No More Learning

Mental dullness and agitation are the greatest obstacles to mental quiescence. With dullness, your mind either has no clarity or, if it does, you are in a daze. To perk yourself up, visualise a white dot at your brow and thus bend your mind upwards. The effectiveness of the colour white for
? MENTAL QUIESCENCE MEDITATION 49
eliminating dullness can be illustrated by putting a white cloth in front of your eyes. The while colour being the image on your mind awakens you a little and your mind naturally becomes brighter. Furthermore, if you stay in the sun or in a warm, stuffy place you will inevitably becomct drowsy and dull. Therefore stay where it is cool and breezy and you will be fresher. Also diet is extremely important. Light food makes the mind similarly light.
With agitation, on the other hand, you are ovor-exclted add your mind cannot stay where you wish to place it. Even 'fit maintains a hold on an object, part of it starts to wander astray. Visualising a black dot by your seat bends the mind downwards and the sombre colour naturally makes your mind more subdued. If you are very fidgety, physical exercise will tire you and cause your mind to wander less.
Much agitation is due to the energy-winds being too light and active. Therefore a heavy, fatty diet will weight down these winds and ? make you less flighty.
Thus for a properly balance'\ meditation it is important to look after your body. Your mind rides on the energy- winds through the energy-channels of your subtle body. For these to flow properly depends on the condition of your rough physical body. Therefore a sound body and mind arct
interdependent.
I f you have neither mental dullness nor agitation~
direct your eyes and mind to either a small blue dot or an actual (small blue) object (on the ground) at the distance in front of you of the end of your shadow (or about an arrow's length away). With respect to these, first you should think, "The dot and so forth I am supposed to meditate on is like this," and then you should simply project your mind out to it. If after this (the visualised object) is clear, this is best. But even if it is not cJear, you
should merely think that there is an object like this and then make that the focus of your attention. Then without making any analysis or minute enquiry
? SO MAHAMUDRA
about it, let your mind reach its level and naturally
settle on it without any wandering.
The blue of a clear, dustless autumn sky is a neutral colour that neither uplifts nor subdues the mind. It is beneficial to have both mental placement and clarity with respect to this dot, but if you have only placement this is enough. With sufficient concentration. clarity will come
automatically.
While you still have full clarity, break your session and then continue meditating later. In other words, have short and frequent sessions. Holding your mind (like this) is the fourth point (for mental quiescence meditation) .
? Fot! using on No Objet! t
As for directing your mind on no basis or object, you should stare blankly into space straight in front of you with opened eyes and not direct your mind at any object whatsoever.
Space. like the nature of the mind, is a permanent, unconditioned phenomenon not dependent on causes or circumstances. Therefore staring into space before you is a method of approach for meditation on the mind itself.
This meditation is also similar to those done in anuttarayoga tantra practices concerning the death process. Normally consciousness relies on all the bodily elements as its basis. During the death process. however. the elements as bases progressively fail and consciousness relies on less and less of them. This is figuratively described as the elements dissolving one into each other. First the earth or solid element fails and consciousness can no longer rely on
? it. Then the same happens with the water or liquid. fire or heat and energy-wind or gaseous elements. Finally. the finest level of consciousness, relying only on space. is left alone. inseparable from the finest level of life-sustaining energy. This is what experiences the Clear Light of death and passes into the in-between or "bardo? ? ? state and on into your next rebirth. Thus meditation on the mind with no object is similar to the tantric ones of taking the Dharma- kaya as a pathway for death, in which you simulate in meditation the dissolution process of death and focus finally on the space-like mind itself in the Dharmakiiya Clear Light experience.
? S2 MAHAMUDRA
Meditation on no object should not be confused with blank-mindedness in which you are completely dull as if in a stupor or a faint. It is extremely alert, mindful and clear. but as in the Clear Light death meditations, without any object or thoughts.
Without letting your mind think about anything, do not allow even the slightest mental wandering. Do not direct your mind to (thoughts of) what qualities this state has or does not have, or the past or the future. Post your mindfulness as a spy to check with great diligence that you do not wander
astray, and then relax. In other words place yourself in a tranquil, uncontrived state of being here and now.
Do not wander for even an instant. Be as (attentive as) when threading a needle. Do not let you mind be turbulent, rather have it be like an ocean without any waves. Do not self-consciously try to accomplish anything, rather fix your mind like an eagle soaring. Be completely free from all expectations and worries.
