Meditation: gaining "absorption" (jhana)

Gary Sanders (Dharma Punx), edited by Seth Auberon, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly

Every counterpart sign or nimitta is different prior to jhana (lemeach/tumblr.com)

 

(simpsoncrazy.com)

I have purposely not done a lot of reading on the meditative absorptions (jhanas). My thinking has been, "The Buddha mastered them and found they weren't the 'be all, end all,' so why bother?" This was what I thought until a retreat I sat this summer.

A big motivation for going on a retreat in Northern California at Spirit Rock led by Theravada Buddhist nuns was

• to push myself
• to step outside of my comfort zone
• to go on retreat with teachers I wasn't already friends with
• to be  surrounded by people I'm not closely connected to
• to visit a place I haven't been before. 

The week-long retreat started off great. The first two days were a relief, decompressing from the daily grind of being a suburban working father of two, a husband, an Against the Stream Buddhist Mediation Society recovery group leader, a Santa Clarita [Saint Clare/Sainted Clarity] Valley mindfulness meditation circle facilitator, and music lover.

Spirit Rock is beautiful, very peaceful with rolling landscapes, and I felt great to be there. Then came the pain. I'd never experienced pain this bad on retreat. It started with my knees leading me to escape to a chair for a bit. Then it got worse. My lower back was screaming in pain, and more of my sitting had to be done in a chair. I even graduated to standing when pain and sleepiness got overwhelming. That was all just "pain," which could not compare to the "suffering" to come:

"What, me worry?"

Doubt and anger started creeping in. I began imagining, "These nuns are sadistic! How can we do silent hour-long sits WITHOUT guidance!?" "If I can't handle this, all these old people must really be hurting!!" "I can't even do metta (loving-kindness meditation) anymore; I'll never be able to do it again!"

We had exit interviews on the second to last day. I talked a little about what was arising. Then to my good fortune, before the last sit of the night, I ran into one of the nuns outside the quiet zone. We talked about my practice, and I got some answers. 

I described what had been happening for awhile in my practice, which turned out to be "access concentration." The nun told me about a technique -- picking one spot on the tip of the nose or nostrils and just staying exclusively on that single spot. She told me more, but apart from the subtleties, this was the salient point. Stick with a single spot to the exclusion of everything else.

I went into the last 60 minute sit of the night, taking to the cushion in Burmese pose, focusing just on a point inside one nostril. I stayed there like a cat at a mouse hole. 

Success

"Heyyy, it's all good!"

Before long, ALL of the hindrances fell away. With persistent effort, I stayed on that spot the whole sit. I sat like a ROCK. No pain, no discomfort, and to my astonishment, I felt an overwhelming joy (piti) washed through me. [Perhaps my earlier pain had been a clearing or an obstacle hindering me and encouraging me to give up like my very own struggle with "Mara"?]

The bell rang an hour later as the group called it a night. I was still glowing. The rest of the night, I felt blissful, effervescent, full of joy. It was spilling out of me. My original intention for going on retreat came to mind. I was flooded with total appreciation for both nuns leading. I slept like a baby.

The next morning was our first and only sit of the day. I went right to the single point of focus again. BUT this time it didn't take much effort at all. With zero hindrances, I sat like a rock, euphoric, saturated with joy. Time FLEW by.

Cut to today. I've read up on the meditative absorptions, the jhanas, a bit. I have been practicing the single point of focus a lot, but not necessarily as a daily practice. And I have not been reaching the joy and bliss I experienced on retreat. 

Recently, I read [Ayya Khema's student] Leigh Brasington's instructions on reaching the first jhana. I followed his instructions thoroughly. I started with loving-kindness for myself then went to the single point of concentration. 

Joy

"Who me, worried? Ha!"

Once the breath started to become barely noticeable [because the real object of meditation is not gross breathing but this very subtle breath, the calmed breath, which one could speculate may be prana], I stayed with that then switched to the pleasant feeling of the semi-smile I'd been holding most of the sit.

 

[Where attention goes, energy flows.] As that pleasant feeling built up more and more, I felt my smile grow bigger than my head. It was smiling on its own. I didn't will it. I wasn't trying to smile. The pleasant wholesome sensation -- which was more pleasing than the sensual pleasure I'd been chasing all my life -- seemed to be swirling, flowing, in motion. It was taking over my whole head, then my whole body then, surprisingly, it just kept expanding outside of my body, my environment... 

