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Dec 26, 2009, 4:25am

Licchavi Vimalakirti came to the foot of that tree and said to me, ’Reverend Sariputra, this is not the way to absorb yourself in contemplation. You should absorb yourself in contemplation so that neither body nor mind appear anywhere in the triple world. You should absorb yourself in contemplation in such a way that you can manifest all ordinary behavior without forsaking cessation. You should absorb yourself in contemplation in such a way that you can manifest the nature of an ordinary person without abandoning your cultivated spiritual nature.

The Ch'an Forum. :: RICHARD HUNN ASSOCIATION FOR CH'AN STUDY. :: LAMA KELSANG PAWO :: Lama Pawo's Guidance On Emptiness.

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shidadao
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Lama Pawo's Guidance On Emptiness.
« Thread Started on Jun 24, 2009, 1:42pm »

Meditation: Rest in the Tranquility of the Mind.
There are many forms of meditation "often called techniques" designed to bring peace through stillness to mind. These methods are frequently built around concentration on a particular object. Perhaps our breathing or maybe a candle flame for instance.

Though these methods have their place and no doubt house many helpful qualities, the realised masters who are our guides advise us that the supreme meditation in upon that of emptiness.

What Does This Mean?
In a boundless cycle of causes and their effects, space our emptiness is from where all life will arise and then return. Even the sun and the moon are subject the the infallible nature of impermanence. When they are gone so they will arise again, such is the boundless nature of cyclic existence.

It is familiarity with emptiness that brings us liberation from this boundless cycle of death and rebirth. Space is our ultimate refuge and therefore the final reality and where we will find the bliss all beings seek. To realise spiritual truth it is imperative for us to accumulate merit through our daily conduct. To do this, we must make spiritual effort and concentrate on our moral discipline resulting in the perfection of our wisdom and compassion.

Two Notes of Great Interest for Contemplation.
Spiritual effort is not the same as ordinary effort as to practice the greater is to benefit all living beings without acception.

A realised practitioner has under the guidance of his/her Master realised the value of virtue and would rather loose a life than their perfect qualities. We are told that it is better to be reborn with our virtue unstained than it is to be reborn having sold it.

As our wisdom and compassion deepen, so we develop a clairvoyance and all things become transparent. We are able to see clearly just how fragile one life is and how are noble intentions of surface to others is of paramount importance. Having no burden on our shoulders, caused by no ill intentions on our mind, means that we will have no thoughts, doubts or fears to disturb us and the mind itself will be still and reflect tranquility, making our every moment state or condition one of natural meditativeness.

As we enter into death the stillness we develop within will remain with us. We wil not panic, but stay still in the knowledge of our life being for others. There will be no self-cherishing as the 'I' would be long gone. We will only have thoughts to return so we maybe a guide once more for those who seek the path to freedom. As this life comes to an end, and we enter the luminosity, we will not fear, as through meditation we would have become familiar with purity. Therefore we will naturally look pure light in the eye, blend with as one and have no instinct to turn our back or flee for cover.

The daily practice of mindfulness is essential.

It is advised by the great master Patrul Rinpoche that we study on an academic level the book entitled 'The Words of My Perfect Teacher'. This beautiful and most fragrant work is a record of the advice Patrul received from his own teacher. As we take note of the good sense, so our daily patterns alter and through familiarity our merit bank builds and our realisations deepen. This one work is a complete guide to freedom.

The Actual Meditation of Emptiness'
We start with the visualisation of clear space.

Through the power of imagination we allow all things in the universe to dissolve. We will be left in the womb of Dharma where there is no north, south, east or west. At first it is usual to be a witness to this vast and boundless space (like a person looking into a movie) as the 'I' still exists. By practicing the discipline of giving the victory to the other, the 'I' soon disappears and we blend with the actual nature of the universaal mind or Dharmakaya. We become inseparable from the 'is' factor and therefore we can say we have arrived home. We have defeated all foes and illusions. We are free and in bliss.

Things To Bear In-mind.
There can be no true freedom until all beings are set free.

We must let go eventually of self..... So why not today in readiness?

To seek or hold onto bliss is to miss the point. Bliss is a by-product of virtue... It is virtue we should seek.

THE PRAYER OF ALL THE DALAI LAMAS AND OTHER ENLIGHTENED BEINGS:

WHILE ALL SPACE EXISTS
WHILE ALL SENTIENT BEINGS MUST ENDURE
MAY I TOO BE REBORN
TO BE A GUIDE FOR THOSE WHO SUFFER.

Lama Kelsang Pawo
Gesar Foundation.

« Last Edit: Jun 24, 2009, 4:58pm by shidadao »

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