Meditation and Concentration

“Concentration” and “Meditation” are two, but they are often linked together under the heading “Meditation”. Concentration is intense focus on an object, often until one becomes the object and the mind is one-pointed, “Zazen” in Zen is like this, as is the practice of the T’ien T’ai (“Tendai” in Japan). Koan practice, in Zen, brings about a one-pointed mind, which sometimes leads to an enlightenment experience.

“Meditation”, in its deepest sense – on which I concentrate, with most students – brings about a focused mind that becomes “no-pointed”. Using a Zen term, this is “Mu Shin” in its true sense. When one comes out of the deep immersion that true meditation brings, one has to consciouslly rebuild the world. It has a deep and lasting effect.

We have the ocean, and the waves that arise from it, looking like this:

(drawing of a line of rolling waves)

The waves arise and fall, creating quite a commotion, though the waves that arise are merely a manifestation of the ocean itself; there is no difference between them. If we can sink, between the waves, to the ocean’s unruffled surface, we have peace with no change.

Similarly, there is the mind, from which thoughts arise, looking like this”

(drawing of a line of jagged peaks)

If we can detect the space before thought, the space between thoughts, we can sink between the whirling thoughts to the absolute quiet of mind without thought, called in India, the “Turiya” level, or fourth state of consciousness. The first three – the waking, sleeping, and dreaming states – are like the ‘unreal’ movie that is projected on the permanent, unchanging screen. All emotions and upheavals occur in the first three states, but the reality is the fourth, unchanging one. This is represented by the incessant droning sound, beneath the lightning changes that occur in the solo instruments, representing the ever-present reality. My teaching of Meditation is primarily aimed at realizing, and resting in, this underlying state.

To rest in this Turiya State is to realize, and minifest, Samadhi. In Yoga this is the ultimate goal, though Zen, and Buddhism in general, want to go on to “Prajna”, the inherant wisdom. It is thru the practice of this Samadhi that the Prajna, latent in all, is uncovered.

I have been with Yogis as they practise and realize the Bliss of this Samadhi (Turiya State). Many have developed strong powers, that they could use profitably in the world, but why would they want to? To be able to enter this Fourth State at will brings the greatest Bliss, and, probably satisfaction that can be known in this world – not to mention the effect it has on future lives. Can we live the usual everyday life in the world and still realize this Blissful awakening? This is a difficult question to answer.. Those that I have known, who have realized it (not the fulfillment of some transitional goal), have always been those who have given up everything else. Sad, but true, Vairagya (non-attachment) is the absolute necessity. However, we can practice meditation as a portion of our busy lives.