There is no bad meditation.

[Tony]

There is no bad meditation.

When cognisant emptiness is recognised, there is no bad meditation:
everything that arises is within emptiness.

“I can't meditate!”

“Why is that?”

“Too many thoughts.”

“But you are aware of the thoughts, right?”

“Of course!”

“So there is awareness.”

“Yes.”

“Are you aware of awareness now?”

“Er...yes, but so what?”

“In that very moment of being aware of awareness, there is a knowing quality.
Not that anything is known. Just a recognition of knowing. It is the opposite of
not knowing – being vacant.”

“I can see that, but what about all those thoughts?”

“In that very moment of being aware of awareness, there is nothing happening.
It is un-fabricated awareness. It is empty of any elaborations or contrivances.
That pure awareness is essence.”

“Hmm..I'll have to think about that.”

“That is precisely what not to do! Leave it be.”

“Hmm...?...!”

“In that empty essence, everything is allowed to arise, and if we do not hold on to
whatever arises...it comes to pass.”

“I just watch it?”

“The watching is still doing something. It is still creating a duality - me and the thought.
Merely recognise, and let go.”

“So I don't stop the thoughts?”

“They go by themselves. They also arise by themselves, as products from the past.
I get snippets of tunes in my head, but merely recognise awareness, and let be.
Thoughts return. Re-recognise. Let be. Gradually, empty space expands,
allowing anything to arise. To come and go, without interference.”

“Sounds simple enough. So why am I having so much trouble?”

“We get into a habit of believing that the thoughts are us.”

“But I've worked hard at acquiring all my knowledge. It makes me what I am.”

“Knowledge is okay! It's the clinging to them that cause the problem
as it creates a mistaken self-identity.”

“Can I trust what you are saying?”

“You are trusting your own awareness. That is your teacher.”

“Is that all?”

“There are refinements, but that will do for now.”

“So meditation is just becoming familiar with awareness. Whatever happens, happens and goes.
It's sounds like meditation for a lazy person, who doesn't want to do anything!”

“Absolutely!”



Tony

[Ioneo]

Well said.

[CarnageCandy]

There is no bad meditation.

When cognisant emptiness is recognised, there is no bad meditation:
everything that arises is within emptiness.

“I can't meditate!”

“Why is that?”

“Too many thoughts.”

“But you are aware of the thoughts, right?”

“Of course!”

“So there is awareness.”

“Yes.”

“Are you aware of awareness now?”

“Er...yes, but so what?”

“In that very moment of being aware of awareness, there is a knowing quality.
Not that anything is known. Just a recognition of knowing. It is the opposite of
not knowing – being vacant.”

“I can see that, but what about all those thoughts?”

“In that very moment of being aware of awareness, there is nothing happening.
It is un-fabricated awareness. It is empty of any elaborations or contrivances.
That pure awareness is essence.”

“Hmm..I'll have to think about that.”

“That is precisely what not to do! Leave it be.”

“Hmm...?...!”

“In that empty essence, everything is allowed to arise, and if we do not hold on to
whatever arises...it comes to pass.”

“I just watch it?”

“The watching is still doing something. It is still creating a duality - me and the thought.
Merely recognise, and let go.”

“So I don't stop the thoughts?”

“They go by themselves. They also arise by themselves, as products from the past.
I get snippets of tunes in my head, but merely recognise awareness, and let be.
Thoughts return. Re-recognise. Let be. Gradually, empty space expands,
allowing anything to arise. To come and go, without interference.”

“Sounds simple enough. So why am I having so much trouble?”

“We get into a habit of believing that the thoughts are us.”

“But I've worked hard at acquiring all my knowledge. It makes me what I am.”

“Knowledge is okay! It's the clinging to them that cause the problem
as it creates a mistaken self-identity.”

“Can I trust what you are saying?”

“You are trusting your own awareness. That is your teacher.”

“Is that all?”

“There are refinements, but that will do for now.”

“So meditation is just becoming familiar with awareness. Whatever happens, happens and goes.
It's sounds like meditation for a lazy person, who doesn't want to do anything!”

