Notes on meditation - Pauline Maguire

Meditation is the systematic cultivation of resourceful states.

Having worked for a number of years in Advertising (confession) and
Design, I eventually learned to listen to myself and take my values more
seriously and packed it all in to practice the spiritual life.

I had been drawn to the caring professions when I was wee, but an event in
my teenage years left me with a sense of not being strong enough
emotionally too work in the areas I might have otherwise chose to work in.

Practicing Buddhism (and meditation is only one aspect of it) is now where
my effort goes, the value system I chose to work within.  I am moving away
from certain things and moving towards others and this is what the
"practice" is.  Moving away from materialism, consumerism, individualistic
tendencies, isolation, negativity, violence, confusion, conformity to the
group.  Moving towards generosity, interconnectedness, becoming a true
individual, positivity, love, compassion, clarity, wisdom.

The Buddha taught that at the root of the human condition lay three ways
of being that caused us and others suffering to various degrees,  Greed,
Hatred and Delusion; these are our primary motivations and it leads to
suffering on our behalf and others.  Its through the development of
awareness (Sati meditation practice) and Metta that we begin to act not
just out of concern for ourselves but out of concern for others, we become
less 'me' focused and this is a very liberating and joyful place to be.

We see ourselves and all those dear as fixed unchanging beings - we don't
face up to the impermanence of things including ourselves.  We build
lives, families, homes, empires, around us calling it 'ours' - therefore
nobody else's, therefore going against the fundamental fact that nothing
is "ours" for ever, we can hold onto nothing, nothing lasts, all is
impermanent, insubstantial and not fixed. (This is one of my main
reflections as I live in the city trying to practice a simple
non-materialistic life as is the reflection, Do consumer goods make one
happy or do they simply make one hold tighter to them therefore increasing
the threat that life inevitably throws up - the threat of loss, damage or
theft- leading to fear of loss etc)  We  hold on tightly to what is ours,
to our ideas of ourselves and others , to our possessions, etc. when in
fact we are always changing, so are others and our possessions are
impermanent.  We operate in th e world with a mind that reacts to stimulus
in the same habitual way over and over again and this becomes familiar to
us and this is what we end up calling ourselves. So much doom and gloom
you may say but this is not so.  The beauty and joy comes from being able
to see the impermanence of things and not try to grasp them but simply be,
simply be in that moment.  To enjoy the sun set you don't have to hold
onto the sun.  To enjoy a flower you don't have to grab it and hold it
tight.

The Buddha taught tools for change.  I practice in order to change myself
and to change the world around me through awareness and Metta.  How much
better it is when a friendly smile is behind any communication!  At the
Meditation Centre we teach meditation in the knowledge that this has a
positive effect in many ways on each person and the many people they meet.
The ideal is the world becomes a more creative rather than reactive place,
(creative in the sense that through meditation, space is created in ones
consciousness where one can choose a response rather than simply react the
same old way.

Meditation is one aspect of spiritual practice on the Buddhist path. 
There are many, many formulations of the Buddhist path (Indians where fond
of lists!)  I will go simply into The threefold path of Ethics, Meditation
and Wisdom.

Ethics
The Five Precepts are traditional guidelines in the Buddhist world, ways
of being that through 2,500 years of experience have shown to develop a
happier and more contented life.  Try them for yourself and see.

The negative exposition
First precept:                  To refrain from taking life
Second Precept:         To refrain from taking the not given
Third Precept:          To refrain from sexual misconduct
Fourth Precept:         To refrain from false speech
Fifth Precept:          To refrain from taking intoxicants
                                which cloud the mind

The positive counterpart
First precept:          Practice deeds of loving kindness
Second Precept: Practice open handed generosity
Third Precept:  Practice stillness, simplicity and contentment
Fourth Precept: Practice  truthful communication
Fifth Precept:  Practice  mindfulness clear and radiant

Meditation
Meditation has two levels;
ONE is the daily task of working on the mind and seeing what it is we do
focus on and trying to undo those habits (Donal if you remember spoke
about the 5 Hindrances ILL WILL, SENSE DESIRE, RESTLESSNESS AND
ANXIETY,DOUBT AND INDECISION, SLOTH AND TORPER (SLEEPINESS))  We try to
work on these in meditation by acknowledging and accepting and trying to
change our experience by developing the opposite.

TWO  When we do eventually work on the hindrances we calm the mind and
enter into a state of utter calm and tranquillity where we can feel more
ourselves, more grounded and better able to contemplate the challenges
with Wisdom

Wisdom
The aim of Buddhist practice is to develop Wisdom and Compassion.  Wisdom
in this sense in somewhat indescribable.  It is a deep seated knowing (and
seeing into)  on an intellectual and emotional level - reality.  One
description of reality is the fact that all things are impermanent,
insubstantial, and not fixed.  Another description of reality is that of
conditioned co-production - that things arise in dependence upon
conditions, without those conditions things do not arise.  'The thought
manifests as word, the word manifests as the deed, the deed manifests into
habit and the habit hardens into character.... As the shadow follows the
body, as we think so we become'  The Buddha

So these are some thoughts on generally what I was driving at through my
prentation and through various discussions at the weekend. Be well and
Happy -Pauline