Chapter 3 method of meditation

As for the question of how many ways there are to meditate, as far as I know, there is only one—meditation.How many postures are there in meditation?Well, there are about 96 kinds of it.But the common purpose of all methods is to seek "quietness".So is "quiet" the Tao?Otherwise, why must "quietness" be required?These are two issues, and at the same time, they are also two different concepts, including three main points, which should not be confused. (1) Stillness and movement are two opposite nouns. The concepts of these two opposite nouns, in a broad sense, refer to two opposing states in physical phenomena in nature. In a small sense, they refer to the activities of life. The two states of rest, action, and rest.Dao is not movement and stillness, both movement and stillness are the functions of Dao.Tao is between movement and stillness, and it can also be said to be in movement and stillness.Therefore, it is very problematic to think that "quietness" is the way.

(2) Seeking "quietness" is an inevitable method for health preservation and Taoism, and it can also be said to be the basic method.In terms of health preservation (including the requirement of health and longevity - immortality): the source of all life functions grows from "quietness", which is a natural function.In nature, the growth of any animal, plant, or mineral enriches its life function from "quietness".Plants in particular—the seeds of a flower, a grain of millet, wheat, etc.—all grow in static and wither in dynamic.In human life, what is often equivalent to activity is rest.Sleep is a kind of inertial posture that people need to rest. The life energy that goes back and forth in life also relies on adequate rest to obtain new vitality every day.

Therefore, Lao Tzu said: "Husbands and things, all things return to their roots, and returning to their roots is called tranquility, which is called restoration of life." It is said that "knowing stop and then having steadiness, being steadfast and then being able to be calm, being still and then being able to be at peace, being at ease and then being able to worry, and being at ease and then being able to gain." These concepts are all the results of observing nature and imitating the laws of nature.Even Buddhist meditation (Chinese late Buddhism, also translated as meditation) is no exception.

(3) In terms of mental state, tranquility is a breeding ground for cultivating close to innate "wisdom".Human knowledge comes from the instinct of acquired life, using intelligence and using brains. "Wisdom" is obtained from the flash of inspiration in "quietness".Therefore, the Buddha's teaching of precepts, samadhi, and wisdom is also centered on meditation -- "Chan Ding", and then achieves the achievement of "Prajna" wisdom. So, what method is used to seek "quietness"?It's a ridiculous question, and people ask it so easily. "Quietness" is "quietness". If you seek "quietness" with your heart, and add methods to the pursuit of "quietness", won't it be more and more turmoil?In terms of Zen, you can answer straightforwardly: "The king's heart is troubled, and let it go away." In this way, "seeking tranquility" is simply wrong, or it can be said: "You don't need to seek tranquility"!That may not always be the case.There is no need to be too high-minded, but it is humble to say that the mental and physical state of ordinary people is often used to dynamics; in terms of psychology, such as consciousness, thought, perception, emotion, etc., it is like a waterfall with many heads or a surging river.There is really a trend of "the endless Yangtze River rolling in"; in terms of physiology, the circulation of blood, the feeling of nerves, and the movement of breath will produce bitter and happy feelings all the time, especially when sitting in meditation. If the body has already hidden the root of the disease, it will There may be sensations of soreness, pain, cold, heat, itching, etc., which are stronger than when the body is still. "A tree wants to be quiet but the wind doesn't stop", the mind wants to be quiet but the more turbulent it is, so people who are new to meditation often find that their thoughts are very messy, and even more irritable and restless than when they are not meditating Therefore, I panic even more, thinking that I should not "meditate", or adding legends such as martial arts novels and folk myths, I am afraid that "meditating" will "go mad".In fact, this is all unreasonable. I put my head on my own head, and my mistakes add to misunderstandings, forming a psychological shadow.