When you have no mental wandering, thoughts will no( come. But when mental wandering occurs, then because your thoughts will come one after the other, try to recognise them for what they are as soon as they arise. In other words, stare right
at them and then fix your mind as before. No matter what thoughts arise in this way, just recognise them for what they are. Place your attention right on them without thinking anything
like "I must block them" or "I have succeeded (in blocking them)", or feeling happy or unhappy. Just look at them with the eye of discriminating aware- ness. Take the thought itself as the basis or
? MENTAL QUIESCENCE MEDITATION 53
object for your mind to hold and then fix upon it. Train your mind not to fall into either too tense or too loose a state. That is the fifth point (for mental quiescence meditation)
When you begin to meditate, it may &eem that your thoughts are ? increasing. This is not so, for you arc merely becoming more aware of the amount of mental traffic that passes through your mind.
The mind and its thoughts arc neither the same nor different. If they were one, there would be no way to quiet or eliminate thoughts. If they were different and separable, you could have thoughts without a mind. Thoughts are the
temporary play of the mind. The mind is clear and pure without any specific qualities, like a mirror. Thoughts are like tbCJ hnages on that mirror; they Cllnnot be separated from it, nor ftre they the same as it.
Thoughts arc the result of confusion about tlte true nature of reality, an~ there are many different kinds. Coarse or rough thoughts arc easy to identify. For instance, if you arc meditating on a cup, and tho thought arises that you want a drink of tea and then you call someone to fetch jt for yoq, this is a ~oarsc ~\lgbt. I\ fine or subtl~ tho. ught WCJ\Ildbe tllinking,"ThisisAct~p" or"Itismadeofwhite J>orcelaip", or identifyillJ tho sopod of a radio while trying to focus on the cup. But whatever type of thought arises, identify it for what it is. Recognise that it is merely a thought, the play of the mind like an image. on a mirror, and without grasping at it let it pass. Have your thoughts ~ntinually dissolve like a parade of characters marching a~ross " st11ge without any ever standing still.
If you think that a little thought does not matter, this is a poor attitude. Forest fires grow from a small llamc. Likewise from the small thought "This is a tea cup", if you
dwell on it you will soon be in the kitchen brewing tea having completely dis~rded your meditation. Just look at the thought, without following it out, and it will Di\turaUy di&s<>lve. Tberc is nothing else it cpn do.
? Focusi11g on tl1e Breath and tl1e Tl1ree Stages of Settling tire . llintl
As a method to hold the mind, you can direct it on the breath as its basis or object. Hold your breath with vase-breathing practice and fix your mind single-pointedly on it without any mental wandering. I f you cannot hold your breath in the vase-breath manner, you should take as your object such things as the counting of your breath. Count your inhaling, exlialing and holding of your breath. Count at first up to twenty-one rounds and then gradually extend it to a hundred. Direct your mind
to your nostrils and hold your attention on count- ingyourbreathswithoutlettingyour mind wander elsewhere.
But if you can hold your breath while (your body is) filled (with air) and then release it (with the vase-breathing technique), you should first expel all the air (from your lungs) three times and then breath in as much air as you can. Force it down beneath the navel and when you can no longer hold it, release it and exhale. Do this again and
again ar. d do not let your mind wander to anything other than this.
? MENTAL QUIESCENCEMEDITATION SS
Focusing on the breath is another effective way to aettle the mind. As mentioned above. the mind rides on the energy-winds or breath. Therefore if there is much turbulent breathing, there are many disturbing thoughts. If your breathing is relaxed, quiet or held, so will be your mind.
There are several types of breathing. Even or normal breathing is the type you have when neither sick n o r excited. Intermediate is when you inhale and slightly hold your breath. Vase-like breathing is when you inhale. contract your sphincters and hold your upper and lower breatha brought together.
This last type has several divisions depending on where the breaths are held. The large vase-breath is held betweea the throat and navel centres, the intermediate between the heart and navel, and the small at the navel. Internal vase- breathing is held inside. while external on the exhale. In general, vase-like breathing has four defining characteristics : (1) held breath, (2) extended abdomen, (3) the ability for the breath to leak either out of your pores or into the central energy-channel and (4) the ability for the breath to be shot out of the top of the head through the central energy-channel once it has been held for a very long time.
