On Buddhist meditation

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

Yesterday, I joined a couple of friends to a lecture on 'What is

Buddhist meditation'.

The speaker (who belongs to Tibetan Buddhism) pointed out that

relaxation (as in Yoga Nidra), and other forms practiced by new-

agers, though good is not Buddhist meditation.

He said that Buddhism uses: contemplation (going into greed for

example to see what it is),

visualization ('Buddhist Tantra', f.ex. visualizing a golden Buddha

sending white light to one's head, red to the throat chakra, and blue

to the heart)..ceratin mantras/sounds would be used along with the

visualizations; this he said is part of an 'indirect path' in the

sense that it only gives a taste of the nature of the mind (empty

causeless space) but also it should purify some accumulated

tendencies in the mind; and finally 'concentration' which in practice

should be just sitting concentrating on whatever happens around one

and within. The last one, they regard as the direct path and the

highest form of meditation (I believe it is part of

Dzogchen/Mahamudra); however as a help to be able to notice when one

becomes not present/unaware, they recommend watching and counting the

breath.

He said that the outcome of that 'concentration' is a 'bobbling

feeling' of alive happiness, love and compassion, without a

cause/motive and seeing things as they are.

The 'true nature of the mind' he added, is something we all already

have, and we just have to discover it.. 'We are all Buddhas'.

 

Someone asked him :'Who does the concentration ,.. the ego ?'

The speaker said he did not know.

Another asked: 'How long does it take until it works,.. until one

gets established in the -causeless nature of the mind- ?

He said that he was told by his teacher (Ole Nydhal, a Danish Lama)

that it can take from 16 to 25 years. (The speaker said that he has

been a Buddhist for 16 years,.. and is not established in the 'true

nature of the mind')

 

My thoughts about this:

 

The map he has drawn on the various approaches, seems to me to be

quite valid/so.

 

His introducing Time (16-25 years..) however, might result in an

attitude of complacency and suppression of the fire of urgency and

interest, the listener might have.

 

As far as I understand, J. Krishnamurti does not regard any of these

activities as 'meditation', though it comes close to what the

Buddhist speaker calls 'concentration without object'. However K. is

very carefull to discriminate between concentration and meditation or

non-directional motive/choice-free awareness.

 

As for 'we are all already Buddhas', I do not know.

The evidence, seems to show something else.

 

 

What do you think about all this ?

 

 

I am not looking for an exchange of the scholastic 'comparative

philosophy'-type, but rather responses arising out of one's own

direct perception/understanding.

 

Have a good day !

JB.