the object of meditation and the observing mind

7/30/2019 The Object of Meditation and the Observing Mind

1/25

OBJECT OF MEDITATION

and theTHE OBSERVING MIND


2/25

Follow the Dharma to PracticeDharma

The practice of meditation follows the Sutra andthe Buddhas teaching.

Satipatthana Sutra:

To practice insight, mindfulness-based meditation,

in daily 4 postures (standing, walking, sitting,

and lying),contemplate body/mind, or 5 aggregates

ardently, mindfully, with clearcomprehension.


3/25

Following the Dharma

Contemplate body/mind, or five aggregates..

Ardently (faith with energy/effort),

Mindfully (mindfulness embedding in

concentration)

With Clear Comprehension (Awareness,Insight/Wisdom)

Application Dharma is a way of life (In daily 4postures),

to achieve happiness from the end of suffering.


4/25

MEDITATION OBJECTS


5/25

Object of Meditationcan be:

-- Body/Mind Processesor

-- 5 aggregates

Rupa/Nama, or Physical and Mental Phenomenaoccur at six body-sensor doorways.


6/25

There are 40 kinds of objects to choose from,according to VM (Commentary on the Path of

Purification)

DiskSymbol

MantraRecollectionCitation

Buddha Images (Pure Land practice)Metta / Loving-Kindness

Breathing4 Primary Elements

* Add the spouse in daily life as 41st object.


7/25

The chosen object serves as a tool to train themind. The nature of the object will determine the

direction of meditation.

--Tranquility (Samatha)-- if the nature isstagnant, still.

--Insight (Vipassana)-- if the nature is dynamic,changing all of the time.

*Meditation is a skill of mental training.


8/25

Whatever is present in the mind isthe

object of meditation/awareness.


9/25

THE OBSERVING

MIND


10/25

What Is Mind?

* Mind is the forerunner; it plays a key role in

meditation.

* Mind is not a thing, but a mere process ofchange--an activity/event.

* Mind is like an X-Ray-- invisible but functional.It always goes after the object and strives to

know the object.It moves so fast that the naked eye cannot see

its activity.

Awareness is the only way to detect mentalactivity.


11/25

The object is not important. TheObserving Mind is more important.

The Mind is working in the background,working to be aware (awareness).

If the observing process is done with the

right attitude,the object will be the right object (the

object of awareness).

* The most important thing to rememberwhen you are meditating

is to have theRight Attitude.


12/25

RIGHT ATTITUDE:

The Four-No Ground Rules of Meditation:

No Expectations

No Judgments

No Complaints

No Comparisons


13/25

Relationship BetweenSubject and Object


14/25

The Uncertainty Principle

(Discovered in the 1940s)

Any phenomena is not a (state of)

phenomena before the observation;it just represents an infinite number of

uncertainty states (in a set field).


15/25

Simply by observing, the uncertainty fieldcollapses, and becomes an observable state ofphenomena. The outcome of the observation

depends upon the mental state of the observer.

Meditation Principle:

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

(Practice of this basic principle started in 4th

century BC)


16/25

*Meditation is participatory observation.

What you are looking at responds to the process

of looking/observation.What you are looking at is you!

It just reflects your own state of mind.

How you look determines what you will see.

Right Attitude in Meditation is the key to asuccessful meditation practice!

This is mindfulness-based meditation,or

Insight Meditation.


17/25

How To PracticeMindfulness-Based Meditation (Vipassana)

Practice mindfully, being fully aware of what ishappening in the present moment. This

nurtures the Insight and Wisdom attainedthrough a spiritual awakening.


18/25

Dharma is a way of life!

In the end, meditation is learning how to use thepower of Nature.


19/25

End Part I


20/25

The Mental Attitude of Meditation

Meditation is a skill of mental training,experienced on the path of a flowing

waterway.

Water =* The (Observing) Mind

Water State =

* Mental State* Mental Attitude to meditation

* Mental Factor* Quality of Mind


21/25

Water Current = Consciousness,Awareness, to know the object.

There are three levels of current:

Surface Current = Conscious mental activity,action

Under Current = Subconscious, ResultingConsciousness, Karmic Force

Underground Current = Life Continuum, KarmicPotential,The Mind beyond death,

The flow of the mind at deep sleep, withoutdreaming.


22/25

MENTAL STATES

Wholesome, Skillful States:5 Mental Faculties, (like clear

water)

FaithEnergy/EffortMindfulness

ConcentrationInsight/Wisdom


23/25

Unwholesome, unskillful States:5 Hindrances, (like muddy water)

Sense Desires (Craving)Aversion

Doubt (Delusion)Agitated Mind

Sleeping/Lazy Mind


24/25

The Three Modes of Awareness

Five body senses coupled with the thinkingbrain-- Conceptual Insight

Bare Awareness-- Intuitive Sixth Sense @ Mind-door (beyond concepts)

* Pure Awareness-- from the power of nature

Knowing. Not based on any body sensors.Enlightened Noble Person.


25/25

Awareness Is:

The knowing function of consciousness,from the act of consciousness.

It is the only way to detect mental activity.

the object of meditation and the observing mind

Documents