Key component missing? Does the wheel turn smoothly without?
Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 12:48 pm
Hi all, this is my first post here. I'd like to hear other's views and opinions on this topic, hence, the reason for me joining the forum today.
From what I can see, most interpretations of insight meditation practice instructions mainly consist of these basic ingredients:
Choose a primary object
Rest attention on primary object
Recognise when attention has been caught by something other than primary object
Acknowledge secondary object arisen
Release attention from secondary object/'distraction'
Return attention to primary object
Repeat as necessary
Along with the instructions to investigate anicca, anatta, dukkha nature of all arising 'objects'.
Recently I've applied the instructions of Ven Bhante Vimalaramsi, or rather, his commentary of the Buddha's instructions for tranquil insight, to my own practice and found them to be extremely effective. It seems that the simple but seemingly vital additions/modifications Ven Bhante makes to the above basic practice instructions makes all the difference.
Ven Bhante Vimalaramsi's 'vital' additions/modifications:
Choose a primary object
Rest attention on primary object
Recognise when attention has been caught by something other than primary object
Release attention from secondary object/'distraction'
Relax physical manifestation of craving - ie tightness and tension in head and body
Re-smile (promotes a joyful, uplifted mind)
Return attention to primary object along with the tranquil, uplifted mind.
Repeat as necessary
Along with the instructions to become familiar with / investigate the chain of dependent origination, leading to insight into the nature of the three characteristics of all arising 'objects'.
Without the step of relaxing the tightness and tension caused by craving, and becoming increasingly familiar with it (at first, I was pretty 'ignorant' of this tension and tightness in the head and found it difficult to recognise, but as I persisted with the practice I became increasingly aware of it and able to recognize it more and more, and the process of relaxing this tension and tightness became an automatic and instinctual habit, leading to releasing finer and subtler manifestations of this tightness and tension caused by craving) one potentially brings this 'unseen' craving back to the primary object of meditation instead of shedding it bit-by-bit, more-and-more as the meditation deepens. Ven Bhante has stated that craving is the weak link in the chain of dependent origination, and I'm coming to recognise the truth of this statement directly through applying the '6-Rs' in my own practice. Ven Bhante had stated this '6-R' (http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?tit ... imalaramsi) practice is right effort.
Has anyone any thoughts or views on this at all?
From what I can see, most interpretations of insight meditation practice instructions mainly consist of these basic ingredients:
Choose a primary object
Rest attention on primary object
Recognise when attention has been caught by something other than primary object
Acknowledge secondary object arisen
Release attention from secondary object/'distraction'
Return attention to primary object
Repeat as necessary
Along with the instructions to investigate anicca, anatta, dukkha nature of all arising 'objects'.
Recently I've applied the instructions of Ven Bhante Vimalaramsi, or rather, his commentary of the Buddha's instructions for tranquil insight, to my own practice and found them to be extremely effective. It seems that the simple but seemingly vital additions/modifications Ven Bhante makes to the above basic practice instructions makes all the difference.
Ven Bhante Vimalaramsi's 'vital' additions/modifications:
Choose a primary object
Rest attention on primary object
Recognise when attention has been caught by something other than primary object
Release attention from secondary object/'distraction'
Relax physical manifestation of craving - ie tightness and tension in head and body
Re-smile (promotes a joyful, uplifted mind)
Return attention to primary object along with the tranquil, uplifted mind.
Repeat as necessary
Along with the instructions to become familiar with / investigate the chain of dependent origination, leading to insight into the nature of the three characteristics of all arising 'objects'.
Without the step of relaxing the tightness and tension caused by craving, and becoming increasingly familiar with it (at first, I was pretty 'ignorant' of this tension and tightness in the head and found it difficult to recognise, but as I persisted with the practice I became increasingly aware of it and able to recognize it more and more, and the process of relaxing this tension and tightness became an automatic and instinctual habit, leading to releasing finer and subtler manifestations of this tightness and tension caused by craving) one potentially brings this 'unseen' craving back to the primary object of meditation instead of shedding it bit-by-bit, more-and-more as the meditation deepens. Ven Bhante has stated that craving is the weak link in the chain of dependent origination, and I'm coming to recognise the truth of this statement directly through applying the '6-Rs' in my own practice. Ven Bhante had stated this '6-R' (http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?tit ... imalaramsi) practice is right effort.
Has anyone any thoughts or views on this at all?