20120414 satipatthana practice and lotus sutra chpapter 6

Updated Mar 2010

加拿大佛教會湛山精舍　

禪修學佛入門 Introduction to

Buddhism and Meditation2012/04/14

Buddhist Association of CanadaCham Shan Temple

Updated Mar 2010

Buddhist Association of CanadaCham Shan Temple

ná mó fó tuó南無佛陀

Namo Buddha

ná mó dá mó 南無達摩

Namo Dharma

ná mó sēng qié南無僧伽

Namo Sangha

加拿大佛教會 © 2006 Buddhist Association of Canada

Buddhist Association of Canada

A Pragmatic Approach to Vipassana Meditation

Essentials of Insight Meditation Practice



The main aim is to purify the mind of all negative tendencies—such as greed, anger and delusion, through mind control. When all negative tendencies are removed, the mind will be clear and freed from suffering.

The actual aim is very exalted, as it aims at the complete eradication of suffering. This process does not only happen in or cover one existence, it spans over limitless existences.

The Main Aim of Buddhist Meditation



Insight meditation does not just involve holding the mind still. It also involves penetrative observation and absorption.

This kind of penetrative observation, without any thinking, without any conceptualization, allows the mind to realize the true nature of things as they really are, things like the nature of our mind and body processes, the nature of the person and the nature of the world.

Insight meditation



1. The 1st factor is clarity of the mind. The mind is clear and pure—clear from all greed, anger, dullness, delusion and hallucination.

2. The 2nd factor is stability, calmness and peace. The mind is in the state of serenity, steadiness and non-violence even in an adverse condition.

3. The third factor is alertness of the mind. The mind becomes sensitive and alert at meditation object and all the conditions and cause&effect associated with it.

Three factors in mindfulness



1. To keep the mind in the present moment.2. To keep mindfulness clear, calm and in the present moment.3. To see what is happening to our meditation object.

In walking meditation, the object of the mindfulness is the walking process. In sitting meditation, the object is the “rising” and “falling” process of the abdomen. In other daily activities, the object is to know what we are doing.

The Purpose of Meditation Practice



Kayanupassana Satipatthana 觀身不淨 (Mindfulness of Body)

Vedananupassana Satipatthana 觀受是苦 (Mindfulness of Feelings)

Cittanupassana Satipatthana 觀心無常 (Mindfulness of Mind)

Dhammanupassana Satipatthana 觀法無我 (Mindfulness of Phenomena)

Satipatthana Vipassana Meditationn 四念住



Mindfulness is a mental state often described as “thoroughness”, “alertness” or “awareness.”

Mindfulness is actually a type of knowing and should be differentiated from just knowing the object.

When one is mindful, there is, at that moment of mindfulness, no greed, anger, or delusion.

One who is mindful is in full control (of his mind) and is in a position to handle well any situation he is in.

What is Mindfulness?



1. To experience the truth directly one cannot speculate or have ideas about it. It can be realized only through bare attention.

2. When one is mindful without thinking at the present moment, it means that one is not to think about the past or future.

3. Mindfulness can only dwell in the present occurrence of a phenomena.

4. “One should be mindful with bare attention on the presently occurring phenomena which appears to the mind as a specific characteristic.”

Experience the Truth



With increased mindfulness, one will get to see the relationships of true characteristics with one another. This will lead to direct experience of the three general characteristics of existence—Dukkha, Anicca, andAnatta (suffering, impermanence, and non-self). The end result is the elimination of defilements and therefore, suffering.

Experience the Truth



1. In practice of sitting meditation, one notes “sitting” and “touching”.

2. Do not visualize or analyze body if it is real or not real. The proper way is just to watch and experience the sitting phenomena.

3. Observe with bare attention i.e. the elements of wind expressed in tension, firmness, supporting, pulling, vibration, breathing, etc.

4. As one watches with just bare attention, it becomes clearly evident that there is no “I” or “being” in the body but just physical processes or forces taking place.

MINDFULNESS OF THE BODY(Kayanupassana Satipatthana)



1. With stronger mindfulness, one sees these processes changing in diverse ways.

2. It helps us hold our mind to the meditation object.3. It helps us to develop the concentration through

mindfulness and bare attention, which sees the realities that occur in the object.

4. We cannot choose what we see; we only direct our mindfulness to the “window” and observe whatever arises and falls.

MINDFULNESS OF THE BODY(Kayanupassana Satipatthana)



1. One initially observes the area where the posterior and legs are in contact with the seat.

2. Recognize number of touch points. 3. One can watch these touch points systematically to increase

concentration. 4. The time spent in observing one point varies with the state of mind

and clarity of the object. The clearer the object, the longer one can watch it.

5. If it is vague and one is sleepy, one should move more quickly from one object to another.

6. Watch the characteristics of the elements arising and passing away when we note “touching”.

MINDFULNESS ON TOUCHING



1. When one watches the rise and fall, one is actually noting the wind element as expressed by movement or motion. Ultimately, one also watches many other things. This is to help us build up our concentration.

2. In no way should one be obsessed with the rise and fall to the extent that we try to “hold on” to it or control it (by unnatural breathing).

3. Do not watch the breathing at the tip of the nose or lips.4. Do not visualize, count or control breathing.5. Right Concentration, aimed at realities with mindfulness rather

than concentration being predominant, is developed. 6. Vipassana basically means watching realities. 7. The three characteristics of suffering, change and non-self are

clearly manifested more and more.

MINDFULNESS ON TOUCHING



1. Be mindful on eating, chewing, answering calls, watch TV, wearing clothes, talking, remaining silent, looking in front or thinking, etc.

2. You have to train your mind to be mindful, at all times and in all aspects of life; Only then will it be powerful, penetrative and useful.

3. There is no time and condition where mindfulness cannot be developed. There are many things to discover in our daily activities.

4. As for the mindfulness of the body, a Sutra says that it is the one thing that has to be learned. If we perfect it, we shall, it assures us, attain the highest freedom.

DAILY ACTIVITIES



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www.shengguangshi.blogspot.com

[email protected] Shi 釋聖光Tom Cheung 張相棠Kam Cheung 張仁勤Dennis A. Yap 葉普智Rodolfo Rivas

Questions and Comments 討論



yuàn xiāo sān zhàng zhū fán năo

願消三障諸煩惱We wish to rid ourselves of the three hindrances and all klesas.

yuàn dé zhì huì zhēn míng lĭao

願得智慧真明了We wish to gain wisdom and real understanding.

pŭ yuàn zuì zhàng xī xiāo chú

普願罪障悉消除 We wish all sinful hindrances to be totally eradicated.

shì shì cháng xíng pú sà dào

世世常行菩薩道In one life after another we always follow Bodhisattvas’ paths.

回向Parinamana (Transfer of Merit)

20120414 satipatthana practice and lotus sutra chpapter 6

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