Wisdom
The Suramgama Sutra says, “Take focusing the mind as your precepts. Meditative concentration arises from the precepts; wisdom arises from meditative concentration.” Meditation calms the body and spirit, and purifies the mind. Not only does this develop one’s intrinsic wisdom, it allows one to win the love and respect of others, making all things easier to accomplish. This is why meditation is also part of the path to cultivate merit and wisdom.
Seeing Intrinsic Nature
When he achieved enlightenment, the Buddha said, “All sentient beings have the Tathagata’s wisdom and virtue, but they fail to realize it because they cling to deluded thoughts and attachments.” Meditation eliminates affliction and deluded thoughts, allowing us to be quiet both within and without. When the mind reaches Nirvana, it fully expands into enlightenment. This is why the meditation hall is also called “the Buddha’s court.” As long as we put in the effort, we will be able to see intrinsic nature and attain Buddhahood.
The Practice of Meditation
As Chan Master Rujing said, the purpose of meditation is to liberate the mind and body. It is not necessary to burn incense, perform prostrations, recite Amitabha Buddha’s name, do penance, or read sutras. Simply sitting in meditation will do. In the Chan tradition, meditation does not mean pondering something in deep thought, much less the inactivity of sitting blankly.
Sitting meditation is different from chanting sutras or paying homage to the Buddha. A meditator must cast off all mundane phenomena, not be moved by worry or doubt, and practice meditation as the teaching of the greatest, most supreme happiness. Meditation is like returning home and sitting firmly and peacefully upon the seat of one’s own Dharma nature. In meditation, one breathes just as all of the Buddhas of the ten directions, and wanders freely in the ocean of the dharma realms.
To realize sitting meditation’s goal of liberating the mind and body we must free ourselves from the delusion of discriminating thought; even the world of the Buddha and enlightenment must be washed away without a trace. Amid the silence and the curling smoke of their ancient temples, Ch'an masters sat in meditation,burning stick after stick of incense.*2 They dedicated their lives to sitting meditation and made it their goal to put an end to delusion and the agitation of the body and mind. They hoped that through endless meditation they could purify the mind and merge into limitless time and space, attaining freedom and liberation beyond enlightenment or delusion. If you wish to enjoy this kind of meditative bliss, you must actually go and sit in meditation. Only someone drinking a glass of water can know if the water is hot or cold, and meditation is the same way.
*2This is a reference to meditating for a long time. Traditionally a meditation session lasts for the length of time for a single stick of incense to burn.
The Suramgama Sutra says, “Take focusing the mind as your precepts. Meditative concentration arises from the precepts; wisdom arises from meditative concentration.” Meditation calms the body and spirit, and purifies the mind. Not only does this develop one’s intrinsic wisdom, it allows one to win the love and respect of others, making all things easier to accomplish. This is why meditation is also part of the path to cultivate merit and wisdom.
Seeing Intrinsic Nature
When he achieved enlightenment, the Buddha said, “All sentient beings have the Tathagata’s wisdom and virtue, but they fail to realize it because they cling to deluded thoughts and attachments.” Meditation eliminates affliction and deluded thoughts, allowing us to be quiet both within and without. When the mind reaches Nirvana, it fully expands into enlightenment. This is why the meditation hall is also called “the Buddha’s court.” As long as we put in the effort, we will be able to see intrinsic nature and attain Buddhahood.
The Practice of Meditation
As Chan Master Rujing said, the purpose of meditation is to liberate the mind and body. It is not necessary to burn incense, perform prostrations, recite Amitabha Buddha’s name, do penance, or read sutras. Simply sitting in meditation will do. In the Chan tradition, meditation does not mean pondering something in deep thought, much less the inactivity of sitting blankly.
Sitting meditation is different from chanting sutras or paying homage to the Buddha. A meditator must cast off all mundane phenomena, not be moved by worry or doubt, and practice meditation as the teaching of the greatest, most supreme happiness. Meditation is like returning home and sitting firmly and peacefully upon the seat of one’s own Dharma nature. In meditation, one breathes just as all of the Buddhas of the ten directions, and wanders freely in the ocean of the dharma realms.
To realize sitting meditation’s goal of liberating the mind and body we must free ourselves from the delusion of discriminating thought; even the world of the Buddha and enlightenment must be washed away without a trace. Amid the silence and the curling smoke of their ancient temples, Ch'an masters sat in meditation,burning stick after stick of incense.*2 They dedicated their lives to sitting meditation and made it their goal to put an end to delusion and the agitation of the body and mind. They hoped that through endless meditation they could purify the mind and merge into limitless time and space, attaining freedom and liberation beyond enlightenment or delusion. If you wish to enjoy this kind of meditative bliss, you must actually go and sit in meditation. Only someone drinking a glass of water can know if the water is hot or cold, and meditation is the same way.
*2This is a reference to meditating for a long time. Traditionally a meditation session lasts for the length of time for a single stick of incense to burn.
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