The Self is the real book.
You can glance anywhere
in that book.
Nobody can take it away from you.
Whenever you remember, turn towards the Self.
Thereafter, you may read what you like.
#SriRamanaMaharshi
Guru comes only to tell...
'That God is within yourself.
Dive within and realize' God, Guru and the Self are the same.
#SriRamanaMaharshi
Breathe and understand that you are alive.
Breathe and understand that everything is helping you.
Breathe and understand that you are the world.
Breathe in compassion and breathe out joy.
Breathe and be one with the air you breathe.
Breathe and be one with the flowing river.
Breathe and be one with the land you walk on, Breathe and be the one with the fire that shines.
Breathe and discard the idea of birth and death.
Breathe and you will see that impermanence is life.
Breathe for your joy of being stable and serene.
Breathe so your pain flows.
Breathe to renew all the cells of the blood.
Breathe to renew the depths of consciousness.
Breathe and live in the here and now.
Breathe and everything you touch will be new and real.
#ThichNhatHanh
Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.
#ThichNhatHanh
If you are the victim of your false perceptions, you will suffer a lot. You have to sit down and look at perceptions very calmly. You have to look into the deepest part of their nature in order to detect what is false about them.
#ThichNhatHanh
"Don't let people pull you into their storm.
Pull them into your peace."
#PemaChodron
Silence must happen while you are
absolutely alive, vital,
bubbling with life and energy.
Then silence is meaningful.
#OSHO
"Pursue not the outer entanglements;
Dwell not in the inner void;
Be serene in the oneness of things;
And dualism vanishes by itself."
#SENGTS'AN
"Nothing is born, nothing is destroyed,
Away with you dualism, your likes and dislikes.
Every single thing is just One Mind.
When you have perceived this, you will have mounted the Chariot of the Buddhas."
#HuangPo
"Do not struggle. Go with the flow of things, and you will find yourself at one with the mysterious unity of the Universe."
#Zhuangzi
No thought, no reflection no analysis, no cultivation, no intention;
let it settle itself."
#Tilopa
#Buddha emphasized meditation as one of the most powerful tools for gaining wisdom and direct insight into the nature of reality. The practice of meditation allows one to develop mindfulness (Sati), concentration (Samadhi), and insight (Vipassana), which are essential for understanding the true nature of existence and ultimately leading to liberation (Nirvana).
Importance of Meditation in Buddha’s Teachings:
1. Mindfulness and Awareness (Sati):
Buddha taught that mindfulness is essential to truly understand ourselves and the world around us. Through meditation, we develop the ability to observe our thoughts, emotions, and sensations without attachment or aversion. This helps in cultivating awareness of the impermanent and interconnected nature of all phenomena, a key teaching of the Buddha.
Reference: Satipatthana Sutta (Majjhima Nikaya 10) – In this discourse, the Buddha outlines the four foundations of mindfulness: mindfulness of the body, feelings, mind, and mental objects. These foundations guide meditators to remain present and aware, helping to develop wisdom and insight.
2. Cultivating Concentration (Samadhi):
Concentration is the ability to focus the mind single-pointedly on an object, such as the breath, a mantra, or a specific sensation. Buddha emphasized that concentration is essential for gaining insight and wisdom. Without concentration, the mind remains scattered, and one cannot clearly understand the impermanence, suffering, and non-self that constitute existence.
Reference: Dhammapada 282 – "By controlling the mind, one finds peace, and by developing concentration, one gains insight."
3. Insight Meditation (Vipassana):
Vipassana is the practice of insight meditation, where one contemplates the impermanent, unsatisfactory, and non-self nature of phenomena. Through Vipassana, a meditator directly experiences the truth of the Three Marks of Existence:
Impermanence (Anicca): Everything is in a constant state of change.
Suffering (Dukkha): Life involves dissatisfaction due to the impermanence of all things.
Non-Self (Anatta): There is no permanent, unchanging self; everything is a process or collection of elements.
Vipassana meditation leads to the wisdom (Prajna) necessary for understanding and transcending suffering, ultimately achieving Nirvana.
Reference: Satipatthana Sutta – The Buddha recommends practicing mindfulness of the body, feelings, mind, and mental objects to gain insight into the true nature of reality, which leads to liberation.
