtlessness. All of the work of meditation, and all of the various different forms of samadhi that arise in meditation, are just to create an inner atmosphere of preparedness for the moment of enlightenment. And although the different states of samadhi may arouse great bliss and ecstasy, this should not be misinterpreted as having arrived to the ultimate experience, this is nothing more than a prelude to the breakthrough which settles the matter, through and through. There must be a direct seeing into the very nature of the mind which is such, that it severs the past completely - and an insight is awakened which is of such an intensity, that it is impossible for every particle of one’s being not to be impacted by it. This is something far more essential than realizing a mere thoughtless state of samadhi, all samadhi is just to create a receptivity which is so delicate - that now all that is needed is just an excuse for the breakthrough to happen. It may happen deep in meditation, or just doing ordinary things - chopping vegetables, sweeping the floor, or hearing the sound of the whispering wind, but once you have awakened a certain intensity of energy at the level of one’s consciousness, now all that is needed is just a small trigger for the explosion to happen. If one does not understand the inner space which is functioning at the moment, it will be almost impossible to understand how such small and ordinary things are capable of triggering an awakening. One Zen master, Hakuin, became awakened just hearing the sound of a bell in the distance. Rinzai became awakened when being struck by his master Obaku. Bankei realized his true nature when vomitting and staring into the mess. Ramakrishna had a glimpse into his original face when he was taking a walk in the field, when spontaneously a group of white cranes flashed by his vision. A deep silence and receptivity is needed to come to the breakthrough, but if you misunderstand this as having arrived, you immediately fall into delusion. Any enlightenment which is not involved, intensely involved in the world, is not enlightenment, nor does is it something which is separate from the ordinary activity of the mind. But that is the common misunderstanding, to believe that silence lies in destroying the activity of the mind. That may awaken a certain kind of silence, but it is not the silence of enlightenment. Because the silence of enlightenment is such, that even if there are a million and one thoughts arising and subsiding, you can still remain absolutely balanced and centered in your true nature. If your communion with your true nature is disturbed by the arising and subsiding of thoughts and impressions, then your peace is something very delicate - it is hanging by a thread. At any moment, it can come crashing down, all that is needed is just a ripple to arise on the surface of the lake, and your silence is disturbed. This is not the authentic silence.
Couple things.
How do we - the poor sleepers in darkness come to our awakening? Could you describe the operation of the exact psycho spiritual mechanisms that govern this?
What does awakening mean?
What is the precise method that you yourself have trodden?
This explosion of awakening. What does it feel like?
Is there a difference between ‘awakening’ and 'enlightenment?" If so. What are the differences. Please describe the methods and mechanics of enlightenment - if there is a difference between ‘awakening’ and ‘enlightenment.’
What are the visual and audio cues along the way that mark our progress so we - the idiots - know where we are?
How does one achieve liberation?
Is liberation nirvana?
What does ‘ones’ original face look like - so I know it when I see it?[/quote]