? Vase-breathing is a very advanced and potentially dangerous practice. Your Guru will normally teach it to you ooly after you have completed the extraordinary preli- minaries of 100,000 prostrations and so forth. If you tamper incorrectly with your breathing, you can throw your energy systems into imbalance. causing much nervousness.
frustration of energy and wild thought-pat terns? .
If mental dullness or agitation occur. exert effort in the methods to eliminate them in stages. If you cannot settle your mind on any of these types of objects enumerated, then take any other kind of object for meditation that suits you. Personality types are not all the same. Some people hear the teachings just two or three times and then are able to develop a settling of their mind.
? 56 M-4HJMUDRA
Some are unable to develop this even though they meditate a great deal. But if you nourish it and do not give up out of slothfulness, ft is impossible for you not to develop it. But it is necessary to have an experienced Guru to dispel your problems, induce your success and so forth.
Nourishing (your meditation) in this way, (you pass through) three stages of settling your mind. The first is like a steep mountain waterfall. Your thoughts are coarse and many. On the second, your coarse thoughts set (like the sun). Although
occasionally some thoughts will suddenly occur, you recognise them for what they are and as soon as you do so, they subside by themselves. The steam of your meditation flows on gently and steadily like a mighty river. Finally all your thoughts, both coarse and subtle, set (like the sun) and you settle in equipoise intQ a non-i;onceptual state.
This third stage is also rofemd to as tho river bavina merged into the oc:can or tho child reunitjng with his mother after a long separation. Your tboughtJ arc the river or child and the mind the ocean or mother. AU turbulence and uneasiness have been settled, all murkiness stilled and you are in a perfect, pristine state. A more elaborate de~ription
o f nine stages o f settling the mind is found in tho works o f Asanga and KamalaSila. There the di5eussion it found of the eight composing mental faculties to eliminate the five deterrents to concentration, as well as explanations Qf the four types of attention and six mental powers used to progress through the nine stages. Atthough such an outline can be applied here, this present work docs not include s~h detail.
Because it is possible to have such a settling of the mind into a non-cQnceptual state of bliss and clarity in which your mind js in equipoise, alert,
? MENTAL QUIESCENCE MEDITATION 51
vivid, pristine and pure, you should enhance your enthusiastic perseverance until you attain such a settling. Even after you have reached such a state, you must practise so that its continuity will not be broken. That is the sixth point (for mental quiescence
. meditation).
? Elin1inating Hlentol Tigl1tness and Looseness
If you have not reached this third stage or settling the mind, you must further enhance your enthusiastic perseverance. This you should do- through the three techniques of tightening (your mental grip), relaxing it and meditating while- being turned away (from both these necessities).
For tightening (your mental grip if it is too- loose), you should sit in the essential bodily position, look in the proper way and take control of your cognitions. In other words, tighten . up your meditation with discipline. Do not let your mind wander for even an instant. Be as if walking across a single-planked bridge. Draw your mind. tight and perk it up so that it is vibrant (like a be11) but without thinking, "This is the object I should be meditating on. " Do not let your mind wander for even a moment and make your meditation sessions short and frequent. .
For relaxing (your mental grip if it is too tight), do exercises and then (sit) looking in the proper? way.
I f you are tense, nervous and over-agitated, prostration. and circumambulation of religious sites are recommended. This is a beneficial way to harness and use your excess.
? MENTAL QUIESCENCE MEDITATION 59"
energy. Afterwards when you are physically tired and sit back down in meditatioQ, your mind as well as your body will relax and you will have less mental disturbance.
Do not direct your mind at any object, rather let your mind relax itself and loosen down to its natural? state, uncontrived, unself-conscious, not anxiously caring. Just place it on whatever ? comes up. Let it. becQJUO tranquil and relaxed. It? will reach its own le;v~tin equipoise. Do not try to accomplish a~;Y. *ing or ~xert yourself. Relax like a baby with a full. Jtomach or a pile of straw when the rope- ~ying lt. has been cut.
Then fix your mind and have your mindfulness be in the ever-present IDO~ent so that you do not wander at all from this. state.
Except for this, there is nothing to meditate- upon. Just place your mind in its natural state and if your meditation sessions are short, lengthen them slightly. Settle in a resplendent state of mind, and if it dissolves take a rest. But even inbetween meditation sessions, have your mindfulness keep a careful check.