“Absolutely!”



Tony

Thank you! I have been practising, or atleast trying to practise meditation for a few months now - this helps allot as i can sometimes get frustrated that im not doing it right, or it feels harder to get to that 'place'. My mind is a cacophony of madness. From now i will recognise the awareness, and i wont cling on to thoughts whilst meditating. Much appreciated thanks

[Tony]

There is no bad meditation.

When cognisant emptiness is recognised, there is no bad meditation:
everything that arises is within emptiness.

“I can't meditate!”

“Why is that?”

“Too many thoughts.”

“But you are aware of the thoughts, right?”

“Of course!”

“So there is awareness.”

“Yes.”

“Are you aware of awareness now?”

“Er...yes, but so what?”

“In that very moment of being aware of awareness, there is a knowing quality.
Not that anything is known. Just a recognition of knowing. It is the opposite of
not knowing – being vacant.”

“I can see that, but what about all those thoughts?”

“In that very moment of being aware of awareness, there is nothing happening.
It is un-fabricated awareness. It is empty of any elaborations or contrivances.
That pure awareness is essence.”

“Hmm..I'll have to think about that.”

“That is precisely what not to do! Leave it be.”

“Hmm...?...!”

“In that empty essence, everything is allowed to arise, and if we do not hold on to
whatever arises...it comes to pass.”

“I just watch it?”

“The watching is still doing something. It is still creating a duality - me and the thought.
Merely recognise, and let go.”

“So I don't stop the thoughts?”

“They go by themselves. They also arise by themselves, as products from the past.
I get snippets of tunes in my head, but merely recognise awareness, and let be.
Thoughts return. Re-recognise. Let be. Gradually, empty space expands,
allowing anything to arise. To come and go, without interference.”

“Sounds simple enough. So why am I having so much trouble?”

“We get into a habit of believing that the thoughts are us.”

“But I've worked hard at acquiring all my knowledge. It makes me what I am.”

“Knowledge is okay! It's the clinging to them that cause the problem
as it creates a mistaken self-identity.”

“Can I trust what you are saying?”

“You are trusting your own awareness. That is your teacher.”

“Is that all?”

“There are refinements, but that will do for now.”

“So meditation is just becoming familiar with awareness. Whatever happens, happens and goes.
It's sounds like meditation for a lazy person, who doesn't want to do anything!”

“Absolutely!”



Tony

Thank you! I have been practising, or atleast trying to practise meditation for a few months now - this helps allot as i can sometimes get frustrated that im not doing it right, or it feels harder to get to that 'place'. My mind is a cacophony of madness. From now i will recognise the awareness, and i wont cling on to thoughts whilst meditating. Much appreciated thanks


Hello,
The mind being a cacophony of madness is a perfect description!:o
Traditionally they say, "Be like a doorman at a grand hotel," acknowledge the guests, but don't follow them in!


Tony

[Fred Steeves]

I pretty much left formal meditation behind a couple of years ago. It was getting to the point where I would sit and 3 hours would just go poof, and no I wasn't sleeping! (LOL) It was great training though, gaining better control over that old rascally monkey mind. There's a happy medium between hours of sitting, and none at all, where the "observer" is ever softly and non-judgmentally watching, while simultaneously going about the days activities.

Do you know what the most amusing part of that is? Observing yourself getting pissed off over something stupid...:yes4:

[Tony]

I pretty much left formal meditation behind a couple of years ago. It was getting to the point where I would sit and 3 hours would just go poof, and no I wasn't sleeping! (LOL) It was great training though, gaining better control over that old rascally monkey mind. There's a happy medium between hours of sitting, and none at all, where the "observer" is ever softly and non-judgmentally watching, while simultaneously going about the days activities.

Do you know what the most amusing part of that is? Observing yourself getting pissed off over something stupid...:yes4:



Hello Fred,

That is amusing.
Being pissed off comes in the second moment!
The first moment of anger is wisdom- bright intelligence.


Tony

[Tony]

Meditation - so what?!

