| | So I've been getting in 20- 40 minute sits daily. Im using more of an open approach. not worryiong about what jhana Im in. Just totally breathing if Im doing anapana sati. and just doing that. not trying to discern if im in 1st or 4th jhana or whatever. I really found Thanissaro Bhikkhu's essay, "*Jhana not by the numbers" helpful in this respect. Maybe not so much the specific instructuion, but not catagorizing things. Theres definate periods where concentration deepens, efforting and then less effort needed. pleasure arises (because, well, im giving attention to it). it almost seems as though the pleasure takes a sharp turn and turns into almost agitation, maybe due to the piti being more of a physical thing. Then things get a little strange. Theres a weird thing the happens. It doesn't seem that im able to look straight on. Theres a concentrated feel still present but it almost as if its being shook around and I know Im still concentrated because my body is very calm and stable, but not able to look straight on at the object. It seems almost off focus. and, then I'll notice it, and I dont know how to describe what happens, ill try my best though, its almost like the mind... i dont know if letting go would be the right term to use... seems like this out of focus-ness almost sneaks up on me. i think traditionally this would be going from second to third jhana. because a lot is going on with the rapture. anyway... somewhere in there i end up in equanimity. things are realy stable realy solid...
Here the last couple days Im doing more zen style shikan taza sitting. It seems to blend well with the open sensate awareness, the Buddha's instructions to bahaya, AF, dwelling in perfection, awareness itself, and living enlightenment now. it lines up a lot better integration wise as opposed to objectifying something like the breath. that stuff is great, but the shift that has to take place from say getting realy absorbed in the breath then swithing to sensate only awareness.
Im able to do this sensate only awareness very easily. I mean what could be easier than just seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, smelling? Im really feeling this flow, and this freeness. I also make sure that im seeing things as they actually are as oppossed to an altered state of conscioussness. I do believe theres a difference. And, for integration purposes I'd rather be seeing things clearly than being in an asc. Over the last week ive succeeded in dwelling in a pure sensate awareness over 50% of the time. It's fairly easy to dwell in this knowing mind. and it may be the witness it may be direct mode of perception. it may be actualism. I've noticed that I dont even have to question beliefs so much when I just 'look', it just cuts all that crap out. Im not aiming for felicity. Im not aiming necessarily to be happy and harmless in that moment, and Im not not aiming at it. In that sense of not confirming or denying those outcomes I am by default, employing nievete. And.... 'I' step out of the way... and what 'actualy is' just is...
Ross
* http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/jhananumbers.html |