Buddhist
meditation and surrender
Vipashyana,
or investigative looking, is a form of buddhist meditation.
Investigative meditation consists of various types of techniques.
Also the target of investigation can vary from the usual elements
appearing in the mind to subtle energies to awareness itself. The
result of vipashyana practice is to see any appearing phenomena as
impermanent and without self-entity.
Traditional
vipashyana
This
type of meditation is analytical, even calculative, by it's nature.
This depends of the way it is applied. The idea is to look and
observe one's mind, from the subject-self to many kinds of
object-selves. Analytical looking, analytical investigation is reason
or logic-based and has a mental flavour to it. It has everything to
do with looking and seeing. Looking and seeing in turn are related to
the physical area of the head, especially the eyes.
Here,
I'd like to present an alternative way to apply vipashyana. This can
be applied to any sort of mental, emotional or energetic phenomena.
This can also be used in two-part formula that is used in Open
Heart-method to produce awakening.
Instruction
When
you affirm I-ness or when any type of self-based mental content
arises, just surrender.
That's
it. I'll explain this a bit.
Surrendering
is more than relaxation although they are closely related. Relaxation
can be done by the self, or me, but surrendering transcends the self.
Transcending the self means entering selfless awareness. In this
technique surrendering is done while experiencing self-based
reaction. This is not about surrendering to buddhas or gurus but
surrendering to fear, anger and pain, while not being identified with
it. This is so because awareness or rigpa cannot identify with
dualistic confusion. Surrendering cannot be done in an investigative
manner from the head space. Surrendering is an all-encompassing
experience. And this is the genious of using surrender in order to
produce insight. Try and see what happens.
Surrender
A
simple analogy of how surrendering feels like.
Imagine
taking a shower with clothes on. Having clothes on in shower is
something that is usually not done. At first it feels awkward and
weird, as it feels foreign to release all self-based control, that
can surely hide there with investigative looking, and surrender to
pain and discomfort. However, as you are standing under the raining
water, there is no point to fight it or resist it. Just release the
effort together with all hopes and surrender fully to this new
experience.
This
is a simple technique but actually contains a lot. I think this is
much better than the calculative ways of vipashyana. Just surrender
to pain, wherever and however the dualistic delusion arises.
Thank
you,
Kim
Katami,
19.11.2016
