Insight meditation

[Guest guest]

Dear Simji:

Thanks so much for sharing this :-)

Kanti

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Kantiji

Just to share with you – What my Meditation Guru said about

Meditation and Mindfulness.

 

[ Mindfulness - When you speak of meditation, you may think of the

type of meditation that is popular these days, the sitting form of

meditation. But that form is merely an aid, a support to develop a

mental discipline of mindfulness and equanimity. The form should not

be mistaken for the path. By just doing sitting meditation daily is

not sufficient and will not get any further benefit. What is crucial

is incorporating mindfulness as you function in everyday life.

 

In actuality, if meditation is to help you acquire peace of mind as

you function in your life, then it must be a dynamic activity, part

and parcel of your daily experience. Meditation is here and now,

moment-to-moment, amid the ups and downs of life, amid conflicts,

disappointments and heartaches -- amid success and stress, in another

word, is staying with the moment.

 

You must also realize that staying with the moment is just a means to

break the mind's old habits. Usually the mind flitters between

thoughts and feelings about the past, present and future. The only

reality we will ever have is in the present moment. Neither

"past"

nor "future" is concepts, which can be associated with any

sense of

reality. These concepts are thus illusions, which at best create

attachments, fears as well as false sense of expectation and hope.

Hence sentient beings live in suffering and misery, often unaware of

their own condition.

 

The origin of suffering lies in the mind, which has been conditioned

by culture, education and experience, and thus is interpreted in

light of that culture and education. Only if we move beyond mind can

we discover the meaning of life, which is simply an awareness of the

present, with fullness and contentment. Staying with the moment is

just a way to train the mind to cease flitting.

 

"Creatures from mind their character derive; mind-marshaled are

they, mindmade. Mind is the source either of bliss or of

corruption." - (the Dhammapada)

 

It is not important that you be with the moment every single moment

of the day. What is important is that you learn to get out of the

constant mental run-around and to be more focused and grounded. Once

you break the habit of the roaming mind, you will find you are more

centered and more with the present moment.

 

So, you see, meditation need not be separated from life and its daily

ups and downs. If you are to experience peace in this everyday world,

you need to watch, understand and deal with your anger, desire and

ignorance as they occur. Only when you cease to be involved with your

emotions can the peaceful nature of your mind emerge. This peace-

nature enables you to live every moment of your life completely.

 

With this newfound understanding and awareness, you can live as a

complete individual with greater sensitivity. You will come to view

life with new and fresh perceptions. Strangely enough, what you saw

as problems before are problems no more.]

 

With Best wishes

Sim

 

, thunderheals@a...

wrote:

> Thank you both Simji and Mr. Kirk:

>

> Was just talking to a friend about this last evening.

>

> Have found this technique very helpful during post meditation

periods.

> Pema Chodren's books have been particularily helpful. She advices

simply

> acknowledge thoughts as "thinking" and letting them go.

>

> Lately have been in experiences that had alot of emotional charge

to them and

> have found myself going into the emotions, but then able to stand

back from

> them and respond in a way that was centered and harmonious.

>

> Friend last nite mentioned that can be taken another step..to

identify

> feelings with the sufferings and identical feelings of others

throughout the

> world allowing the heart to expand as well as compacity for

compassion. Is

> one thing to know this in theory and quite another to have the

mindfulness to

> put into practice.

>

> By all means, the rudraksha have put me into a state of being in

which this

> is possible.

>

> Just a quirky synchronicity what you two are sharing and what was

spoken last

> nite.

> Thanks.

> Kanti

>

> In a message dated 5/21/2003 7:41:57 AM Central Daylight Time,

> simbernard4@h... writes:

>

> > Dear Kirkji

> > You are absolutely correct. Insight meditation on feelings is to

> > acknowledge feelings whether pleasant or unpleasant, painful or

not

> > and then just let them fade away. By not holding onto any

experience

> > the mind does not become the centre of existence. Just like the

> > clear blue sky, they acknowledge the passing of white clouds and

> > will not changing its color to match the clouds. Thanks for your

> > words of wisdom.

> > Best regards.

> > Sim

> >

> >

>

>

>

>