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Higher consciousness is not liberation.
RichardH
Veteran
Just a note to new folks curious about Buddhist practice....
Expansion of consciousness is not the goal of Buddhist meditation. Emphasis on "Higher states" of consciousness literally misses the point of Buddhist practice. In basic terms, the point of practice is cessation of suffering. This entails realizing "The Unconditioned". My primary teacher (Thai Forest Tradition) describes the Unconditioned in this way ..."It is not about having an experience, but knowing whatever experience is present" In other words "The Unconditioned" is not a state of consciousness. It is non-attachment in all states of consciousness. Seeking "higher" consciousness amounts to trading one condition for another, it is purely samsaric. Your ordinary "unspiritual" present state right now is your ground.
Seeking transcendent states of consciousness by whatever means simply expands samsara and brings you no "closer" to the Unconditioned, to cessation of suffering. In terms of Dharma practice that activity is a diversion.
Thankyou.:)
Expansion of consciousness is not the goal of Buddhist meditation. Emphasis on "Higher states" of consciousness literally misses the point of Buddhist practice. In basic terms, the point of practice is cessation of suffering. This entails realizing "The Unconditioned". My primary teacher (Thai Forest Tradition) describes the Unconditioned in this way ..."It is not about having an experience, but knowing whatever experience is present" In other words "The Unconditioned" is not a state of consciousness. It is non-attachment in all states of consciousness. Seeking "higher" consciousness amounts to trading one condition for another, it is purely samsaric. Your ordinary "unspiritual" present state right now is your ground.
Seeking transcendent states of consciousness by whatever means simply expands samsara and brings you no "closer" to the Unconditioned, to cessation of suffering. In terms of Dharma practice that activity is a diversion.
Thankyou.:)
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Comments
Shamata or calm..
But the shamata isn't what is liberating...
Now, the mind is alright, it is normal. It won’t be
and it thinks again. We watch that. Watch it clearly
Become familiar in watching, and skilled.
Be a champ in watching.
It is good to see suffering. To see suffering
is the most excellent thing.
Suffering gives rise to ‘BUDDHA’. If there was no
suffering, there would be no BUDDHA.
Don’t be the one who is suffering: see it!
To see suffering is to be the BUDDHA, a little
BUDDHA. The BUDDHA is the One who knows,
the Awakened One, the joyful One.
It doesn’t mean a person, rather, it is the quality of
knowing, of being awake – that is the BUDDHA.
The state of seeing is a quality, it is the standard
of life, it is the Path.
Instructions at Buddhamandala
Does that mean one should not aspire to reach the various states of Jhana?
Chinul speaks of this as "sudden realization,gradual cultivation"
A similar thing happened to me on my last retreat, it was like I let go of a massive burden. The thought I had was "There's nothing wrong with me" (I guess this is similar to "forgiving myself for existing"). It's not that I am faultless now, I still have things I need to work on, but there is no guilt trip over it anymore.
Perhaps (I say this because I simply don't know from experience) a more refined form of consciousness than our ordinary experience IS important. Why?
Even though you are right, it is just another conditioned state, perhaps from this conditioned state (i.e. post-Jhana) we can realize the Unconditioned. Samma-Samadhi (which some wise and knowledgeable people believe is synonymous with Jhana) is a factor on the Path.
Besides, if these things were really so unimportant why would the Buddha go on and on about them in so many of the Suttas?
But I suppose it depends on your definition of "higher consciousness".
With Metta,
GuY
The absorption state, when cultivated over time, assists the mind in being able to retain its sense of quietude and stillness, even beyond its practice in meditative states. Such a state of peacefulness outside of meditation is known as passaddhi, which just means "calm" or "a profound inner peace." This translates into an increase in the practitioner's ability to remain in a "mindful" state of mind for increasingly longer and longer periods of time away from meditative states.
For a more expansive view about these subjects, please read the following extract (in PDF form) linked to below from Ven. Analayo's book Satipatthana, The Direct Path to Realization. While this present extract emphasizes an explanation about the subtle differences between samadhi and jhana, what is also of importance about absorption practice is that it must be taken up within the context of the noble eightfold path in order for concentration (or samadhi) to be called "right" concentration (or samma-samadhi). This latter point is very important for those wishing to complete the process involved known as awakening or liberation.
(Note: This forum software will not accommodate the file I'm attempting to upload, and so I will redirect those interested to another forum where the file is uploaded in a thread posting and can therefore be downloaded: What's the difference between Samadhi and Jhana?)
The problem is that these processes of subtle movement in the mind are so subtle that they are almost impossible to discern as they are taking place. That's where I believe meditation comes in: meditation helps to calm and still the mind so that these mental events become easier and easier to observe. One, in effect, uses conditionality in order to fabricate controlled states of mental absorption until they're able to discern the presence of craving, its movement in the mind, and the fact that even these refined and subtle states of mental absorption are ultimately stressful and unsatisfactory. This leads one to develop dispassion, and dispassion leads one to cease fabrication thus opening the doors to the deathless by ending the chain of causation.
And higher consciousness - anything like that proverbial card trick?
Afterall, people take drugs to experience altered mind states. We all know how well that serves them...
Samma-Samadhi is part of the Path though, right? Therefore, isn't it integral (combined with Samma-Ditthi, etc) to the realization of Nibbana?
Also, is it not this attitude of letting go which leads to Samadhi?
I have a foot in both the Theravada and the Zen practices but am wary of trying to line them up neatly.
There is a leap involved, The unconditioned cannot be approached, yet there is a cultivating or setting of right conditions. Certainly both traditions involve developing a stable, clear, mind and cutting through self view as a right condition for this sudden recognition that, in Zen terms, involves the realization that all conditions are already unbound.
Also. I can only speak from my own practice and can't claim any special insight. If it strikes a chord with others then I learn as well.
So you need an infinite series of conditioned minds. Each one to establish that the other is conditioned. (to inspect that conditioned mind from outside of it)
So in stillness, what do you see as being created, conditioned, fabricated, etc? Would it not be correct to say that if there is still something being created, conditioned, fabricated, etc., then it is not really true stillness? I guess it would depend on what one's definition is "stillness" is.
...so yes there is no such thing as the unconditioned.
Finding the true subject of awareness means realizing the object of awareness is absolutely alone and all pervasive. Here subject and object resolve. Stillness or movement, all conditions are alone. Then even the perception of this "aloneness" resolves.
...not trying to be zenny here but just simple about it. It is a sound description.
I know.
I'm just being silly haha!