Meditation is not the most important thing: liberation is.
It is not enough to be able to concentrate and be still,
while remaining deluded. Deluded means being still
caught up in the vicious cycle of seeking happiness,
and winding up in negative emotions...again!


Stillness is only part of the equation:
it is the Shamata aspect of meditation.
We then need to recognise awareness/clarity,
and that is the Vipassana aspect of meditation.
Then, that awareness needs to look in on itself and
recognise pure, empty Essence.
That is the top-of-the-mountain view - the panoramic view -
the Emptiness aspect, with nothing obscuring that view.

The final part of the equation is unlimited compassion - Essence love!

If we lack clarity and essence love,
we are still caught by worldly affairs.
If we are not caught by world affairs,
we have liberation.

Recognise the thought as it occurs so that it is liberated simultaneously with its arising!

[Occam's Razor]

Something about that connected with me ... thanks...

[conk]

Doctors and scientists have hooked up patients to brain monitoring devices and determined that a signal to move a muscle, for example, is sent BEFORE the patient conciously decides to move the muscle. This strongly intimates that something else is doing the thinking for us. We just observe the thought train, not create it.

[Tony]

Doctors and scientists have hooked up patients to brain monitoring devices and determined that a signal to move a muscle, for example, is sent BEFORE the patient conciously decides to move the muscle. This strongly intimates that something else is doing the thinking for us. We just observe the thought train, not create it.

Hello Conk.
Right! It's all in the mind...!
FkXtz72hjDI


Tony

[Tony]

bdLUoVPF3ug

Uploaded on Jan 24, 2012
Richard Davidson, PhD, speaks about his research on neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain
to change its structure and function in response to experience. Based on Dr. Davidson's research
with longstanding meditators from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, he compares responses between
the monks and non-practitioners. He also explores current research on happiness and shares his
conclusion that our compassion for another human being can change their biology in an interaction.

[Bright Garlick]

I would agree pie but I would also add that bad meditation exists if someone is meditating with no sense of why and if they have been taught that meditation is visulization, or listening to peaceful music or any of the lame things that pass for meditation from inexperienced naive teachers. I have seen a great deal of that.

Too many folks impose what they think meditation out to be. It ends up an action of will and creates more ignorance and less awareness.

Even many so called experienced teachers impose an artificial structure on what to expect and so the student goes seeking a certain state of mind. Creates more delusion.

This is an important subject that needs wider discussion. Especially in circles where people claim to understand meditation. I have seen many ignorant Buddhist meditation teachers.



There is no bad meditation.

When cognisant emptiness is recognised, there is no bad meditation:
everything that arises is within emptiness.

“I can't meditate!”

“Why is that?”

“Too many thoughts.”

“But you are aware of the thoughts, right?”

“Of course!”

“So there is awareness.”

“Yes.”

“Are you aware of awareness now?”

“Er...yes, but so what?”

“In that very moment of being aware of awareness, there is a knowing quality.
Not that anything is known. Just a recognition of knowing. It is the opposite of
not knowing – being vacant.”

“I can see that, but what about all those thoughts?”

“In that very moment of being aware of awareness, there is nothing happening.
It is un-fabricated awareness. It is empty of any elaborations or contrivances.
That pure awareness is essence.”

“Hmm..I'll have to think about that.”

“That is precisely what not to do! Leave it be.”

“Hmm...?...!”

“In that empty essence, everything is allowed to arise, and if we do not hold on to
whatever arises...it comes to pass.”

“I just watch it?”

“The watching is still doing something. It is still creating a duality - me and the thought.
Merely recognise, and let go.”

“So I don't stop the thoughts?”

“They go by themselves. They also arise by themselves, as products from the past.
I get snippets of tunes in my head, but merely recognise awareness, and let be.
Thoughts return. Re-recognise. Let be. Gradually, empty space expands,
allowing anything to arise. To come and go, without interference.”

“Sounds simple enough. So why am I having so much trouble?”

“We get into a habit of believing that the thoughts are us.”

“But I've worked hard at acquiring all my knowledge. It makes me what I am.”

“Knowledge is okay! It's the clinging to them that cause the problem
as it creates a mistaken self-identity.”