Not sure how long it was, but I stayed with it until it seemed to just fade a little. Once I felt grounded in my own body, I got off the cushion. It was quite late at night, and I felt very joyful and contented. Again I got to sleep like a baby. [Maybe this is what Zen means by beginner's mind, throttling back the breath to the softest purr, a sweet infantile innocence and peace.]

The Five Hindrances

Wisdom Quarterly edit of Wikipedia entry hindrances

(Quest4pce/flickr)

Five negative mental states impede success with meditation (jhāna and bhāvanā) and lead away from enlightenment and nirvana. These states are:

1. Sensual desire: craving for pleasurable stimulation of the senses
2. Anger or ill-will: feelings of malice, annoyance, aversion
3. Sluggishness-sleepiness (sloth-torpor): lack of physical or mental energy
4. Restlessness-worry: the inability to calm the mind
5. Skeptical doubt: lack of conviction, confidence, trust

• The Mystery of the Breath Sign (Arrow River)
• PHOTOS: Trip to Buddhist Pagan, Burma (Meg Williams)
• New Year's Intention Setting Ceremony, Hollywood

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Sacred Robe Offering: Kathina 2012 (video)

Ven. Karunananda, Ph.D., Ven. Bibekananda, Dharmachari Seven, Wisdom Quarterly

The Buddha under the Bodhi tree, Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Monastery, Crenshaw Bl. (WQ)

The sacred saffron kathina robe, Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara, Los Angeles, California, 2011 (Wisdom Quarterly).

   

The offering (dana) of the sacred robe is an annual event, traditionally held in October. It marks the end of the three-month Rains Retreat or Vas. During this time Buddhist nuns and monks retire to their hermitages to engage in intensive meditation, study, teaching, and other practices for rapid spiritual advancement.

Buddhist History

One one occasion, in ancient India, monks took up residence practicing sane-austerities for the rainy season. At the end of their seclusion, they set out to visit the Buddha, who was residing in distant Savatthi.

Their travel was arduous. At times, they had to endure inclement weather. At the end of their long journey, one of the monks was soaking wet as he approached.

Seeing him, the Buddha requested monastics to accept additional robes for their hardship. One robe in particular, the special kathina robe, was to go to a monastic who had successfully completed the rigors of the Rains Retreat. (At this time those in robes are not allowed to travel or venture from the nunnery/monastery for overnight trips; instead they stay in one place and meditate in a loosely cloistered setting).

  

Thereafter Buddhist devotees have provided hermitages with a specially made robe, which is awarded to the one who has most successfully completed the Rains Retreat.

This robe is revered as the most important for a monastic to receive AND the most meritorious for a devotee to give.

Whereas the monastic who receives the robe gains five mundane benefits, the donor of the robe accrues a tremendous amount of merit (anisangsa, punya). The Pali word for the robe is kathina, Bengali kathin.
  
It means hard [to come by], firm, steadfast -- indicating the greatness of the merit, which is difficult to obtain and is a firm and reliable source of spiritual as well as material benefit unshakable in the face of minor bad karma.

Traditionally, devoted Buddhists undertake to strictly observe moral and ethical precepts during the period of the retreat culminating in the sacred ceremony. However, even the simple act of participating (attending in approval of this gift) they are able to share in the remarkable merit of this special gift-giving.

• California Bodhi Vihara will celebrate the Sacred Robe Offering Ceremony today, Nov. 3, 2012 in Long Beach. Moreover, various Theravada temples throughout Los Angeles and the country are holding this ceremony as they end their Rains Retreat observance. (Contact local temples for dates).

Why?

Buddha, Lahore Museum (tribune.com.pk)

What would make the offering of this robe so meritorious? If the monastics were to practice sincerely, practice diligently and mindfully in accordance with the Dharma, some would be sure to gain mundane and supramundane attainments, such as the Eight Meditative Absorptions (jhanas) and the Eight Path-and-Fruition consciousnesses. These latter attainments are the penetrating insights that lead to enlightenment by stages from stream-entry to full realization. Giving to someone who has attained any of these is extremely meritorious, each more rare and powerful than the previous one. There is great merit in giving to anyone who emerges from the first absorption. But the merit of giving to one who has gain full enlightenment is uncountable, off the scale, so precious as to be considered beyond reckoning.

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Zen Comes of Age with Shinzen Young

Seth Auberon, Amber Dorrian, Wisdom Quarterly; Shinzen Young (basicmindfulness.org)

Wisdom Quarterly is often asked, "What is the best form of Buddhism?" We have to say, after examining the entire field of forms, there is no absolute "best." Best is what suits the practitioner at a given time.

