Mindful meditation and how it relates to kamma

[Gem]

Hello,

Meditation has two basic elements: conscious awareness with equanimity of mind. Being focused and calm.

With every single word know exactly what is going on with oneself. Mindful speech is, after all, definitive of a 'Buddhist' thread.

There are distinct purposes in this thread including a mindful practice environment and a learning place of Buddhist philosophy.

Take home message:

The attention comes home - centre and focus - we feel a bit calmer. Silent for 3 or 4 breaths while noticing things are quieting down. Maybe a last sigh of relief to drop any remaining tensions. Relaxed.

Be happy.

[Rain95]

If one knew how to leave the self behind wherever they were, they would always be on vacation, even at home.

Equanimity in meditation is a result. Not a state one can adopt at the start of meditation.

All you have at the start is the intention to keep a meditation object in mind. From there anything goes.
All the benefits arise from a continued remembering to return your focus into the meditation object.

I have had many sittings I consider good meditation where I was all over the place and anything but equanimous.

With love
Eelco

[Samana]

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This is an excellent little book about the Buddhist practice of mindfulness by Ajahn Sumedho, previous abbot of Amaravati Monastery UK. (available in pdf, epub and mobi).


https://www.amaravati.org/dhamma-boo...the-deathless/


_/|\_


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[Gem]

Just to make a broad statement as an overview: In Buddhist philosophy, kamma mainly relates to the intent, and intent produces the potential for outcomes. This implies that what manifests as experience is not kamma itself, but the result of kamma.

Fortunate or unfortunate experiences are not 'your kamma'. They are outcomes of Kamma (intent). Kamma itself only exists in the moment, but it produces potentials that can be passed to the next moment, and these manifest in experience when all the necessary conditions come together.

The potentials are usually called 'sankara'. 'Sankara' is also used in other ways, but at least in my narrative here, 'sankara' will refer to the created potentials. In short, with every kamma (intent), sankara (potential) is created.

Kamma, intent, motive, volition, is in one sense the same as 'craving'. But intent also relates to the subject area of 'metta' in terms of 'good-will', and its antagonist, 'ill-will'. These deeper more general motives determine the nature of outcomes. Good-will producing the potentials for good outcomes, and ill-will producing the potentials for outcomes of suffering.

That's how I can sum it up without getting too much into complicated detail.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by Samana

.

This is an excellent little book about the Buddhist practice of mindfulness by Ajahn Sumedho, previous abbot of Amaravati Monastery UK. (available in pdf, epub and mobi).


https://www.amaravati.org/dhamma-boo...the-deathless/


_/|\_


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Not bad. Very well written and simply worded. Thanks for that. It's well worth a look.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Rain95

If one knew how to leave the self behind wherever they were, they would always be on vacation, even at home.

There's no self to leave behind 😀

[naturesflow]

Originally Posted by Gem

Hello,

Meditation has two basic elements: conscious awareness with equanimity of mind. Being focused and calm.

With every single word know exactly what is going on with oneself. Mindful speech is, after all, definitive of a 'Buddhist' thread.

It was interesting to read this, because this is exactly how I perceive myself now. When you speak, there is a that underlying conscious awareness where by you just "know" yourself long before the words have been shared to know they are in alignment with those basic elements you mention or not. When your not in alignment you know and you can open to yourself and adjust 'the sails' as you unfold in your outward expression, so in this way you move more consciously aware of yourself in each moment. Any conflict or need to "make right" in the external reasons of your own flow, in this way, moves itself consciously aware and can shift in the immediacy of each moment.

There are distinct purposes in this thread including a mindful practice environment and a learning place of Buddhist philosophy.

Take home message:

The attention comes home - centre and focus - we feel a bit calmer. Silent for 3 or 4 breaths while noticing things are quieting down. Maybe a last sigh of relief to drop any remaining tensions. Relaxed.

Be happy.

I've been doing daily breath meditations again and finding it is very beneficial. Some times it may only be for twenty minutes, sometimes longer. I am trying to find the same space and create this space once again..

[OEN34]

Originally Posted by Eelco

I have had many sittings I consider good meditation where I was all over the place and anything but equanimous.

Do you mind expanding on this, please? It's interesting you say it, as I have been observing this lately myself.

What do you want to know.
AN example may be that throughout the meditation my hip starts to hurt, and I am not able to keep observing that pain from a calm and equanimous place.
I get into thoughts about how I wish it would stop, how I wish meditation time is over or all kinds of other distractions.

Not standing up, before my timer goes of is what makes it a good meditation, sometimes just because I sat through it and observed what happened without giving in to any of the little voices that tell me to do something useful instead of just sitting there.

With Love
Eelco