In the practice of meditation, opinions may provide a way to escape; they create a kind of slothfulness and obscure one’s clarity of vision. The clarity of our consciousness is veiled by prefabricated concepts. Whatever we see we try to fit into some pigeonhole. So concepts and theories can become obstacles. In the practice of meditation, one tries to transcend concepts, and one tries to find out what is.
The practice of meditation consists of working with thought. As thoughts arise, they are the natural display of the mind, and we simply do not follow them. By not following them, we also don’t try to stop them or get rid of them. By not following our thoughts, we find that the thoughts will lessen and we will begin to experience that underlying cognitive clarity without thought.
– Thrangu Rinpoche
from the book “An Introduction to Mahamudra Meditation”
A duduk instrument’s sound makes it easier for you to reach peace and meditate, which is the best way to attain peace and meditation. Gift this relaxing sound to your friends and share this good feeling with them.
Most living beings seek mental happiness and want to eliminate suffering, but just wishing will not bring this about. We may even create the opposite. So we must search for the cause of suffering and the cause of happiness. The afflictions are the cause of samsara, of all mental discomfort and suffering. The remedy is meditation.
– 17th Karmapa
from the book “Music In The Sky: The Life, Art, And Teachings Of The 17Th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje”
Before you begin meditation take several slow, deep breaths. Hold your body erect, allowing your breathing to become normal again. Many thoughts will crowd into your mind; ignore them, letting them go. If they persist be aware of them with the awareness which does not think. In other words, think non-thinking.
“There is an Indian proverb that says that everyone is a house with four rooms, a physical, a mental, an emotional, and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time but unless we go into every room every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person.
“Music comes closest to meditation. Music is a way towards meditation and the most beautiful way. Meditation is the art of hearing the soundless sound, the art of hearing the music of silence – what Zen people call the sound of one hand clapping. And silence has a music of its own, it is not dead, it is very much alive, it is tremendously alive. In fact, nothing is more alive than silence…”
~ Osho
“If you put Buddha, Jesus Christ, Socrates, Shakespeare, Arjuna, Krishna at a dinner table together, I can’t see them having an argument.”
“In meditation, I can let go of everything. I’m not Hugh Jackman. I’m not a dad. I’m not a husband. I’m just dipping into that powerful source that creates everything. I take a little bath in it. It’s not just finding quiet; it’s finding bliss. And that is natural, that is for everybody.
You see it in babies, you don’t have to teach it to them. We somehow forget. And what meditation has done for me, and for Deb, and the kids is to get us back to that thing we’ve forgotten. Which is, it is our birthright to be happy, to be alert, and to actually connect with people in a real way.
I meditated before I hosted the Oscars, I meditate before I go on stage, I meditate in the morning and lunchtime. When I’m on a film set, the energy is finer, the decisions I make are more authentic, and you’re more able to listen to other people. It has helped me in every way. Immeasurably.
Meditation is all about the pursuit of nothingness. It’s like the ultimate rest. It’s better than the best sleep you’ve ever had. It’s a quieting of the mind. It sharpens everything, especially your appreciation of your surroundings. It keeps life fresh.”
If you personally want to understand and realize the teachings, you will have no understanding at all if you don’t sit and practice meditation. That’s the flat truth, the real truth. You should be able to understand what we are doing, particularly in terms of the teachings and the examples of the teachings that are transmitted through generations and generations. People have understood themselves, and realized themselves, by the sitting practice of meditation.
If we really want to be sublime meditators, we should not set a time period for our meditation, as it is the modern meditator’s style. We should not count the hours or minutes because limited time makes limited meditation. Our ordering, limited gross and subtle elements’ mind cannot release itself into the sublime, limitless, secret essence of the elements if we are bound by exact time. If our mind is bound by anything, it is never vast. If we are trapped and limited by time, place and direction, how can we have Wisdom Mind confidence? How can we understand other people’s faculties and benefit other beings? How can we help limited mind with limited meditation mind.
– Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
from the book “Magic Dance: The Display of the Self-Nature of the Five Wisdom Dakinis”
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