When meditating while turned away (from the necessity either to tighten or relax your mental grip), there will be times when you have no mental wandering and then thoughts will not cpme. But when your mind wanders or many thoughts arise due to some fleeting circumstances, if you try to get rid of them, you will not be able. Just look right at them kindly and think, "Wherever you are going, just go ! "and thus you will intrude (and sever) the train of their going. Then one mor~ will adse, a second will arise-recognise them for what they are. Do not even try to get rid of or abandon
? them, and do not follow them out. DQ not be happy if your mind is settled or unhappy if it is running. Do not worry about your meditation not happening or have expectations and hopes that it will be good. Without any expectations or worrios, have your mind take hold of the thought itself as ita basis (for attention).
You will never bo able to reach a non-oonceptual -state by blocking conceptual thoughts. Tako these very thoughts themselves as your object and focus right on them. Conceptual thoughts dissolve by themselves. When they clear away, a non-conceptual state will dawn. Therefore practise like that. T h a t is the seventh point (for mental quiescence
meditation).
? The AetiUII St? te ol Ment? l Quiescence ? nil tl1e Tl1ree Boons
Next is the way to develop the (actual) state or? mental quiescence and being made to recognise (its nature). According to its definition, mental quiescence is a state in which your mind is quieted of all mental wandering, be it thoughts or grasping. at defining characteristics. It is a placement of the? mind in single-pointed concentration on the non? conceptual nature of things and is free of mentaL
dullness, agitation and foggy? mindedoess. Previously this had been attained with effort, but now it does not rely on any effort. It comes about easily and is blissful, expansively roomy and flexibly fluid. Even when you arise from meditation, your mind does. not alter at all. No matter where it goes, it comes- back and rests in this very state.
Just as a pigeon released from a boat in mid-ocean can? do nothing but return to its ship, your mind. no matter how much activity it has, can only return to its settled state once you have achieved mental quiescence.
When you are walking, sitting, or whatever, your cognitions are at a leisurely pace, your mind is stable, relaxed, at ease, alert, clearly reflecting what- ever appears, not garrishly sparkling, but more toned
? ~2 Mifll. lMUDJLl
down. Because your cognitions are not sticky with respect to their objects, they do not grasp at all their details and thus your mind does not indulge itself in mental wandering.
At all times your mind should be stable like Mount Meru and clear like a mirror able to reflect anything. You should not be excited or inquisitively looking everywhere. I f you focus too minutely on details. your mind will spin and become overwhelmed with thoughts. Be subdued and just let all thoughts and appearances pass through your mind without grasping onto them. If you are walking down a
busy street and even should a dancing girl happen to bo performing on the side of the road, just let her image pass through your awareness without Jetting your attention become glued to her. To be able always to maintain your mental composure is a sign of mental quiescen. ce.
There are three equal boons you receive (in this -state)-bliss, clarity and (bare) non-conceptuality. Depending on which is in a greater proportion, many things can occur such as the boon of heightened vision, the boon o f heightened hearing, e x t r a - sensory perception and even extra-physical powers. There are the ten signs (of single-minded concentra- tion) and so forth. Any of these may happen when your mental quiescence is faultless, and such things will develop on your mind-stream ? like this. These are the foundation that will give rise to all benefits
such as those deriving from penetrative insight.
So at this point, whether you have physical sickness, mental suffering, good or bad dreams, extra-sensory or extra-physical experiences, boons such as bliss, clarity or bare non-conceptuality- no matter what happens, good or bad-do not be attached or compulsively attracted. For sure they have no essence at all, so do not indulge yourself with
? MENTAL QUIESCENCE MEDITATION 63
any thoughts of happiness or depression about them. I f you are obsessed with these boons, they will only serve as a root for sams-ara, making you circle into one of the Three Realms. They cannot liberate you
from cyclic existence. Even non-Buddhists have such accomplishments (as these boons), but they are of
no benefit to them.
Extra-sensory and extra-physical experiec. ces are a side product of single-minded concentration and mental quiescence. Even non-Buddhists attain them through various meditational techniques. In themselves, they are of no consequence unless used as a means for benefiting others.