4. Liberation and the End of Suffering (Nirvana):
Meditation, through mindfulness and insight, helps a practitioner cultivate the wisdom necessary to break free from the cycle of suffering (samsara). Buddha taught that by understanding the nature of suffering, its causes, and its cessation, one can transcend all forms of attachment, craving, and ignorance, leading to the attainment of Nirvana—the ultimate liberation.
Reference: Majjhima Nikaya 36 – Buddha explains that through the practice of meditation, one can reach the cessation of craving, which is the cause of suffering, and ultimately attain Nirvana.
5. Developing Compassion (Metta):
Meditation also plays a crucial role in developing loving-kindness (Metta) and compassion (Karuna), which are essential qualities for overcoming hatred, fear, and ego. By regularly practicing meditation, one becomes more aware of the suffering of others and is naturally inclined to act with kindness and compassion.
Reference: Metta Sutta – Buddha teaches that through meditation, one should cultivate loving-kindness for all beings, thus purifying the heart and mind.
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The Process of Meditation in the Satipatthana Sutta (Majjhima Nikaya 10):
In the Satipatthana Sutta, Buddha instructs his followers to meditate in a way that develops deep awareness and concentration. The key steps he outlines are:
1. Mindfulness of the Body (Kayanupassana):
Being aware of the body’s movements, actions, and sensations helps in grounding the mind and cultivating presence.
2. Mindfulness of Feelings (Vedananupassana):
Observing the different types of feelings—pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral—without identification or attachment helps in understanding the impermanent nature of all experiences.
3. Mindfulness of the Mind (Cittanupassana):
Observing the mind's states, whether it is distracted, calm, or agitated, allows insight into how mental states influence behavior and suffering.
4. Mindfulness of Mental Objects (Dhammanupassana):
Contemplating the various mental objects like the hindrances (desire, aversion, sloth, etc.), the Five Aggregates (form, feeling, perception, volition, consciousness), and the Four Noble Truths provides clarity into the workings of the mind and its role in suffering.
Through the systematic practice of these steps, meditation leads to the cessation of attachment and craving, ultimately resulting in the realization of the Noble Truths and the attainment of liberation (Nirvana).
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Conclusion:
Buddha placed great importance on meditation as a means to attain wisdom and understanding. It is not just a practice of mental concentration, but a path to seeing things as they truly are—impermanent, interdependent, and not-self. By following the practices outlined in the Satipatthana Sutta and other teachings, one can transform the mind, reduce suffering, and achieve liberation. Meditation thus serves as the cornerstone of Buddhist practice and the key to spiritual awakening.
In meditation, the pursuit of "no-thought" (anicca) does not mean a complete absence of thinking but rather a state of observation and mindfulness (sati). When thoughts arise, we are not to suppress or resist them but to calmly observe their arising and passing away.
In this process, we can explore the origins of thoughts, understanding whether these thoughts are based on self-desire (tanha) and attempting to comprehend how choices made in past experiences impact present results. It is an awareness (vipassana) of the past, present, and future, thereby enhancing our understanding of the current state of life.
Through this method, we can more clearly realize the impermanence (anicca) of life and understand that each moment of 'now' is a result of past thoughts and actions (karma). This understanding can aid us in avoiding misunderstandings and suffering caused by attachment (upadana) to certain thoughts and sensory desires (vedana), making it easier to accept changes and uncertainties in life.
Meditation does not require us to resist thoughts but to learn to coexist peacefully with them, achieving inner peace (upekkha) and tranquility. This may be the essence of what is called "no-thought" (anicca).
"In the gap between thoughts nonconceptual wisdom shines continuously."
#Milarepa
Whoever looks for me in form, whoever follows me as sound,
Engaged in the mistaken endeavours, they do not see me.
#Buddha
The King and the Unseen Hand
The King and the Unseen Hand
A king once asked Buddha how he could rule fairly without seeming weak. Buddha told him of a wise ruler who governed invisibly, like an unseen hand, guiding his people through example and virtue rather than fear or force. The king realized that true power came from humility and inspiring people through compassion, not just authority. #Buddha's lesson helped him become a wise and beloved ruler.
If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him
#Buddha
"We're all buddhas.
We just don't recognize it."
#YongeyMingyurRinpoche
10 Way To Zen
1. Let go comparing
2. Let go competing
3. Let go judgements
4. Let go anger
5. Let go regret
6. Let go worry
7. Let go blame
8. Let go guilt
9. Let go fear
10. Have a good belly laugh everyday•