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The
Twenty-Five Preliminary Ways & Means
for Observation of the Mind, Page
Eight
From The Calm-Observation, Volume Four...
These twenty-five aspects are the preliminary ways & means for attaining mental concentration (Samadhi) and spiritual insight (Prajna). The observations of the different spiritual contemplation are not the same and therefore one should adjust the ways and means accordingly. It is like tuning the strings on a lute in order to play different melodies. If one tries to distinguish all the details and minutiae there will be a countless number of ways & means. There will be problems if one only blindly follow the words and so one must grasp their intent.
These twenty-five ways & means are external to concentration itself. Therefore they are also called the 'distant' or 'remote' ways & means. In causing the regulation of one's mind, all of a sudden one will spontaneously see the principle of the true spiritual aspect of reality. Upon seeing the principle, what is the point of discussing what is internal or external, immediate or distant?
The Long Chapter says:
One does not attain
the spiritual wisdom and insight by observing that which is internal, that which
is external or both. It is not apart from observing that which is internal,
that whch external, or both. And further one does not attain the spiritual wisdom and
insight without observation."
Here we have clarified the external ways & means for Calm-Observation. However one should not fixate or become attached to them and consequently produce ideas of what is right and what is wrong among them. If one understands the intent and regulates the balance between sinking into too much calm and floating in too much observation, both the external and internal ways & means will be successfully attained. If one does not grasp the intent, both ways & means will be wrong.
Copyright © Peter Johnson 2001 - All rights reserved
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Since July 9, 2001