Re: Pointing Out / Systematic Instruction
Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 3:16 am
Thanks again, both of you. It sounds like I really do need a guru. Until then, maybe these more direct questions can be answered online:
It's well accepted that practicing "mundane" shamatha, even a subtle one like unsupported shamatha, does not bring one any closer to realization. Meanwhile, if one has a taste of emptiness, it sounds like resting in nature of mind does lead to progress. The two seem very subtly different.
(1) Are there concrete differences as well as subtle ones (i.e., important fundamental differences in practice that can be described in words, in addition to the "you have to 'get it' to practice Mahamudra")? For example, in the unsupported shamatha I was taught, I'm supposed to ignore all arisings, whereas in Mahamudra I neither accept nor reject. However, even some descriptions of unsupported shamatha say this.
(2) Is there any way to be sure that I'm doing the latter and not the former, or does even that need a guru?
(3) If I practice the former, is there risk of "sliding back toward duality" or something?
(4) If I try to practice the latter, is there a risk of ... anything if I'm not "ready" yet?
Today I stumbled upon this from the blog awakeningtoreality.blogspot.com:
It's well accepted that practicing "mundane" shamatha, even a subtle one like unsupported shamatha, does not bring one any closer to realization. Meanwhile, if one has a taste of emptiness, it sounds like resting in nature of mind does lead to progress. The two seem very subtly different.
(1) Are there concrete differences as well as subtle ones (i.e., important fundamental differences in practice that can be described in words, in addition to the "you have to 'get it' to practice Mahamudra")? For example, in the unsupported shamatha I was taught, I'm supposed to ignore all arisings, whereas in Mahamudra I neither accept nor reject. However, even some descriptions of unsupported shamatha say this.
(2) Is there any way to be sure that I'm doing the latter and not the former, or does even that need a guru?
(3) If I practice the former, is there risk of "sliding back toward duality" or something?
(4) If I try to practice the latter, is there a risk of ... anything if I'm not "ready" yet?
Today I stumbled upon this from the blog awakeningtoreality.blogspot.com:
Unfortunately I can't find any references to "released shine" anywhere.The witnessing state is equivalent to stabilized shamatha (shiné), once shamatha is stabilized one is essentially proficient in "really good dualistic mindfulness" (as you said). After stabilized shiné, next step is released shiné and once released shiné is achieved and stabilized, one is said to be officially practicing dzogchen.
"When you have achieved released shiné and remain in the continuation of this state, you have finally become a dzogchen practitioner."
- Chögyal Namkhai Norbu