There is a lot of talk about how meditation isn't Zen.
Here is the sixth patriarch of Zen giving instructions for sitting meditation.
This is a meditation of 'no meditation'.
The Master said to the assembly,
Sitting meditation in this school basically does not fixate on mind, and it does not fixate on purity. Also it is not immobility. If you speak of fixating on mind, mind is basically deceptive; it is because of knowing the mind is like an illusion that there is no fixation. If you speak of fixating on purity, people's essential nature is originally pure; it is by false thoughts that they cover reality as such - just have no false ideas, and essential nature is pure of itself. If you arouse the mind to fixate on purity, you create the delusion of purity.
Delusion has no location: fixation is delusion. Purity has no form, if you define a pure form as meditation, the act of entertaining this view will obstruct your own original nature, and you will be subject to bondage by purity.
Good friends, if you are going to cultivate immovability, when you see people, simply do not see people's right and wrong, good and bad, faults and problems; then your own essential nature is unmoved.
Good friends, deluded people may achieve physical immobility and yet the moment they open their mouths they are talking about others' right and wrong, strengths and weaknesses, good and bad.
They turn away from the path. If you cling to mind or cling to purity, this obstructs the way.
Good friends, what does the term sitting meditation mean? In this teaching there is no obstacle and no obstruction: when mind and thought are not aroused over any good or bad objects or situations in the external world, this is called sitting. When you see the immutability of your own essential nature inwardly, this is called meditation.
Good friends, what does the term meditation concentration mean? Being detached from external appearances is called meditation; being free from inward disturbance is called concentration. If you are fixated on appearances externally, your mind is disturbed within; if you are detached from appearances outside, then the mind is not disturbed
The original essential nature is inherently pure and spontaneously concentrated; it is just because of thinking about objects when seeing objects that one becomes disturbed. If you see all objects without your mind becoming disturbed, this is true concentration.
Good friends, being detached from appearances outside is meditation, not being disturbed inside is concentration. Meditation outside with concentration inside is called meditation concentration. A scripture on precepts for bodhisattvas says, "Our original nature is inherently pure." Good friends, see for yourself the purity of original essential nature in every moment of thought, cultivating your self, practicing yourself, attaining buddhahood yourself.
Hui-neng's definitions suggest sitting meditation and concentration extends from the cushion and into a view of 'the purity of original essential nature in every moment of thought.'
He draws attention to the many subjective conceptualizations around meditation to avoid; repeatedly calls attention to the purity of our original nature free of subjective conceptualizations, calling on us to engage in 'cultivating your self, practicing yourself, attaining buddhahood yourself.'
Thoughts?
Submitted July 18, 2020 at 07:49AM by NothingIsForgotten https://ift.tt/3eAi2Di
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