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founded by S. N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin

 

 

 

 

 

Samma Samadhi

Vol. 21, No. 9: 12 September 2011
 
Words of Dhamma
 
Idaṃ pure cittamacāri cārikaṃ, yenicchakaṃ yatthakāmaṃ yathāsukhaṃ. Tadajjahaṃ niggahessāmi yoniso, hatthippabhinnaṃ viya aṃkusaggaho.
 
This mind that wandered as it liked, wherever it wished, wherever it saw pleasure, Today, with attentiveness, I shall train it  like a mahout trains a wild elephant.
 
Dhammapada 326

Samma  Samadhi
S. N. Goenka

 

If the mind is fixed upon any object, it will become absorbed in meditation, it will become still, it will achieve one-pointed concentration, but mere concentration of mind is not sammā samādhi (right concentration). For sammā samādhi, it is necessary for the mind to be wholesome, it is necessary for the mind to be untainted. Only the one-pointedness of a wholesome mind can be called kusalacittekaggatā samādhi—samādhi free from defilements.

 

Samādhi means that the mind is established in equanimity. A mind that is focused upon an external object cannot attain equanimity; it will only disturb the balance of the mind. That is why only the concentration of a wholesome mind should be regarded as sammāsamādhi.

 

A mind filled with craving is not wholesome, a mind filled with aversion is not wholesome, a mind filled with ignorance is not wholesome. When the mind is concentrated with the help of an object of craving, aversion or ignorance, it will achieve concentration, but it will be neither balanced nor equanimous. Such concentration of the mind is not proper, not pure, not conducive to happiness. Concentration that is dependent upon craving, aversion or ignorance is the absorption of an unbalanced mind—how can it be beneficial?

 

A cat with a fully concentrated mind has its full attention on a mouse-hole, it is fully engrossed in its object. A heron standing on one leg on the bank of a lake in search of fish, focusing its full attention on the water, has a completely concentrated mind. It is not aware of anything else. This is the concentration of a mind filled with craving for the mouse or fish, it is not sammāsamādhi. Such a samādhi is not proper, not pure.

 

Similarly, a soldier lying in wait for his enemy, with his attention on the enemy’s trench, has a fully concentrated mind. As soon as the enemy raises his head, he will shoot him. In the same way, a hunter with a double-barrelled gun, lying in wait for some dangerous beast, is fully attentive. His mind is fully concentrated. As soon as he sees his prey, he will fire a bullet at it. In this way, the mind is concentrated but it is not a wholesome mind; it is polluted with aversion and violence. Therefore, the concentration of such a mind is not sammā samādhi, is not pure samādhi.

 

A person who is in a stupor after taking an intoxicating substance becomes absorbed in intoxication and attains concentration of the mind. He is insensate like a person in a deep sleep. He is not aware of any external or internal event. Similarly, a person making use of chemicals, such as LSD, experiences hallucinations and becomes completely absorbed in them. In both these conditions, he loses the equanimity of his mind, he loses the balance of his mind. Concentration based upon an unbalanced mind, distorted by ignorance, is not meditation, is not proper samādhi, is not pure samādhi.

 

For the attainment of pure samādhi, an object based upon any kind of emotional fervour is not suitable. By this, the equanimity of the mind will be lost, the balance of the mind will be disturbed, the mind will become immersed in sentimentality and attachment that is full of craving. Even though the mind will become concentrated, purity will be missing.

 

In order to concentrate the mind, the object should be neither pleasant nor unpleasant; and for which there should be neither craving nor aversion in the mind. At the same time, the object of concentration should help to keep the mind continuously alert and protect us from getting immersed in any kind of delusion; protect us from self-hypnotism and hypnotism by others; protect us from sleep-inducing meditation.

 

We may become absorbed not only in the gross sensual pleasures of the outside world but also in the subtle sensory pleasures of the so-called spiritual field. But this absorption only causes bondage, not liberation. Any samādhi attained while pursuing supernatural experiences only results in bondage. The vision of any pleasing form, colour, shape, or light, seen even with closed eyes; the sound of any pleasing word or sound; the enjoyment of any pleasing fragrance; the enjoyable thrill of ecstasy caused by any pleasurable contact of the body, may enable one to concentrate the mind. But at the subtle level, these supra-sensory experiences only result in craving and the bondage of ignorance. They are not sammā samādhi which alone can take us to liberation.

