Emptiness practice off the cushion
Emptiness practice off the cushion
Greet!
What off-the-cushion practices are good for deepening one's relationship with emptiness?
Many thank!
Rick
What off-the-cushion practices are good for deepening one's relationship with emptiness?
Many thank!
Rick
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
- PadmaVonSamba
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- Joined: Sat May 14, 2011 1:41 am
Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion
Emptiness of what?
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion
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.
Mindfulness is the obvious first choice, but mindfulness can be so ... mindless. Not sure that makes for a good emptiness practice.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion
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.
Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion
The Six Paramitas.
Equanimity/patience especially.
Equanimity/patience especially.
Namu Amida Butsu
Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion
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
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
Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion
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 ...
Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion
I'm in-between teachers.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
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- JimTempleman
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion
With an emphasis on right concentration?
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
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Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion
Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion
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.
- JimTempleman
- Posts: 92
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- PadmaVonSamba
- Posts: 9511
- Joined: Sat May 14, 2011 1:41 am
Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion
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.
So, really everything that you encounter can provide you with an opportunity to explore that.
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion
Just keep going. Here is some motivation: Bassui's Talk on One Mind.Rick wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:38 pmHey 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.)
Also, regarding not having a definitive answer, there is this oldie but goodie:
From here.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.
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
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
Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion
Yes! Every moment is the perfect moment to see what's really goin' on here.PadmaVonSamba wrote: ↑Fri Sep 03, 2021 1:06 am So, really everything that you encounter can provide you with an opportunity to explore that.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
Re: Emptiness practice off the cushion
Many thanks, Keith!KeithA wrote: ↑Fri Sep 03, 2021 12:19 pm Just keep going. Here is some motivation: Bassui's Talk on One Mind.
From here.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...