Most of my almost 100 blogs have pointed towards and encouraged time honored
techniques and meditation practices that I have distilled into what is hopefully a
user friendly format for 21st century life.
During the last two years, often referenced is the Anapanasati Sutra purported to
have been the meditation method used by the Buddha himself. Naikan meditation
techniques are a simplified version and very similar to this Sutra language. Both
involve breath techniques. As you may have already discovered, wading through
the various translations of Pali sutras can be in a word pedantic. There is a lot of
text to wade through before the bone of the teaching is revealed.
Japanese Masters often cite ‘do” meaning “way” as applied to martial arts, tea
ceremony, music, etc. Common references are “kendo….kyudo.” It implies a focus
and discipline. These same Zen Masters also maintain that “zen enters through
the body.” This statement should not be dismissed simply as yoga practice or
something similar. My teacher Seung Sahn Sunim conversely taught that zen is
“mind sitting, not body sitting.” So what is the difference alluded to here? Simply
put, effective practice methods should contain a focus component, one that directs
us toward accessing “still body, still breath, still mind.” Along that line, the Buddha
would reference “tranquility and wisdom.” This is a simultaneous calming of body
sensation and emotions generated by a wandering thought process – tranquility.
Serenity and quiescence in turn affects our physical bodily deportment allowing
for correct function and relationship to life’s various and ever changing social
involvements and responsibilities – wisdom.
Said another way, there is a certain dispassion that requires cultivation. Seeing
through the veil of our I, my, me and persistent ego interests, the following is more
and more revealed in a way similar to the metaphor of peeling away transport
layers of onion skin – Every conceivable bit of phenomena perceived on a daily
basis, none of it whatsoever, has existence as a definable “thing.” It is all passing
ephemera that we incorrectly attach to and attempt to reify. Doing so only results
in creating a dichotomy and chasm that is pure fiction.
Many of the great Zen ancestors have used speech such as “all Buddhas and
sentient beings are simply the One Mind – no beginning, no end.” The Heart Sutra
also teaches, “form is emptiness, emptiness is form.” Human beings are always
looking externally for ways to validate and reinforce their mental constructs
including image and persona. Remember, it is experience! What are you doing
right now? The ancients could only point the way. Everyone has to find this
themselves. It is called Buddha nature. Cognitive attempts at using the mind to
grasp at what is ever changing phenomena is a dead end. To that end, in this
space from time to time I have said “It is liking trying to wash off blood with blood.”
Initially it may appear as if you are making progress but in the end it doesn’t work.
It will always leave a stain. So first and foremost is the teaching: Stop trying to use
the mind to fix the mind.
The “time honored” breatharian techniques and methods alluded to above have
the effect of slowing down conceptual thought. This lessens anxiety allowing
access to the peace and tranquility available through the aforementioned time
honored techniques.
More next week….