The boon experiences of bliss, clarity and bare non? conceptuality are the field from which the crop of penetrative insight into their V oidness arises. T o be obsessed with any of them, not realising their Voidness, leads to a rebirth in samsara as a god. Being born as a god in the Desire Realm comes from attachment to the boon of bliss, in the Form
Realm from clarity and in the Formless from compulsive desire for bareness.
In short, if you are obsessed with and attached to whatever experiences and insights you have, you will destroy them. Be detached from them and remain steadily in a non-compulsive state of being unattracted. With enthusiastic perseverance, pull yourself out of restrictive laziness. If you meditate while increasing your tolerance for hardships, you will reap benefits beyond all imagination.
Be like Je-tziin Mi-la r l - p a who meditated in high mountain caves for twelve years eating only nettles. Do not give up if your food runs out or your bed is too hard. Like lifting yourself out of a box, uplift yourself from making excuses for not practising. With perseverance you will reach
. ? Enlightenment.
Therefore you must study about this (with a teacher). As both the Guru and disciple must not make any
? 64 MAHAMUDR. . l
mistakes about the actual boons, comprehension {o( the instructions), meditational insights and the way to develop (mental quiescence}. make sure to recognise
and know them with certainty.
The main thing is not to have any compulsive attraction to sensory objects and to have uncon- trived admiration and loving respect for your Guru. Cultivate an Enlightened Motive of Bodhicitta with. respect to the six types of beings. Have your mind- fulness keep a close check so that you have no- mental wandering. Make short-term plans as if you had no time and execute them straight up and down like bellows. Accomplish what you begin. Do not let yourself come under the sway of polite affecta- tions or the eight worldly feelings.
The root of all attainments is your Guru-devotion and unwavering faith in his instructions. This, combined with. the highest motivation of Bodhicitta, will propel you on to? become a Buddha.
As death can come at any moment, do not make long- term fanciful plans such as . . Next year I shall build a bouse: and then take a wife. Tbia room will be the nursery. l11.
have three children and the furniture will be walnut. . . . . and. so forth. Live in the present moment with the aoal of En- lightenment. Whatever you set out to do, such as a acvcn-day- retreat, carry it through to completion. If you give up in. the middle, this sets up a very self-defeating pattern.
Do not let yourself come under the influence of polite? affectations such as flattering others for favours or trying to- save face. Be like Je-tziin Mi-la ra-pa who had no servants. or masters to worry about. Cast off your bondage to the:
eight worldly feelings of being pleased when receiving gifts, love, attention and so forth, displeased when not, elated. when everything is going well, depressed when it is not,. delighted when hearing pleasant things, annoyed when not,. being happy when praised and upset when abused.
? MENTAL QUIESCENCE MEDITATION 65
All this is very important. If you practise faultlessly like this, you will develop experiences and insight without any effort. Therefore exert yourself to act in this way. That is the eighth point (for mental quiescence meditation).
? Looking A t tire SettletllJiintl
The second main topic is penetrative insight meditation (vipa? yana). You should sit in the essential bodily posture as before. At this point the way of looking is extremely important. Your eyes should not be blinking, wavering to and fro or changing focus, but should be staring intensely with sharp focus
directly ahead (slightly upwards) at the empty space before you.
In mental quiescence your mind bas become like a clear mirror. With penetrative insight you examine the nature or this mirror and the images in it. The way of looking is slightly different for these two. In mental quiescence your eyes should be looking straightforward, relaxed and in focus. For penetrative insight look more intensely and slightly upwards. This uplifts and sharpens the mind. The differ~
ence is like between your arm when it is at ease and when flexed.
Place your mind in a faultlessly settled state of equipoise in which it is natural, at its own level, uncontrived, unself-conscious, not anxiously caring and then make it slightly more intense so that it is clear and vivid, and have your mindfulness keep an ever-present check so that you have no mental wandering.
? 70 MAHAMUDRA
Now look scrupulously at the nature of your mind when it is in fun, perfect mental quiescence. By nature does it have a colour, a form, a shape 1 Does it have an arising, a ceasing, an enduring, or not ? Is it outside, inside, or where is it settled ? Aside from this settled state, is there another consciou'! - ness separate from it 1 Is it nothing whatsoever, a blank emptiness that cannot be identified (as this or that) ? Or, in this settled state, is there conscious- ness which although it cannot be identified (as this or that) is still a vividness, a pristine purity, a resplendence but which just cannot be put into words (like a mute person's tasting of sugar) ? The nature of this settled mind, is it a total blackness, or is it a clear, vivid brightness 'l
All the crucial (attainments) are in terms of what it means by the true abiding nature of the reality of this (mind).
