Fri, 06 Aug 2010
The Purpose of Meditation
So what usually gets called enlightenment is seeing our basic mind. What keeps us from seeing it is our false concepts about mind. Much of our self-talk is done in order to keep these false concepts going. In other words, it's just a form of self-hypnosis. There are gaps in these thoughts and during the gaps it's possible to get a glimpse of the basic mind. But usually, a glimpse is not enough, what usually happens is that we conceptualize it and turn it into a special experience. So the practice of meditation is usually necessary to see the basic mind. There are three aspects of meditation that make it effective. First, it is focused on what is real rather than how we hope things will be. Practices such as affirmations and visualizations may be helpful, but focusing on what is happening right now is essential to meditation aimed at enlightenment. Second, meditation calms the thoughts and emotions which disturb the mind. By lengthening the gaps between thoughts, one stands a better chance of seeing mind as it is. Third, one is left to find the truth on one's own. No one lays out a detailed road map, saying "this will happen and then that." This is deliberate as anticipation of results blocks us from seeing the truth. A meditation teacher is not going to hold your hand all the time. This is quite deliberate and an essential aspect of the practice.
