Silence

Silence is the best teacher.

Silence is always there; Silence never misleads; and Silence is Golden.

Peace on you,
bob

lâ ilâha illâ allâh

What is the purpose of spiritual practice?

I know I skate on thin ice these days to say that the purpose of spiritual practice is to become spiritual - to liberate ourselves from our worldly persuits and troubles - not to reconcile with the world, nor to fix ourselves in some way - but to get closer to Spirit or God.

Given this purpose, the practice of meditation and prayer should therefore be directed away from the world and towards God.  So … in meditation we simply let go of all thoughts, opinions, and beliefs about how we think the world ought to be.  Stated another way: during meditation, we release our tight grip on the world and remember God.

There are many verses from the Quran that guide meditation.  Two of my favorites are:


51:56-58: I created jinn and mankind only to worship Me: I want no provision from them, nor do I want them to feed Me - God is the Provider, the Lord of Power, the Ever Mighty.  


13:28 those who have faith and whose hearts find peace in the remembrance of God - truly it is in the remembrance of God that hearts find peace - 

peace upon you,
bob

Dreaming

During meditation we are letting go - letting go of thoughts.  When we let go of thoughts we let go of any and all concepts about ourselves.  When we let go in this way, our small-selves disappear and a state of pure being emerges; the dreaming ceases.

Is it not wonderful to know that we are more than our thoughts about ourselves?  

peace upon you,
bob

ZaZen defined

In the outer world of good and evil, when not a thought arises in the mind, that is called za (sitting).  Inwardly, to see one's own nature and not be moved that is called Zen (meditation).

How amazing that the self nature is originally pure!
How amazing that the self nature is unborn and undying!
How amazing that the self nature is inherently complete!
How amazing that the self nature neither moves nor stays! How amazing that all dharmas come from this self nature!


The Sixth Patriarch

the great accomplishment

The great accomplishment during meditation is to just sit; any other feat is a dream.

no hidden ball

There is nothing new nor anything you do not already have which needs to be gained. The feeling that you have not yet realized is the sole obstruction to realization. - Ramana Maharshi


Meditation is the search for what cannot be lost; Give up the search for some particular experience or understanding; there is no hidden ball. 

bob

making too much out of nothing

Sometimes I think we make up fanciful stories about meditation:  its purposes, the techniques, the benefits, and the postures.  Perhaps it is just the sitting in Silence that is the whole of it.  Just sitting, being quiet, and relaxing.

Perhaps it is as Eban Alexander reports in his book: "Proof of Heaven" : “You are loved and cherished, dearly, forever," “You have nothing to fear" and “There is nothing you can do wrong.”

peace on you,
bob