B. Alan Wallace, 10 Sep 2013
The essence of the practice of settling the mind in its natural state is as a translation of the Tibetan, not distracted – no grasping.
The Tibetan term for awareness is rigpa – loss of awareness or not knowing is marigpa. The shift from awareness to the loss of awareness indicates that the mind is wandering. The first link of dependent origination is marigpa – not knowing.
Discussion of quantum mechanics and the statement “don’t attribute existence to something that is unknowable in principle”. When does a wandering thought begin – the answer is unknowable in principle because it wouldn’t be a wandering thought if you knew when it began – then it would be a deliberate thought. Likewise for a non lucid dream and also for the beginning of samsara.
Question: If you achieve shamatha in this life do the mental qualities flow into the next life? When you achieve shamatha, the gross mind dissolves into the substrate consciousness. This is also what happens at the time of death. Having attained shamatha, at the time of death you can enter the substrate consciousness lucidly. You know you are there and are prepared for what comes next – the clear light of death. You can then enter the bardo lucidly and direct your attention to where you would like to be born. Some obscuration occurs from the birth process but would have propensities allowing you to develop shamatha again easily.
Seven Point Mind Training – “Once stability is achieved, let the mystery be revealed” The mystery of the nature of consciousness.
Some suggested books:
Ian Stevenson – Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersect and Life before Life
Consciousness beyond Life: The Science of the Near Death Experience by Pim van Lemmel
Erasing death by Sam Parnia
Question: How do you know when grasping is occurring in the meditation? Answer regarding the different levels of grasping. Don’t banish the thought but release your clinging.
Meditation starts at: 25:25
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