  

When eating soup, a spoon is most useful; when eating tofu, a fork. But when eating crow a mask, a bib, and a b*rf bag are best.

  

However, Zen as practiced in the US is surely the "coolest." Why? People without knowing much about the actual tradition imagine a bevy of iconoclasts doing whatever they want in gorgeous spartan monasteries, with kung fu for exercise, riddles (koans) and aphorisms (slogans) attributed to the Buddha no one really understands or worries much about.

• What is Zen really like or why Zen is not zen

American master Shinzen Young

For example, What is the sound of one hand clapping? Probable correct answer: Spontaneously place a sandal atop head and exit room.

  

So it is that the vipassana (insight meditation) favored by the Dharma Punx at Against the Stream in Santa Monica had the beloved Shinzen Young over for a full day's retreat. Retreat is a bit strong for a day of meditation, jokes, socializing, academic analysis, and Q&A. But Young delivers a nitty gritty approach some Westerners can really get a handle on.

  

And the fact that Zen Master Shinzen traversed Theravada, Shingon (Japanese Vajrayana or esoteric Tibetan form), Mahayana, and Zen landscapes to arrive at his unique languaging and description for elevated and ordinary states of consciousness. As a linguist and polyglot, his nomenclature adds to the tradition rather than detracting from it. (Ahem, take note, Tan Geoff).

   

The day began in stifling heat with fans blowing all over the packed house. It was morning, and this was the beach, and it was still too hot for most to sit comfortably -- but that didn't keep anyone from trying.

• TAKE HOME MESSAGE: If one were to say, "There is nothing to be gained by meditating, so just sit zazen" that would be killing the teacher, Shinzen explained. What's the point of sitting? However, if one were to say, "Okay, there is something, but don't strive for it as that will only get in the way," that is killing the student. (Such a desire/idea as something to strive for will ruin the meditator). We are lucky to have the choice. Zen students of olde were luckier not to. The entire talk was recorded by long time Shinzen student Stephanie Nash (nasharts.com).

Meditation was interspersed by a lecture of sorts, answers to practical considerations (such as pain and posture, see posture-pedia), jokes, anecdotes, and lots of socializing and informal networking or sangha-building for the creation of a sense of "community"). Then Shinzen held up a copy of this past week's Los Angeles Times featuring his teacher:

Zen Comes of Age
Kate Linthicum (Los Angeles Times, Sept. 20, 2012)

The Zen master would not stop talking. Several times he began to draw his teachings to a close, explaining to his students that he was tired and in poor health. Then he would burst down another path. He discussed the difficulties of raising children. He lingered on the subject of death. Eventually, he raised a small fist in the air. "Everybody is together at one point," he said. "We cry together; we love together. There is no moment in which we are not together." More + Photos

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Zen: Fiona Apple's journey

Fiona Apple; Seven, Wisdom Quarterly

Indy artist Fiona Apple (Lionel Deluy/NPR.org)

 

Fiona has always been a complex artist on a journey of self discovery overcoming ego.

 

Since "Tidal" through "Extraordinary Machine" to her newest "The Idler Wheel," she has sought to differentiate herself from bad relationships and come into her own. The journey has been intense and emotional.  

 

Extraordinary Machine

Meditation is way to consciously evolve.

"I certainly haven't been shopping for any new shoes. And I certainly haven't been spreading myself around. I still only travel by foot, and by foot it's a slow climb. But I'm good at being uncomfortable, so I can't stop changing all the time.

"I notice that my opponent is always on the go and won't go slow so as not to focus, and I notice. He'll hitch a ride with any guide as long as they go fast from whence he came. But he's no good at being uncomfortable, so he can't stop staying exactly the same.
 
"If there were a better way to go then it would find me. I can't help it; the road just rolls out behind me. Be kind to me, or treat me mean. I'll make the most of it. I'm an extraordinary machine

"I seem to you to seek a new disaster every day. You deem me due to clean my view and be at peace and lay. I mean to prove. I mean to move in my own way and say, I've been getting along for long before you came into the play.

"I am the baby of the family, it happens, so everybody cares and wears the sheeps' clothes while they chaperone. Curious, you looking down your nose at me, while you appease courteous to try and help. But let me set your mind at ease. (Chorus)

"Do I so worry you, you need to hurry to my side? It's very kind, but it's to no avail; I don't want the bail. I promise you, everything will be just fine.

"If there were a better way to go then it would find me. I can't help it; the road just rolls out behind me. Be kind to me, or treat me mean, I'll make the most of it. I'm an extraordinary machine."

