Chris Marti:
Hi, Jan --
is it advisable to use reading dharma books (and in a way, also the content of what I read) as an object for practicing concentration?
Is it as good of an object for as classical ones mentioned above?
do some good teachers recommend this practice?
I've never heard of reading being used as an object of concentration. This is probably because the kind of concentration we're trying to develop in meditation isn't the same kind of concentration we use when reading. Reading concentration engages the narrative, thinking and evaluating, active mind. Meditative concentration is attempting to develop a quiet, non-active mind.
aloha chris, jan,
Reading is good but not a substitute for meditation. Chris expresses this well. But it begs the question, what is the role of reading in spiritual practice?
The goal of all spiritual practices is
prajna, deep insight into nondual reality. Individual thoughts are, as dan points out, dualistic. Think of black marks seen against an (ignored) white background, or reflections seen in an invisible mirror: images on a screen.
All of us have read a great deal; daniel has even written books.
The sufis say there are three books one must read: holy scripture, the book of the soul, and the book of nature, that is of the cosmos. We discern, we discriminate good and bad, holy and profane; we have a moral compass and a sense of gravity, of up and down. Our understanding is embodied in a set of ideas, a "paradigm," if you will. By reading these three books we improve, we practice, we perfect. We grow and mature.
You might try reading only the best stuff - using your own judgment and respecting your intuition and guidance - and spending half of your time with it reflecting on what it means. Meditate as needed for balance. The more you fill your mind with ideas, the more you have to empty it out. (Think of it as a game, for surely it thinks so of you.)
terry
from saadi, the golestan
Story 25
If people injure thee grieve not
Because neither rest nor grief come from the people.
Be aware that the contrasts of friend and foe are from God
Because the hearts of both are in his keeping.
Although the arrow is shot from the bow
Wise men look at the archer.
One of the Arab kings ordered his officials to double the allowance of a certain attendant because he was always at the palace expecting orders while the other servants were engaged in amusements and sports, neglecting their duties. A pious man who heard this remarked that high degrees at the court of heaven are similarly bestowed upon servants:
If a man comes two mornings to serve the shah
He will on the third certainly look benevolently on him.
Sincere worshippers entertain the hope
That they will not be disappointed at the threshold of God.
Superiority consists in attending to commands.
The neglect of commands leads to exclusion.
Who possesses the criterion of righteousness
Places the head upon the threshold.
