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How to know

nibbutinibbuti
edited April 2011 in Meditation
Hi Sangha

Please share your views on this.

Suppose there are various meditative states.

How would you know whether it`s the Real Thing™ or just being stuck in meditation?

:confused:

Comments

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    Don't be concerned with this. There is no 'state' that is an aim.
    The aim is to simply sit, and be.
    do not exert effort, in trying to decide whether it's the real thing.
    If you're meditating - it IS the real thing.
    Release, detach and just focus.



  • nibbutinibbuti
    edited April 2011
    Thanks federica. That is very 'zen', I like that. :)

    But the conditional clause ("If...") does not seem satisfying to my mind.

    What happens after you get up from the cushion?

    :confused:
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    You have a drink, make a sandwich, take the dog for a walk, hang out the washing.... you know. You carry on with your day.


    Mindfully.

  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    Reflect on what you want for a little while. Why do you want that? And why do you want that?

    Clarify your goals. Some people spend 20 years meditating and they don't know why they are doing it. Without right view meditation is less effective. And right view must be uncovered from examining our confusion.

    So examine your confusion. ;-)
  • seeker242seeker242 Zen Florida, USA Veteran
    Hi Sangha

    Please share your views on this.

    Suppose there are various meditative states.

    How would you know whether it`s the Real Thing™ or just being stuck in meditation?

    :confused:
    I would say by letting go of "real" and "not real", because those are just ideas, and just sit there. If you are actually just sitting there, then the concepts of real and not real don't occur. The "Real Thing" is encountered when all this other stuff is let go of.
  • fivebellsfivebells Veteran
    @nibbuti, what will you get from the real thing?
  • SabreSabre Veteran
    edited April 2011
    Hi Sangha

    Please share your views on this.

    Suppose there are various meditative states.

    How would you know whether it`s the Real Thing™ or just being stuck in meditation?

    :confused:
    You can't.

    The only thing you can know is your own experience.

    All you can know in meditation is the present moment, that single moment of breathing.


    With metta,
    Sabre
  • beingbeing Veteran
    edited April 2011
    There is no separate Real Thing™. All states of mind are just states of mind. None of them is more real or better than the other.
    As long as you chase, you will be just chasing. Stop chasing and just be (mindful), because there is nothing to get. ^^
  • DhammaDhatuDhammaDhatu Veteran
    How would you know whether it`s the Real Thing?
    Your mind will be at peace, deeply but calmly satisfied.

    :)



  • CloudCloud Veteran
    edited April 2011
    Do you mean Real Thing as in a real meditative state (i.e. jhana) or as in enlightenment?

    If you mean a meditative state, that's difficult without a teacher's instruction. You can repeat the arising of that state (if you can) to verify what the experience actually is, and depending upon what elements of mental activity are present you can try to match the state up with descriptions of the jhanas etc. (but it's still hard to be sure unless you keep investigating).

    If you mean enlightenment, equate enlightenment with "wisdom" and "understanding" which bring peace and calm as opposed to their opposites. When meditative experiences and the insights they bring begin to make you more calm and less prone to "unskillful" thoughts, speech and actions you're on your way. I couldn't really say how to know if you're "enlightened", other than you will see the world/life with clarity which will deepen and continue to allow the mind to release its fetters until final release (which you will know apparently, as there's nothing left to do after that... no further seeking/questioning present).
  • nibbutinibbuti
    edited April 2011
    Thanks for the excellent replies. :thumbup:
    Each one illuminates the question of knowing according to their inclinations.
    @nibbuti, what will you get from the real thing?
    Deep but calm satisfaction and clarity of mind.
  • fivebellsfivebells Veteran
    When you've got that, you'll know. :)
  • DeformedDeformed Veteran
    I think experiencing the present moment during sitting or doing anything else is experiencing the "real thing". Perhaps the real thing is no destination, but ongoing.
  • VincenziVincenzi Veteran
    because they are described in detail, just compare.
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