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-1- What the Buddha Taught

-1- What the Buddha Taught. A series of lecture-discussions sponsored by Oxford Soto Zen Suggested by Les Kaye Led by Jimmyle Listenbee Based on What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula. -2- Lecture 10 Chapter 7 ‘Meditation’ or Mental Culture. -3- Two Kinds of Illness.

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-1- What the Buddha Taught

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  1. -1-What the Buddha Taught A series of lecture-discussions sponsored by Oxford Soto Zen Suggested by Les Kaye Led by Jimmyle Listenbee Based on What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula

  2. -2-Lecture 10Chapter 7‘Meditation’ or Mental Culture

  3. -3- Two Kinds of Illness • Physical – some people seem to have no, or few, health problems. • Mental • Everyone seems to have mental/emotional problems (except Arahants). • Buddha’s teaching, particularly ‘meditation’, aims at ‘cure’ – i.e., to produce a continual state of equilibrium and tranquility.

  4. -4-Buddhist Meditation Often Misunderstood IT IS NOT Escape from Daily Activities; Remote & Removed from Society; Trance; Absorption in Mantras or Mystic Thoughts. A Method of Developing Esoteric Spiritual Powers; The Cultivation of “One-Pointed Mind” Toward Higher Mystic States a[read p. 68 ‘All these – nothing more.’]

  5. -5- Buddhist Meditation IS: An Analytical Method Based on: • Mindfulness, • Awareness, • Vigilance, • Observation.

  6. -6- Forms of Meditation/Mental Culture • Centered in the Body (Zazen, Kinhin & Daily Activity) • Centered on Sensations and Emotions • Centered on the Mind • Centered on Dharma Subjects ALL 4 OF WHICH SUPPORT THE OTHER 3

  7. -7- Body-Centered Buddhist Meditation • Zazen: concentration is on breath & stable posture. • Kinhin: concentration is on breath & mobile posture. • Daily Activity: concentration is on mindfulness, awareness of all one’s Actions, physical & verbal, in each moment of private & public life.

  8. -8- Zazen – Sitting Meditation In all forms of Zazen: • the spine is erect [or aligned]; • mindfulness is focused on the breath; • the mind is alert; • eyes are open (Soto), closed (some forms). JUST SIT!!!

  9. -9-Erect Spine or Spinal Alignment

  10. -10-Concentrating on Breath Simple Aids for Beginners • bREAD: p. 70 ‘You breathe in and out all day…five or ten minutes.’ • Developing Concentration • Immediate Benefits

  11. -11- Practical Zazen: Forms of Sitting • Lotus Posture • Half-lotus • Burmese • Seiza or Hero • Chair or Bench • Lying on a Roller All Forms Utilize Dhyani Mudra

  12. -12- http://www.mro.org/zmm/teachings/meditation.php Lotus Half-Lotus Burmese Seiza Chair/Bench Lying

  13. -13-Distribution of Weight on Feet Chair or Bench Standing Walking

  14. -14-Kinhin – Natural Walking Meditation • Mindfulness of Self and Others in Motion • Focus on Breath and Mobile Posture • Shashu mudra • Bowing as you pass Buddha • Counterclockwise Path • More or less equidistant • Gassho at end (CW path to Seat)

  15. -15-Efficient Alignment in Walking Standing on 2 Feet Standing on 1 Foot

  16. -16-Mindfulness in Daily Activity Being aware of every word and action cREAD: p. 71 ‘Another very important…where it is relevant’ DISCUSSION JL’s Notes: imaginary worries & problems; desires & speculations; escape from life.

  17. -17-Not “I am doing this…” • DISCUSSION • “As long as you are conscious of yourself, you can never concentrate on anything.” • The “Flow” of artistic/creative absorption.

  18. -18- 2. Meditation re Feelings & Sensations Best practiced in daily life, but if emotion comes up in Zazen, use the same technique: • Don’t avoid, deny or repress, but recognize every emotion and sensation. • Don’t indulge. Observe its arising, its quality, its cessation – with detachment. • Do not look for its cause. • Don’t “meta-feel”: e.g., worry about worries, be unhappy about sadness, etc.

  19. -19-3. Meditation re Mind “One should be bold and sincere and look at one’s own mind as one looks at one’s face in a mirror.” - Buddha/Middle Path DISCUSSION: esp. examples pp. 73-74

  20. -20- Fear and Shame Rahula says, “We must admit that very often we are afraid or ashamed to look at our own minds. So we prefer to avoid it. ” - p.73 DISCUSSION

  21. -21-4. Meditation on Ethical, Spiritual & Intellectual Subjects • This is basically meditation on Dharma • Should be practiced separately from Zazen, Kinhin, and Daily Mindfulness Meditation. • Discussions and examinations of Dharma & dharma are included.

  22. -22- Rahula’s Selections for Dharma Meditations pp.74-75 The 5 Hindrances The 7 Factors of Enlightenment The 5 Aggregates The 4 Noble Truths The 4 Sublime States Any Dharma text is suitable; a teacher may assign one: Les has assigned me the Metta Sutta, and the Six Paramitas. Cornelia has recommended The Noble Eightfold Path.

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