If you realise the true nature of your mind, your Buddha- nature, you have Enlightenment. If confused about it and shrouded in the darkness of ignorant:e, you have sams~a and bring yourself suffering.
Therefore (when your Guru questions you about your meditation) if you spout forth intellectual ideas about it, or parrot descriptions you have heard, or use high-falutin Dharma jargon (you do not under- stand), or, because your mind is gripped by the eight worldly feelings (and you want to impress him), you say you have had fantastic flashes and insights when you have not-if you respond like this, it is like pulling the wool over your own eyes. Y ou are only deceiving yourself. And if you are ordained, then you have broken your vow not to
? PENETRATIYE INSIGHT MEDIT. 4TION 7 [
lie to your Guru with polite affectations. Therefore practise conscientiously. Do not patch up (some experience) out of your imagination, but be com- pletely honest and (speak from) the experiences and insights that develop within yourself from the force of your own meditation.
Do not worry if what you experience sounds a bit silly. Ifafter looking you find that your mind is white, report this to your Guru. He will say, for instance, to check if it is ever yellow. If you come back and say, "It is yellow," he will then say, ? ? No, actually it is neither. " Through such honest exchange and interplay, your Guru will be able to lead you to recognise the nature of your mind. When you look at or examine your mind with incessant questions as above, you may not recognise its nature even if you sec it. Therefore you must rely on your Guru and be totally honest with him, otherwise be oannot help you. What is at stake is your liberation from suffering, Enlightenment and ability to help others.
As this is imperative, tighten your awareness and look (at your mind). Then take a rest and after- wards have another look. As it is necessary to look at the nature of the mind when it is settled, the way you should set it throughout all of this is to place it in a clear, lucid, shining state like the sun free of all clouds.
Tightening your awareness at this point and making an effort to look at its nature is the first way for you to be made to recognise (the nature of your mind). As this is so, the Guru must question and train his disciples in accordance with their mental temperaments and capacities. In order to tame some, it may be necessary to push and question them repeatedly in order to see if they have an intellectual understanding, a flash experience,
? 72 M,. H. lMUDRA
an insight or a solid experience, and to make them recognise these without mixing in affected Dharma jargon. The disciple likewise must exert himself in this. That is the first point (for penetra- tive insight meditation) : looking at the nature of the
(settled) mind.
? Looking 11t tlte Hloving or Thinking 1Jii1ttl
Next, to cut from its root the foundation (of ignorance) you must examine thoroughly the moving mind or train of thought, and be made to
? recognise it for what it is. Adopt the bodily posture, way of looking and acting as before. Place yourself in a state in which you have bliss, clarity and bare non-conceptuality-aJI three, and then relax in this
pristine purity and let a fleeting thought arise all of a sudden from this (state), or purposely emanate a thought of whatever seems suitable.
Look at the nature of the cognition that has been emanated. Look at it at the time it is -emanated. Having looked at the enduring of what bas been emanated, does it have a colour, or a shape? Is there a place it arose from, a place it endured in, a place it ceased into ? What about it ? Is (this thought) located outside, or inside the body ? If it
is inside, i? it in the centre cf the heart, for instance, (in the brain} and so forth '1 Inside, outside, wher- -ever it is, just how does it endure and how is it ~manated ? Investigate this.
This mind, is (its nature) a conditioned pheno- menon (arising from causes}, or is it unconditioned?
? 74 MAHAMUDitA
Does it have an arisal. a cessation, a colour, or a shape 1 If it does, then what kind does it have~ or is it the case that you think it does not (have any arisal and so forth) 1 If you say that it cannot be thought of as being like this, well then, is there still some conscious aspect of it which nevertheless ha~ no arisal or cessation and so forth 1 When you look at a thought, is it that all thoughts arc a voidness,: free from all mental fabrications (of extreme modes. of existence), with no arisal or cessation 1 After you have looked at a thought, is it that it disappears completely, leaving no trace 1 All thoughts that occur, is it that they pop up but cannot be identified (as being like this or like that) 1 Take a look.