Emptiness practice off the cushion

Discussion of meditation in the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.
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Rick
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Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by Rick »

Greet! :-)

What off-the-cushion practices are good for deepening one's relationship with emptiness?

Many thank!

Rick
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
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PadmaVonSamba
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by PadmaVonSamba »

Rick wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:31 pm Greet! :-)

What off-the-cushion practices are good for deepening one's relationship with emptiness?

Many thank!

Rick
Emptiness of what?
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
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Rick
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by Rick »

Self and or objects.

Mindfulness is the obvious first choice, but mindfulness can be so ... mindless. Not sure that makes for a good emptiness practice.
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Natan
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by Natan »

Rick wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:31 pm Greet! :-)

What off-the-cushion practices are good for deepening one's relationship with emptiness?

Many thank!

Rick
That's going to depend on your transmission. In the vajrayana context there are what's called post meditation practice, which differ depending on if you are into deity yoga and completion stage or pith instructions.
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明安 Myoan
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by 明安 Myoan »

The Six Paramitas.
Equanimity/patience especially.
Namu Amida Butsu
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KeithA
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by KeithA »

Rick wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:31 pm Greet! :-)

What off-the-cushion practices are good for deepening one's relationship with emptiness?

Many thank!

Rick
When you hear a sound, ask deeply: "What is it that hears that sound?"

Inquiry into the nature of our self and the world we live in is wonderful practice for coming to terms with our true nature.

🙏
Good luck and thanks for practicing,
Keith
When walking, standing, sitting, lying down, speaking,
being silent, moving, being still.
At all times, in all places, without interruption - what is this?
One mind is infinite kalpas.

New Haven Zen Center
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Rick
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by Rick »

KeithA wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:41 pm When you hear a sound, ask deeply: "What is it that hears that sound?"
Hey no fair reading my mind! I've been doing pretty much exactly this ... for years. For me it goes something like:

Whom or what is this object (image, sound, feeling, whatever) arising to? What sees it, feels it, knows it?

So far, no definitive answer. (I mean I know several rote answers, but they're hearsay for me.)
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
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Rick
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by Rick »

明安 Myoan wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:31 pm The Six Paramitas.
Equanimity/patience especially.
Ah yes, thanks.
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Rick
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by Rick »

Crazywisdom wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:08 pm That's going to depend on your transmission.
I'm in-between teachers.
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master of puppets
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by master of puppets »

Rick wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:31 pm Greet! :-)

What off-the-cushion practices are good for deepening one's relationship with emptiness?

Many thank!

Rick
what about practicing the eightfold path? ;)
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JimTempleman
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by JimTempleman »

Rick wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:31 pm Greet! :-)
What off-the-cushion practices are good for deepening one's relationship with emptiness?

Many thank!
Rick
Relax Completely:
Completely release all tension from the body, mind, and emotion.
Relax while remaining alert, without collapsing or losing power.
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Rick
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by Rick »

master of puppets wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 5:32 pm what about practicing the eightfold path? ;)
With an emphasis on right concentration?
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master of puppets
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by master of puppets »

Rick wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 5:56 pm
master of puppets wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 5:32 pm what about practicing the eightfold path? ;)
With an emphasis on right concentration?
get it.
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by reiun »

Rick wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:31 pm Greet! :-)

What off-the-cushion practices are good for deepening one's relationship with emptiness?

Many thank!

Rick
One practice could be reading or chanting the Heart Sutra, with correct understanding of 'emptiness', i.e., empty of self-nature (shunyata). Buddha nature pervades the whole universe.
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JimTempleman
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by JimTempleman »

Rick wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:31 pm Greet! :-)

What off-the-cushion practices are good for deepening one's relationship with emptiness?

Many thank!
Rick
By 'off-the-cushion practices' do you mean:
(1) During a dedicated practice period?
or
(2) Mixed in with your daily life experiences?
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Rick
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by Rick »

Door #2, please.
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PadmaVonSamba
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by PadmaVonSamba »

HHDL has frequently mentioned that “emptiness” is not something that exists in the abstract, but that it can only be applied to understanding the nature of phenomena, in other words, to things.

So, really everything that you encounter can provide you with an opportunity to explore that.
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
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KeithA
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by KeithA »

Rick wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:38 pm
KeithA wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:41 pm When you hear a sound, ask deeply: "What is it that hears that sound?"
Hey no fair reading my mind! I've been doing pretty much exactly this ... for years. For me it goes something like:

Whom or what is this object (image, sound, feeling, whatever) arising to? What sees it, feels it, knows it?

So far, no definitive answer. (I mean I know several rote answers, but they're hearsay for me.)
Just keep going. Here is some motivation: Bassui's Talk on One Mind.

Also, regarding not having a definitive answer, there is this oldie but goodie:
Master Dizang asked the visiting Buddhist philosopher Fayan, “Where are you going now?
Fayan answered, “I am resuming my pilgrimage.
Dizang asked, “Why do you go on pilgrimage?”
Fayan said, “I don’t know.”
Dizang said, “Not knowing is most intimate.”
Hearing these words, Fayan had an opening experience.
From here.

As they say in my tradition:
Only go straight, Don't Know.

_/|\_
When walking, standing, sitting, lying down, speaking,
being silent, moving, being still.
At all times, in all places, without interruption - what is this?
One mind is infinite kalpas.

New Haven Zen Center
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Rick
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by Rick »

PadmaVonSamba wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 1:06 am So, really everything that you encounter can provide you with an opportunity to explore that.
Yes! Every moment is the perfect moment to see what's really goin' on here.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
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Rick
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion

Post by Rick »

KeithA wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 12:19 pm Just keep going. Here is some motivation: Bassui's Talk on One Mind.

From here.
Many thanks, Keith! :bow:
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
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