A meditation question.

[Buddhasfist1]

Hello Brothers and Sisters,


As I am trying to Hurdle Blockages, and gain Clarity by removing Ignorance, I do have a Question about Meditating on the Void, for along time now it is still a Blockage to me.

My Question is;

When meditating on the Void, are we just simply looking or staring at the blackness of closed eyes letting go of thoughts and counting breath? also would this practice of meditation be considered Samadhi Concentration?

Prohaps my question/s need more clairity but it is the best I can ask according to my faculty.

[Shaolinfist]

Hello David Sidai,

As far as I am aware Samadhi meditation is not the same as mediating on the void. The former involves attaining a one pointed mind by focusing on a single thought like the breath, whereas the latter involves quite simply, letting go of all thoughts.

When meditating on the void we should not count breath's or stare at darkness, we simply let go of everything and smile from the heart!

However on a speculative note, this question popped into my head during my standing meditation yesterday. It occurred to me that it does require quite some concentration to maintain a chi kung state of mind, and to stop your mind wandering. However the concentration is focused entirely differently in my experience. I feel the focus in the front part of my head during one pointed meditation, and at the rear during chi kung meditation!
Has anyone else noticed this or anythign similar?

Kind regards,
Phil

[Adam B]

Someone has already said it better than I could

Hey David,

Sorry to hear about your most recent struggles.

Your meditation question made me think of a portion of the Platform Sutra. You can find the whole passage on page 93 of the Complete Book of Zen, but I'm going to reproduce the points that answer "When meditating on the Void,"

In this method, the fundamental purpose of sitting meditation is neither looking at the mind nor at the void....... If we say we look at the void, man's nature is basically the void; it is because of delusion that the void of the Supreme Reality is obstructed. Liberated from deluded thought, basic nature is the void. If we do not see the void of our basic nature, but allow thoughts to arise so as to see the void, what we see is a deluded void....

So strictly speaking, in Zen meditation one shouldn't meditate on the Void, rather allow oneself to slip into the Void of their true nature. This is why the phrase "Enjoy the stillness" is so powerful. It's not meditating on the stillness, or meditating on the Void, it's enjoying and being present in the stillness/Void that's already there waiting within yourself.

Now, that being said, I'm far from mastering this myself. It also has its ups and downs where some days it comes so effortlessly and other days the monkey mind puts up much more of a fight.

Anyhow, I hope this was in some way helpful. If not, feel free to disregard. Hopefully we'll see you soon.

All the best,

[Kingmonkey]

In this method, the fundamental purpose of sitting meditation is neither looking at the mind nor at the void....... If we say we look at the void, man's nature is basically the void; it is because of delusion that the void of the Supreme Reality is obstructed. Liberated from deluded thought, basic nature is the void. If we do not see the void of our basic nature, but allow thoughts to arise so as to see the void, what we see is a deluded void....

I see I have to reread that wonderfull book

So strictly speaking, in Zen meditation one shouldn't meditate on the Void, rather allow oneself to slip into the Void of their true nature. This is why the phrase "Enjoy the stillness" is so powerful. It's not meditating on the stillness, or meditating on the Void, it's enjoying and being present in the stillness/Void that's already there waiting within yourself.

very nicely put

Pat

[Buddhasfist1]

Hello Brothers And Sisters,

I thank you all for this insight, I am alittle more clear now, I now think I have been intellectualizing in my meditation, I will stop that and just let go.



Thanks Again.

[ninjashoes]

Well to me the goal of meditation is to strengthen the power of focus to obtain stillness. Whether you picture images in your mind or simply try to see complete dark or light, the goal is the same, to gain control over ones mind through stillness instead of force.

I have never been a fan of any meditation system. I feel like its best to do what works for you as an individual and what makes sense to your logical side. Its so easy to get caught up in mysticism by following a system.