 

Any meditator, practising concentration of the mind on a pure object for sammā samādhi, may also experience such supra-sensual experiences.One should regard them as mere milestones, leave them behind and keep on progressing on the path. If we regard them as objects of concentration, we shall again become entangled in craving. We shall not be able to reach the ultimate stage of full liberation of the mind. Therefore, we should be alert at every stage so that we do not cling to any such object of concentration, which will become a fetter for our legs, or a wall obstructing further progress on the path.

 

While searching for a suitable object for the development of pure samādhi, we should also bear in mind that the object of concentration does not restrict the meditator within the bounds of any particular religion; that the object is not a form, colour, or word symbolising a particular religion, which people of other religions may find difficult to accept. This path of sīla, samādhi, paññā, and nibbāna (morality, concentration, wisdom, and liberation) is absolutely universal, and acceptable to all nationalities.Therefore, while walking on this path, the object that is chosen for attaining concentration of the mind, should be universal, eternal, and acceptable to all nationalities. It should be easily grasped by all, acceptable to all.

 

There are many objects of concentration that fulfil the above essential conditions. We have chosen our own incoming and outgoing breath as the object of concentration, pure incoming and outgoing breath. Pure, in the sense that no word, name, incantation, form or shape is associated with it. The practice of continuous awareness should be only on the coming in and going out of bare breath. This breath should be natural breath, normal breath. If it is long, it is long; if it is short, it is short; if it is deep, it is deep; if it is shallow, it is shallow; if it is gross, it is gross; if it is subtle, it is subtle. While taking the natural breath as our object of concentration, we should understand that we are not doing any breathing exercise. The breath is merely an object of concentration. The more natural the object, the better it is. Any interference with it will cause artificiality, which will produce an obstacle in the observation of the truth. Instead of seeing nature as it is, we will turn away from it, we will become indifferent to it.

 

After all, why do we practise concentration of the mind? We practise so that the concentrated mind will become so subtle and sharp that it can pierce and tear the veils that have concealed the ultimate truth of liberation. Therefore, the more natural the object of concentration, the better are the chances that we shall avoid wandering in blind alleys and instead, become established on the straight and high road of Dhamma.

 

Another reason for adopting natural incoming and outgoing breath as the object of concentration is that the rhythm of our respiration has an intimate natural connection with the negativities of the mind. When the mind is polluted and overpowered by any harmful negativity such as anger, fear, lust, envy or any other negativity, we see that the rhythm of our respiration naturally becomes rapid and gross. When these negativities stop polluting the mind, the rhythm of respiration becomes slow and subtle. After developing samādhi, the next step is to enter the field of paññā, where we learn to become free from the bondage of the negativities of our own mind. Therefore, the observation of the reality of the incoming and outgoing natural breath is of great help in the next step of meditation.

 

As we continue to observe our gross breath, the mind becomes more and more concentrated, and the breath becomes more and more subtle. Sometimes the breath will become extremely subtle, like a fine strand of hair, and as soon as it goes out, it seems to turn back inside. Sometimes it reaches a state of kuṃbhaka—a state where the process of respiration stops completely. Thus it is clear that our chosen object of concentration takes us from gross to subtle states. The unknown and unseen regions that we are likely to witness in the future are even subtler than this state, therefore, even from this point of view, the object of respiration is proper and meaningful. We have to experience the ocean of infinite waves surging within, the river of inner sensations flowing within, the eternal dance of the countless vibrations within every atom of the body. We have to witness our continuously changing nature. All of this is happening at an extremely subtle level. To reach this state, we have to first start observing the gross but ceaseless flow of respiration.

 

Whatever is happening within is happening effortlessly. This is the self-regulated uninterrupted flow of body and mind. To be able to observe this involuntary dynamic state of creation and destruction in the inner world, we need an object that is both a voluntary and an involuntary process, so that after observing and understanding its voluntary activity, we can start observing its involuntary activity. Respiration is the only process in the body that can be regulated, that can be made fast or slow voluntarily, but which otherwise is an involuntary, effortless process. In the journey from the voluntary to the involuntary, from the known to the unknown, from the familiar bank of the river to the unfamiliar bank, breath can act as a bridge. For this reason too, it is useful as the object of concentration.