• VIDEO: "Extraordinary Machine"
• NPR reviews Apple's latest release
• Journey: Three Simple Steps 
• My life as a monk with Fiona Apple
  

  As I was leaving, I noticed that on the woman's side of the monastery was Fiona Apple, who apparently was having a nun experience of her own. Apparently we had meditated 10 feet from each other for the entire time in the main hall, and I had not known. She seemed like a nice girl. I was surprised initially, then I remembered what Nipun told me last time he was here. His roommate had been Rivers Cuomo, the frontman for Weezer. 
• What are meditation retreats for?
  
  (Oprah.com) Some people go on hikes or meditation retreats to gain clarity. I take a slightly less ambitious approach... A few years ago, when I was thinking about getting out of the music business -- touring terrified me, talking to journalists stressed me out, dealing with the demands of my record company was impossible -- I decided to stay with my mother in New York City. I put on a ratty old bathrobe, parked myself in front of the TV, and tried to figure out what to do with my life. During commercials...

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Pema Chodron Online Retreat: Free Tickets Offer.

Renowned Tibetan Buddhist nun, and author, Pema Chodron will be leading an online retreat this month from the 15th through the 17th. She seldom leads such an event for the general public, so this is something special. Not surprisingly, the event sold out early but don't fret; Shambhala has kindly offered a chance for "virtual" participation via live-streaming of the retreat online. Click on this sentence for further information; including on how to sign-up for the online event. Shambhala is also offering you a chance to receive two, free, tickets to the event. If you are interested in the tickets; please write a short comment on how you deal with fear in your Dharma practice, or (if your not Buddhist) "how do you deal with fear in your personal life?"). I'll pick two that I like the most and award those authors with one ticket each. I'll look forward to your replies!!

~Peace to all beings~

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An Important Plea.

Colin of Awakening the Buddha Within Us came to me with a special plea and I am passing it on to you as well:

To: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery

THE 100 MILLION MANI RECITATION RETREAT was held annually by Kong Meng San
>Phor Kark See Monastery of Singapore (PKS) for some 5 years, and have since
>became an inseparable part of our spiritual lives. Unfortunately, there's
>news that PKS might not hold the Retreat this year 2008. This year's
>retreat was shadowed by His Eminence Drubwang Rinpoche's passing away in
>Singapore, a day before the Retreat itself.

>He had passed away on the same
>day he landed in Singapore. Despite bad health and much dissuasion from
>other Rinpoches, Drubwang Rinpoche insisted on his journey to Singapore
>lead the Retreat. It was specifically explained by His Eminence Garchen
>Rinpoche during the Retreat that it is Drubwang Rinpoche's wish for the Om
>Retreat to continue year after year, after his passing. I personally
>believe his choice to pass away a day before this event has great
>significance and he might have foreseen that after his passing, this
>greatly beneficial event will end abruptly.

I also felt strongly Rinpoche's
>love for all beings. His teaching and message put forth through his actions
>are too profound and wide for me to put into words here. Please send the
>message to all who cares for Dharma to appeal to the management of Kong
>Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery NOT to let this annual Retreat end. Email
>them, write to them, approach and talk to them. Let them recognize that this
>is no longer just a PKS event, but a precious inheritance left behind by
>Drubwang Rinpoche and PKS management has the responsibility to keep it
>alive.

>Sincerely,
>The Undersigned

Please forward to your friends this message, ask them to sign this petition:

If you have a blog, do post it on your blog to spread awareness to it. If you can, please forward this message to your friends so more people can show support and keep the OM Retreat alive. Thanks!

>May peace be with you,
>Colin
>____________________

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Thich Nhat Hanh to Give Public Talk in Denver and Retreat in Estes Park, CO

The Venerable Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh will be returning here to Colorado USA to lead a retreat and give a public talk in Denver. For those who are in the area--you really should take advantage of this occasion to see one of the most enlightened people alive today. Here is the information:

SUBJECT: "Our Environment: Touching the Gift of Life."

WHEN: Wednesday August 29th, 2007

WHERE: The Temple Buell Theatre at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts complex in downtown Denver.

TICKETS: Adults ($35), Students w/ID and Seniors ($25), Kids 11-13 ($10). Click here to get tickets through TicketWest.

CLICK HERE If you'd like information on the retreat led by Hanh.

PHOTO CREDIT: Thay at the Bordeaux airport upon arrival from his trip to Vietnam.

~Peace to all beings~

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