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#2716 - Wednesday, January 31, 2007 - Editor: Gloria Lee
Nondual Highlights
"The degree of
freedom from unwanted thoughts and the
degree of concentration on a single thought are the
measures to gauge spiritual progress."
-Sri Ramana Maharshi
"Always aim at complete harmony of thought, word and deed.
Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will
be well."
- Mahatma Gandhi.
"Zen meditation is
not physical culture, nor is it a method to gain something
material. It is peacefulness and blessedness itself. It is the
actualization of truth and wisdom."
- Dogen
Meditation Advise
Practice concentration on an object, sensation,
or concept for 20 minutes twice a day. Merge
and emerge into meditation. In the other 23:20,
be in a meditative mode. Practice mindfulness
and being empty of mind. Enquire into "Who am I".
Discriminate between the real and infinite, and
the illusionary and temporary. Be dispassionate
as you witness your ever changing thoughts,
physical sensations, and emotions. Control the
breath with pranayama. Chant a mantra/OM. Do
affirmations. Eat, sleep and drink as your body
needs, not as your tongue, habits, ego or desires
dictate. Recognize and break free from compulsive
behaviors. Be selfless, humble, and compassionate.
Be generous, charitable and quick to forgive
others and yourself. Get over being upset ASAP.
Don't carry anger or revenge or anything else that
disturbs your peace. Don't rehash the past or
fantasize about the future. Do yoga, martial arts
or some physical activity. Appreciate the freedom
that "Thy will be done" brings to you. Eliminate
the people, places, and things in your life that
take your peace away. Spend time in nature. Be
helpful to animals, children and our elders. Study
scriptures and books of wisdom. Have a sincere
burning desire for liberation. Be patient. Dedicate
your actions to your divinity. Flow with visions
and powers as they come and let them go as they go.
Witness the Witness and the witnessing in silence.
If a teacher comes to you, learn. Limitless in the
eternal, finite in the body, don't squander energy
or time. Love.
posted to Meditation Society of America
MAITRIPA'S
ESSENTIAL MAHAMUDRA VERSES
Translated into English by Nicole Riggs
To innermost bliss, I pay homage!
Were I to explain Mahamudra, I would say—
All phenomena? Your own mind!
If you look outside for meaning, you'll get confused.
Phenomena are like a dream, empty of true nature,
And mind is merely the flux of awareness,
No self nature: just energy flow.
No true nature: just like the sky.
All phenomena are alike, sky-like.
That's Mahamudra, as we call it.
It doesn't have an identity to show;
For that reason, the nature of mind
Is itself the very state of Mahamudra
(Which is not made up, and does not change).
If you realize this basic reality
You recognize all that comes up, all that goes on,
as Mahamudra,
The all-pervading dharma-body.
Rest in the true nature, free of fabrication.
Meditate without searching for dharma-body—
It is devoid of thought.
If your mind searches, your meditation will be confused.
Because it's like space, or like a magical show,
There is neither meditation or non-meditation,
How could you be separate or inseparable?
That's how a yogi sees it!
Then, aware of all good and bad stuff as the basic reality
You become liberated.
Neurotic emotions are great awareness,
They're to a yogi as trees are to a fire—FUEL!
What are notions of going or staying?
Or, for that matter, "meditating" in solitude?
If you don't get this,
You free yourself only on the surface.
But if you do get it, what can ever fetter you?
Abide in an undistracted state.
Trying to adjust body and mind won't produce meditation.
Trying to apply techniques won't produce meditation either.
See, nothing is ultimately established.
Know what appears to have no intrinsic nature.
Appearances perceived: reality's realm, self-liberated.
Thought that perceives: spacious awareness, self-liberated.
Non-duality, sameness [of perceiver and perceived]:
the dharma-body.
Like a wide stream flowing non-stop,
Whatever the phase, it has meaning
And is forever the awakened state—
Great bliss without samsaric reference.
All phenomena are empty of intrinsic nature
And the mind that clings to emptiness dissolves in its own
ground.
Freedom from conceptual activity
Is the path of all the Buddhas.
I've put together these lines
That they may last for aeons to come.
By this virtue, may all beings without exception
Abide in the great state of Mahamudra.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Colophon:
This was Maitripa's Essential Mahamudra Instruction
(in Tibetan: Phyag rgya chen po tshig bsdus pa),
received from Maitripa himself and translated by
the Tibetan translator Marpa Chökyi Lodrö.
©Nicole Riggs 1999. Reproduction welcome if not for
profit and with full acknowledgement.
posted to Meditation Society of America
Alan Larus photo
http://www.ferryfee.com/bluesky/light&dark.htm
Stillness Speaks
When you lose touch with inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself.
When you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world.
Your innermost sense of self, of who you are, is inseparable from stillness. This is the I Am that is deeper than name and form.
~~~~~~
Stillness is your essential nature. What is stillness? The inner space or awareness in which the words on this page are being perceived and become thoughts. Without that awareness, there would be no perception, no thoughts, no world.
You are that awareness, disguised as a person.
~ Eckhart Tolle Stillness
Speaks
Life of Buddha
49 min 56 sec - Oct 26, 2006
This is a BBC
quality production. Thanks to n.m. rai for sending the link.