..續本文上一頁that you firmly take a hold of one of these tools of practice and resolutely get on with the work. All of these meditation techniques are skilful means for centering the heart on one object so as to prevent it from wandering out into all kinds of distracting thoughts and feelings. In the initial stages this is all that is required in meditation practice.
Now I will describe the meditation technique taught by Venerable Ajahn Sao. He separated practice into three steps. The first step is to contemplate on the mantra Bud-dho. The second was the contemplation on the unattractive aspects (asubha) of the human body. The third step was to contemplate the four elements (earth, water, air, and fire) which comprise all material phenomena.
As for the practice of concentrating on Bud-dho, Ajahn Sao instructed that immediately after completing chanting (Puja), we have a short session when we spread loving-kindness (metta) for a short while, then focus and concentrate on the virtues of the Triple Gem - Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha - a couple of times. Following that practice, we begin developing the meditation mantra, Bud-dho. The meditator should think Bud at the time of inhalation and dho at the moment of exhalation. If you find that while concentrating on the inhalations and exhalations and reciting the inner sound Bud-dho the mind drifts off into vagrant thought, then let go of the breath and speed up the rhythm of the mantra. Thus you will be able to re-connect with the meditation object and reestablish yourself. Don”t concern yourself over when the heart will become calm, or when you will experience insight or samadhi. Don”t think about these matters. Your duty is to maintain the mantra Bud-dho and not to sink into any of the passing mental states. Lightly recollect the meditation object. Don”t force the mind or tense or contract the muscles in your body. Sit comfortably with the mantra. Rest your heart in Bud-dho. Make the heart as light as possible. Pay particular attention to this Bud-dho. Take it into your heart. When you meditate on Bud-dho, it blends into the heart. The heart is one with Bud-dho and Bud-dho is one with the heart.
Practice like this until the heart settles into peace. As the heart approaches calm, observe that a state of tranquility, almost like sleepiness, arises. Don”t mistake this tranquility for sleepiness or sleep. When this feeling of tranquility or sedation is present the meditator should be with it and carry on with the Bud-dho. Don”t try to resist it. The mind becomes half-sleepy and may seem to drop into a deeper state. When this occurs, some meditators may get startled and have to re-establish themselves all over again. So the mind never becomes peaceful because we keep getting startled by the dropping off into the calm.
In this practice our duty is to follow the mind states with awareness. Whatever arises is allowed to be. Our duty is to stay with the awareness of that which arises, all the time continuing with the mantra Bud-dho. So, when this calm feeling of tranquility arises we just stay with it.
As it develops the heart will brighten and the word Bud-dho will vanish. When the mantra Bud-dho has disappeared from the mind, don”t think that you have forgotten your meditation object. This is just the natural state of when the heart has settled into peace. We practise with the mantra Bud-dho until the heart drops into a state of peace and light, and releases the mantra word. Those who do not understand the dynamics of this natural process may think that they have let go of their mindfulness. Actually, this is a natural transformation within the mind. The mind is beginning to become calm, and this phenomena occurs which is similar to the sleep state. Quite suddenly we feel as if we are being pulled down int…
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