meditation is a means to catch a glimpse
of the higher world and further develop a connection
with it.
It is mentioned in the oldest Buddhist
canon that Moggallana, a chief disciple of the
Buddha, was said to meditate that he might
get into touch with other worlds, to be able to
report the fate of those who were once on
earth. Surely, this is no ordinary
accomplishment
In other parts of the canon, it is said that
during meditation, the adept has a clear
observation of his perception being different
from his physical body, such that while his
perception seems enveloped by the physical
body, it is actually disembodied. Other
references in the canon state that during
meditation the adept creates a spiritual body
apart from the physical body, although not
without sensory faculties.
In what might be characterized as the highest
meditation, the adept regards his corporeal
body and mental life to be transitory. He then,
it is said, turns his mind from them to the
undying realm which, by implication, is not
transitory
a
closer examination of zazen’s history reveals
that it was developed during the Sung Dynasty
(960–1279) in China. It is therefore
questionable as to whether or not zazen was
the actual meditation of the Buddha.
Regarding the Buddha’s own meditation, he
sat under the Assatha Tree. This of course is
symbolic and is to be taken mythologically.
Sitting under the Assatha Tree, the Buddha
was actually accessing the undying spiritual
light by which all living creatures are
animated.
In other words, he was not
following his breath or just sitting, which
appears to be the chief goals of zazen.
His meditation accessed something deep and
profound which was beyond the breath and in
fact, beyond the reach of mortal consciousness.
Buddha’s meditation was far from
ordinary. It was not about just sitting the
way many modern Zennists believe, but
coming into contact with a most divine light.
the missing meditation
practice of the Buddha is also the
meditation practice of the Zen masters of old.
not only is DZM the authentic
meditation the Buddha taught to all of his
followers,
As a personal accomplishment, DZM
culminates in our complete emancipation from
the bewitching power of phenomena, thus
setting our spirit free of its former bondage to
things—most notably, the physical body which
is a constant source of suffering. With this
new revelation that DZM brings us, we can see
that our former state of being was completely
blind to the spiritual light’s free and natural
power. We come to understand that we were
never in actual bondage. It was all like a
dream. Put into other words, we know our
true body is one of undying spiritual light
rather than mere flesh.
dark zen meditation pdf
miscellaneous topics of interest.