Use inner stillness as meditation object & Patriarchal Chan?
Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 1:31 am
Hello Teachers/Friends,
I posted this thread in the Theravada forum but now think it's probably more relevant to this forum.
I’m thinking about using the inner stillness/peace as my meditation object during daily life, instead of the postures/activities. The point is to try to achieve/maintain a state of mind in stillness free from delusions and cravings, and free from fabrications (somewhat like returning to the original nature) at all possible times of daily life. If the stillness can be achieved, then fine; if not, then recollect the stillness to achieve it. I thought it would be more effective to watch the mind than to watch the postures for achieving "disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, stilling, direct knowledge, self-awakening, and liberation".
When the six senses are not pinched by the sense objects, I can remain focused on the inner quietness/stillness.
When the six senses are pinched by the sense objects (e.g. wondering thoughts), I can contemplate anicca/dukkha/anatta of these sense objects, and meanwhile reflectively contemplate the peace of the pure mind. So the sense objects can be dropped from the mind with disenchantment and dispassion while the mind can maintain the peace, untouched by the sense objects, without likes or dislikes of them.
I tried this method (experiencing stillness of mental fabrications) during sitting meditation this morning, and entered into a state of stillness/emptiness with no sense of the body for a very short while -- I'm not quite sure if it's a good state or not. It's not accompanied by piti and sukha, neither by a luminous alert mind.
This idea is related to the Patriarchal Chan [祖師禪, sometimes translated into Tathagata Chan 如来清静禅] of Master Huineng (the Sixth and Last Patriarch of Chán Buddhism). As a beginner, I don't really know the Patriarchal Chan. I'd like to learn about it and would appreciated information about it.
By the way, you might be interested in a discussion about "True self approach to liberation":
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=7441" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Your input/advice would be appreciated. All the best,
Starter
§10. One thing — when developed & pursued — leads solely to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to stilling, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding. Which one thing? Recollection of stilling. This is one thing that — when developed & pursued — leads solely to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to stilling, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding.
— AN 1.287-296
I posted this thread in the Theravada forum but now think it's probably more relevant to this forum.
I’m thinking about using the inner stillness/peace as my meditation object during daily life, instead of the postures/activities. The point is to try to achieve/maintain a state of mind in stillness free from delusions and cravings, and free from fabrications (somewhat like returning to the original nature) at all possible times of daily life. If the stillness can be achieved, then fine; if not, then recollect the stillness to achieve it. I thought it would be more effective to watch the mind than to watch the postures for achieving "disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, stilling, direct knowledge, self-awakening, and liberation".
When the six senses are not pinched by the sense objects, I can remain focused on the inner quietness/stillness.
When the six senses are pinched by the sense objects (e.g. wondering thoughts), I can contemplate anicca/dukkha/anatta of these sense objects, and meanwhile reflectively contemplate the peace of the pure mind. So the sense objects can be dropped from the mind with disenchantment and dispassion while the mind can maintain the peace, untouched by the sense objects, without likes or dislikes of them.
I tried this method (experiencing stillness of mental fabrications) during sitting meditation this morning, and entered into a state of stillness/emptiness with no sense of the body for a very short while -- I'm not quite sure if it's a good state or not. It's not accompanied by piti and sukha, neither by a luminous alert mind.
This idea is related to the Patriarchal Chan [祖師禪, sometimes translated into Tathagata Chan 如来清静禅] of Master Huineng (the Sixth and Last Patriarch of Chán Buddhism). As a beginner, I don't really know the Patriarchal Chan. I'd like to learn about it and would appreciated information about it.
By the way, you might be interested in a discussion about "True self approach to liberation":
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=7441" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Your input/advice would be appreciated. All the best,
Starter
§10. One thing — when developed & pursued — leads solely to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to stilling, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding. Which one thing? Recollection of stilling. This is one thing that — when developed & pursued — leads solely to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to stilling, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding.
— AN 1.287-296