Monday, September 11, 2006

You Are the Sky

There is a famous saying: "If the mind is not contrived, it is spontaneously blissful, just as water, when not agitated, is by nature transparent and clear." I often compare the mind in meditation to a jar of muddy water: The more we leave the water without interfering or stirring it, the more the particles of dirt will sink to the bottom, letting the natural clarity of the water shine through. The very nature of the mind is such that if you only leave it in its unaltered and natural state, it will find its true nature, which is bliss and clarity. So take care not to impose anything on the mind, or to tax it. When you meditate there should be no effort to control, and no attempt to be peaceful. Don't be overly solemn or feel that you are taking part in some special ritual; let go even of the idea that you are meditating. Let your body remain as it is, and your breath as you find it. Think of yourself as the sky, holding the whole universe.
--Sogyal Rinpoche, in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying from Everyday Mind, edited by Jean Smith, a Tricycle book

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

He's wrong. The mind is not transparent or clear, as you will soon discover. That is not its function. You must instead through grace discover the psychic being that exists "behind" and "above" the mind. You can waste your time trying to make your mind go away, but it won't work. The mind, however, can be divinized once the grace is brought down into the psychic being.

Steve said...

As I understand it, the numerous acknowledged sages who speak of stilling the mind through meditation and other spiritual practices mean that by doing this, the mind becomes "transparent" to the "Witness" or formless field of awareness that gives rise to all phenomena. Thus, a primary "function" of spiritual practice is to invoke this "transparency" and its resulting "causal" and, ultimately, "non-dual" awareness. If this differs from what you're suggesting, how does it differ? And what do you mean by "grace," how does one come by it, and who or what grants it?

Counter Mag said...

Steve, have you no discernment man, or do you just run from one feel good fad to another!

Counter Mag said...

Yeah, what about Tony Robbins!

Counter Mag said...

What is your purpose, Master Stevo?

Counter Mag said...

Dude, at 53 it's time to put away the tricycle books and pick up the two wheeler books, the ones WITHOUT the training wheels!

Steve said...

If I had the "discernment" you have to tell me that I have none, what would I do instead of what I'm doing? Which childish books would I "put away," and which would I turn to in their place?

The "purpose" of my blog can be found in the header. The purpose of my life can be gleaned from my posts. What is the purpose behind YOUR comments here, and what is the purpose of YOUR life?

Counter Mag said...

Young Stevo, snatch the pebble from my hand.

Counter Mag said...

Each countermagger has a differing purpose in the lessons they wish to teach you.

Counter Mag said...

We are like angels sent from Heaven.
(Do Buddhists believe in Heaven?)

Anonymous said...

You can keep following the graceless, do-it-yourself, self-hypnotic Buddhist model, but it will come to nothing. There is a reason why Buddhist countries are so backward.

Counter Mag said...

Man, I like this counterfeit countermag, this dude is awesome!