Re: Jen's Paradise

On Mon, 30 Jul 2007 05:15:53 -0700, Bonobo <me@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Jul 27, 1:07 pm, Keynes <Key...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:40:47 -0700, Bonobo <m...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Jul 23, 5:19 pm, "buddhapest" <pestaroo...@xxxxxxxxx>

which is why many
serious spiritual seekers end up in a cave
for many years

Aha! Maybe that little bit of meditation gives me the temporary 'cave'
I need to retreat from the madness to compose myself!

(Actually I am starting to make sense to myself!)

:-) < Hopefully non inane smile

Of course even the Tibetan Yogi's do their tantric stuff before
stressful thingies...

I don't think meditation is something you leave in the boat?
Or is it?

At first meditation centers the mind on an object (the breath),
and this anchoring of present attention reduces other perceptions
that ordinarily trouble one, such as ordinary thoughts and the
feelings they produce.

After one can be easily centered, then thoughts and feelings
reappear as objects without their former compulsive nature.
One has learned detachment from them and so can observe
them objectively without being subjectively submerged in
them as before.

While formerly one could see the follies in others easily,
now one can see the same in himself and not be led so
easily into unskillful reactions.

Centering-detachment can become habitual apart from
formal sitting. This is mindfulness or present awareness.
The present is not at all problematic as ordinary monkey
mindedness is. Things don't come and go in the present,
but only in ordinary timely thinking that makes comparisons
and plans. Evaluation of experience is absent, so one finds
no fault with anything. This is not just peace, but beauty.
In it, there's nowhere to go and nothing to do.

Formal sitting or not sitting is not an issue at that point.

But in the middle way one walks on the edge of a sword.
(Like the straight and narrow way of Jesus.) On the right
is submersion in subjectivity-samsara. On the left,
total indifference. The center is to be maintained, so
in extremis, it's prudent to sit and recenter if it can't
be done otherwise.

It's the centering and present mindfulness that's important,
not how to get there.

Great stuff, thanks!

I thought Buddha 'sat' most days until his para nirvana?
Or am I wrong?

The Buddha didn't sit for any reason or purpose,
since he was already enlightened. (Everyone sits
regularly when not required to stand or walk.)

The sitting in meditation is an educational path.
After that, sitting or standing makes no difference.


.

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