 

This path of sīla, samādhi, paññā and nibbāna, on which we have started walking, takes us to those depths in the field of meditation where we can naturally realise the ultimate truth. To walk on this path, we have to start with the observation of the actual, experiential truth because the ultimate truth is the truth of this moment, not of the moments that have passed, nor of the moments that are yet to come. The moments that have passed can only be remembered; the moments that are yet to come can only be imagined or desired. Only the present moment can be experienced, not the moments of the past nor the moments of the future. Thus, for the realisation of the ultimate truth, we will have to attentively observe the gross experiential truth of the present moment. Only then will subtler truths be unveiled and transcending the subtlest state, the ultimate truth of this moment will be realised. For this, the straight royal road of our entire meditation is the practice of being able to live in the tiniest moment of the present. For the practice of living in this moment, we should learn to remain alert to the gross events occurring in the body at this moment, awareness of the incoming breath or the outgoing breath.

 

During this practice, we should not allow any bitter-sweet memories of the past to cast their shadows, like clouds, upon the mind. Nor should any bitter-sweet apprehension or desire about the future be allowed to cast a shadow. We should be aware only of pure breath, aware only of the actual incoming and outgoing breath. Bitter-sweet memories of the past and apprehensions and desires about the future cause craving or aversion because they are either agreeable or disagreeable. As the mind becomes free of these memories of the past and these imaginations about the future, as it becomes more and more established in this present process of the breath coming in or going out, it gains more and more freedom from craving and aversion. The mind is also released from ignorance because it is alert. While observing the incoming and outgoing breath, there is neither any agreeable feeling produced in the mind, nor any disagreeable feeling; neither attraction nor repulsion; neither craving nor aversion.

 

We learn to observe this natural phenomenon of the body merely as a witness. Becoming free from the bondages of the past and future, gaining release from the constraints of craving and aversion, we make our first effort to live in the present moment. This effort, similar to that of an infant trying to learn to walk on unsteady feet, and its ceaseless application in this direction, will, one day, make us worthy of completing our journey with firm, strong and steadfast steps.

 

Without strong sammā samādhi, we cannot enter the depth of this moment; we cannot set foot in the field of paññā. To strengthen samādhi in the right way, let us give the mind a natural, imagination-free, faultless object of this moment, which is the awareness of the incoming and outgoing breath. On the basis of this awareness, let us learn to live in the present moment. Let us develop the concentration of a wholesome mind free from craving, free from aversion, free from ignorance. Let us develop our ability to avoid unwholesome physical or vocal actions. By becoming strong in paññā and eradicating impure mental defilements, let us develop our ability to avoid unwholesome actions at the mental level.

 

Pure samādhi developed in this way gives happiness. Come, let us develop samādhi by practising awareness of the incoming and outgoing breath. By strengthening samādhi, sīla will be strengthened and by strengthening samādhi and sīla, paññā will be strengthened. In the strengthening of sīla, samādhi, and paññā, lies the way to liberation: liberation from mental defilements, liberation from sorrow, liberation from delusion and ignorance.

 

Indeed, the path of samādhi is the path of well-being, the path of good fortune, the path of peace, the path of liberation.

 

One-Day Course at Global Vipassana Pagoda

A mega one-day Vipassana course will be conducted at the Global Vipassana Pagoda in presence of Goenkaji on Sunday, 9 October 2011 (Sharad Purnima).

 

Registration for the course is compulsory.
Contact for registration:
Mobile: 98928-55692, 98928-55945;
Tel: (022) 2845-1170, 3374-7543, 3374-7544
Email registration: oneday@globalpagoda.org
Online registration: www.vridhamma.org

 

In Memoriam

Dr. Kay Wain, Vipassana Teacher, passed away peacefully in Australia on 17 August 2011. Dr. Wain gave many years of valuable service for the spread of Vipassana in Australia, Myanmar and elsewhere. She translated Goenkaji's teaching materials for 10-day, 20-day, 30-day and 45-day courses into Burmese. She played an important role in the spread of Vipassana as taught by Goenkaji in Myanmar, especially in the early years.