“Can I trust what you are saying?”

“You are trusting your own awareness. That is your teacher.”

“Is that all?”

“There are refinements, but that will do for now.”

“So meditation is just becoming familiar with awareness. Whatever happens, happens and goes.
It's sounds like meditation for a lazy person, who doesn't want to do anything!”

“Absolutely!”



Tony

[Tony]

Hello Bright Garlick,

I did idiot meditation for twenty five years, and thought that I'd wasted my time, and was very angry.
But the time was not wasted, it revealed genuine diligence and a good heart. When the nature of mind
was finally pointed out to me, I recognised it immediately!

If we spend our precious time blaming others, we merely distract ourselves recognising our true nature.


Of course there are puffed up people everywhere spinning new age sugar, but our spiritual progress
is in our own hands (mind and heart). No one can do it for us.

Everyone is a teacher...just read forums! All we have to do is follow what seems right for us, and then refine it.
I've have many teachers, the ones that are annoying are the best!;)



What you say is important,
Tony

[Tony]

Teacher/Guru

A teacher/guru gives guidance and inspires. They cannot make the journey for us…
we have to do that once we understand what to look for.

The concept of teacher is not easy for the modern mind to accept or understand.
From an authentic, qualified teacher/guru, one can receive blessings.

It is not just a matter of receiving the spoken word from text and commentaries:
it is a matter of presence – word of mouth. It’s a listening transmission.
Of course, one has to find a teacher who suits one’s temperament.

The Buddha said, “Place no head above your own.” He warned us that the spiritual path
has to be travelled by ourselves and not to merely rely on books and hearsay.
We must experience for ourselves the truth of any teaching.

Others’ views, though inspiring, have absolutely no value, unless we make the
journey ourself. But this does not mean we need to make the journey alone.
“Place no head above your own,” may be misleading when taken out of context.

Our problem, in this modern “self-help” world, is that ‘my way’ is what has been
preventing spiritual advancement.

We have to remember that pride and conceit are negative karmic driving forces,
that keep us bound to this illusory existence. A spiritual guide constantly reminds
us of egocentric activity, while being aware of their own neurotic states.



Every conversation is an illustration of teacher and student relationship
...one speaks the other listen, then they change over.


In the Mahabarata it was predicted that students would kill the teachers.


Tony

[greybeard]

The teacher can only take us so far.
I have been blessed to have several teachers and each one was relevant to where I was at that time.
I also liked to cross check the information freely given and that way I got a better understanding of the overall teaching.
Im back reading Ramana one of the first and now I read things that I was not ready to notice before or at least in a deeper way.
Eckhart Tolle may seem simple even superficial compared to Eastern teachers but the Truth is there too.
Dr David Hawkins books may seem a bit verbose but he leaves you no room for manoeuvre/miss understanding.
Adyashanti also "pins you to the wall"
Nasargadatta not that easy to follow for the Western mind but some gems in his book "I am That"

All the mentioned were of great help and influence in this life.

As for meditation as Jesus said "Be still and know that "I am" God.

Good to see you Tony.
What you write is always relevant.
Chris

[Meesh]

I just read one of the best books on meditation that I have ever read (I've been meditating on a daily basis for several years): The Book of Secrets: 112 Meditations to Discover the Mystery Within (by Osho). It is available for kindle.
Highly recommend it for anyone who has an interest in meditation.

[Limor Wolf]

Originally posted by Pie'n'eal: "I did idiot meditation for twenty five years, and thought that I'd wasted my time, and was very angry.
But the time was not wasted"

Hi Tony, Something good bounds to come up in a communion of a man with himself in our noisy world, if only for the fact that we become more mindfulness. From here one can take it to different depths and levels and have different experiences with it, which I am sure you yourself did.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2225634/Is-worlds-happiest-man-Brain-scans-reveal-French-monk-abnormally-large-capacity-joy-meditation.html

[Tony]

Hello Limor,

You are certainly right.

Mindfulness is a reminder to be Aware,
then we can drop mindfulness
and just be aware.


It's funny to think mindfulness
is far too busy, but as you say very important.


Tony