Before beginning (or instead of) meditation
 

As you all know, the Buddha became enlightened by meditating for a very short period of time. And there are people who meditate their whole life and get not very far. For example, the zen monks. Why is that ?

I think that before one begins to meditate, one must cultivate awareness of all one's faults and impurities and irregularities in behaviour, thought and feeling. And then, through self-reeducation, one must go beyond it.

When it comes to excellent meditation, some of the Hindu demons of the past when they lived on the earth, used to meditate on Brahma for hundreds of years with unparalleled concentration. And after a great deal of meditation, Brahma used to appear before them and give them boons.

So, even demons can be excellent meditators.

Progress in meditation is a good thing, but unless the various bodies surrounding the divine spark, get purified, there is no chance of becoming enlightened. And, if through fault correction (gross and subtle), the various bodies are purified then there is no need whatsoever to meditate.

So, even demons can be excellent meditators.

Lol, that was great. Reminded me of ''even the devil believes in Jesus''.
Thank you for your post. :smile:

Who knows what people have done in their previous incarnations. Maybe the Buddha had spent many lifetimes in meditation and doing all sorts of practices, and had reached a stage where realisation could happen very quickly.

Whereas those who spend a lifetime doing meditation practices without seeming to get very far may still be at an earlier stage of the journey. But in some future incarnation they too may be at the stage where realisation can happen very quickly.

If we consider enlightenment as an initiation into a greater reality then we cannot look at anyone's life and judge how near they are to taking such an initiation.

Peace

Yes! And this is the bigger picture. Thank you. :hug3:

Great observation, saurab! The Second Noble Truth says that attachment is the cause of sorrow. This includes attachment to Buddhism, monastic style, beliefs, and beliefs, self-beliefs, beliefs (read: thought-attachments), beliefs... etc.

That could serve as a useful preliminary, so long as one (i.e. one's mind) doesn't take it too seriously.

Such considerations need to be ignored when practicing dharana. "Reeducation?" Of what? The Ego?

Rama?

"I am so greatly burnt by the flame of greed that I doubt whether this inflammation may be relieved even by administration of nectar. Like a heated mare, greed takes me far and farther still from my place, and brings me back to it again and again. Thus it hurries me up and down and to and fro in all directions forever."

Tat tvam asi!

Again, great observation. I would say that self-abnegation is a precursor. Regardless, if meditation (i.e. dhyana) is performed "properly" then these considerations would be moot. How are you making these observations if your attention is thus directed onely. And if it isn't, then who are you to care?

double post