May she be happy, peaceful and liberated.

 

 

Children's Meditation Courses in Mumbai

 

Date

Course site

Age (years)

Registration
18-9
Ghatkopar
10-16

16 and 17-9

2-10
Matunga
10-16

29 and 30-9

16-10
Ghatkopar
10-16

13 and 14-10

6-11
Matunga
10-16

3 and 4-11

20-11
Ghatkopar
10-16

17 and 18-11

 

2-day residential course for boys (12-15 years) at Titwala from 24th to 25th Oct 2011.
For registration, call 2516-2505 from 15-10 onwards.
Course Timing: 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. Registration Timings: 11 am to 1 pm on the specified numbers and dates for each location.

Course Venues: Ghatkopar: SNDT School, New Building, Cama Lane, Ghatkopar (W), Opp Vidyut Society, Mumbai 400086. Tel: 25011096, 25162505. Matunga: Amulakh Amirchand High School, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, New SNDT College, King's Circle, Matunga (CR), Tel: 25101096, 25162505.

 

Courses are also held regularly at:

Venue
Day

Registration Nos.

Sanpada

First Sundays

98694-05600
Dombivili

First Sundays

98202-71594
Anushaktinagar

Fourth Sundays

98690-16885
Airoli

Fourth Sundays

98923-29410

 

Please call on the respective numbers two days in advance to confirm the course and for registration.

 

[NB *Please bring cushion. *Please register on the specified phone numbers. If you are unable to attend after registration, please inform in advance. *Please arrive on time for the course.]

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Teachers:
Mr. Praveen Bhalla, New Delhi
To assist area teacher of Delhi NCR area, to serve Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab including Dhamma Dhaja, Dhamma Tihar and Dhamma Rakkhaka and to assist in AT training

NEW RESPONSIBILITIES

Senior Assistant Teachers:
1. Mr. Bhardwaj Jairam Dass, Hissar
2. Ms. Charu Gupta, Delhi
3. Brigadier Ashok Kumar Nagpal, NOIDA
4. Mrs. Man Mohini Rastogi, New Delhi
5. Ms. Sara Colquhoun, New Zealand
6. Mrs. May Dean, USA

NEW APPOINTMENTS

Assistant Teachers:
1. Mr. Udo Marquadt, UK
2. Mr. Surapan Poommaneegorn &

3. Mrs. Kanokwan Pholsomboon, Thailand
Children’s Course Teachers:
1. Mr. Bansilal Pagare, Dhule
2. Mr. Virendra Patil, Dhule
3. Mr. Gajmal Patil, Dhule
4. Mr. Janardhan Vaity, Mumbai
5. Mrs. Kalpana Shirsath, Thane
6. Mr. Ajit Singh Chandel, Kutch
7. Mr. Kirit Chauhan, Kutch
8. Mrs. Krishna Thacker, Kutch
9. Mr. Mukesh Sorathia Kutch
10. Mrs. Sapna Gupta, Kutch
11. Mr. Ashwin Zinzuvadia, Kutch

 

DHAMMA DOHAS

Mata kara mata kara bāvale! Mata kara buddhi-vilāsa; Buddhi-vilāsoṅ se bhalā, kisakī bujhatī pyāsa?

Don’t do it, fool, don’t do it!  Don’t play intellectual games;

By intellectual games whose thirst has been quenched?

 

Caracā hī caracā kare, dhāraṇa kare na koya; Dharma bicārā kyā kare? Dhāre hī sukha hoya.

They only talk and talk of it, but nobody applies it.

Poor Dhamma! What can it do?  Its practice alone brings happiness.

 

 

With much mettā,

A Vipassana meditator

 

Dhāraṇa kare to Dharma hai, varanā korī bāta; Sūraja uge prabhāta hai, varanā kālī rāta.

If you apply it, it is Dhamma; otherwise it is empty talk; When the sun rises, dawn comes; otherwise, blackest night.

 

Āte jāte sāṅsa para, rahe nirantara dhyāna; Karmoṅ ke bandhana kaṭeṅ, hoya parama kalyāṇa.

In-breath, out-breath—if you keep unbroken awareness; The knots of kamma are sundered, leading to the highest welfare.

 

Year / Month: 
September, 2011
Language: