A Simple Meditation Guide
A. Prerequisites
1)
Dwelling in an appropriate environment favorable for meditation
2)
Having less worldly desires
3)
Being content of simplicity
4)
Completely giving up unnecessary activities
5)
Pure ethical discipline of middle way life style
6)
Completely getting rid of negative thoughts
B.
Preparation
1) To
clean the room and arrange the objects symbolizing the Perfection of
body, speech and mind.
2) To
acquire wholesome decoration and arrange them beautifully.
C.
Meditation posture
1)
Sit in a full lotus or half lotus posture on a comfortable cushion.
2)
The body should be straight and not bending forward or backwards,
turn the attention inwards.
3)
The shoulders should rest in their natural position.
4)
The head should be in line with navel, neither leaning backward,
forward nor either side.
5)
The eyes should be neither wide open nor too far closed, and they
should be softly looking on the tip of the nose.
6)
The teeth and lips should rest in their natural state and tongue
touched the upper palate.
7)
The left hand placed on the palm of right hand and thumbs should be
touched each other at the level of navel.
D.
Nine times breathing practice of purification
3
times breathing in from the
right nostril, then out from the left,
3
times breathing in from the left nostril and out from the
right.
And
3 times from both nostrils breathing in and out.
E.
Breathing practice for Mindfulness
1)
Balancing the length of breathing in and out.
2)
Mentally counting breathing in and out, from left to right nostril 7
times and vice verse 7 times. And again 7 times from left to right.
3)
Inhalation and exhalation should not be noisy, forced or uneven; let
it flows effortlessly and gently.
F.
Setting up a proper intention
1)
a) Taking refuge in Tri-Ratna
b) Generating Boddhicitta
2)
a) Immeasurable Compassion
b) Immeasurable Love
c) Immeasurable Joy
d) Immeasurable Equanimity
G.
Seven branches purification practice
1)
Humbly arranging alter and paying respect and homage to the Three
Jewels and all sentient beings.
2)
Generously doing offerings.
3)
Gently developing remorse to negative actions committed.
4)
Respectfully admiring positive deeds of others and oneself.
5)
Honestly requesting to the merit fields to show the Dharma path.
6)
Wholeheartedly praying to the merit fields for their omnipresence and
protection.
7)
Compassionately dedicating the merits for the benefits of all
sentient beings.
H.
Mandala offering
Offering
one's body, speech and mind, and belongings and virtues of three
times (past, present and future) and the universe to the merit fields
and dedicating for the benefits of all sentient beings.
I.
Invocation blessings
Calling
upon Buddhas and Boddhisattvas and merit fields to bless one's own
mind stream that transforming all worldly desires into Dharmic
intentions. (One also recites mantras and prayers here)
J. Mental development
practices
Lam Rim / Lo Jong
K. Single pointed
concentration
To set up the Object for
Concentration
Fixing the Mind on the
Object
Tiding up the Mind to the
Object by Mindfulness
Be guarded the Mind by
Introspection
L.
Actual Samatha, Calm Abiding meditation technique
Five
obstacles and eight
remedies:
1)
Laziness 1) Conviction
2) Aspiration
3) Perseverance
4) Pliancy
2)
Forgetfulness 5) Mindfulness
3)
Mental dullness 6) Alertness
4)
Mental excitement 7) Conscientiousness
5)
Unnecessary application of antidotes 8) Correct
Application
Nine
stages of meditation, Six forces, Four
required attentions:
1)
Mental placement 1, hearing 1, strictly evolved
2)
Continuous placement 2, reflecting
3)
Patched placement 3, mindfulness 2,
interrupting
4)
Close placement 3, un-interrupting
5)
Taming 4, vigilance
6)
Pacification
7)
Complete pacification 5, enthusiasm
8)
One-pointed attention
9)
Balance placement 6, thorough acquaintance 4,
spontaneously
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M. Dedication
Whatever
merits have accumulated during the meditation may become the causes
and conditions of happiness of all sentient beings and for their
enlightenment.
