(3) A Sample Practice Session

[Niết Bàn Tầm]

A SAMPLE PRACTICE SESSION

1.   Environment should be QUIET, SAFE, and night time is the BEST.

2.   Choose a proper posture, relax your body, and harmonize your breath.

3.   Fix the clothes so you feel comfortably. Close your mouth and press your tongue against the hard palate (i.e., the hard part of your upper mouth). Note the whole tongue is used.

4.   Read in your MIND:
"Today, at the Hoasentrenda monastery (house number ... street name ... etc.) [1]  I am ... with a Buddhist name of ... practice mindfulness meditation with  a Fire kasina in front of ajna. May You [Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Masters, Devas, and Dharma Protectors] all protect the monastery, my family, my wealth, and support me in my meditation endeavour and progress. May You all have fullness of merits and virtues, and everlasting longevity. Let's cultivate with me towards Perfect Enlightenment."

5.   Self-Protection

Female: Read 'Om, Krodana Hum Jah' (7 times). While reading, look at the genital area for SANITIZING and avoiding interferences by UNSEEN beings and forces. Then proceed with the self-protection rituals (see below) by male practitioners.

Male: Use Manjusri Bodhisattva's Om Driym. That is, read 'Om Dri-dim' in your mind at the HIGHEST possible pitch. Then read your vows at the lowest possible pitch.

Note: Practitioners of Pure Land Buddhism do not need self-protection.

•   A Self-Protection Mudra

Join both hands into the praying hands position. The joining pressure is just enough to hold a cigarette paper. Bend the two index fingers such that they are parallel to each other and the left index finger is tucked between the right index and middle fingers. Finally, the thumbs are straight, slightly touching each other, and gently resting on the right index finger.
 


Once the mudra is formed, slowly bring it to each of the following six places. At each place, make a slight touch while reading in your mind the 'Om Driym' mantra at the highest possible pitch.
  (1)   The Spirit Courtyard ('Huyệt Thần Đình'), located 0.5 cun ('Thốn') after the middle of the anterior hairline.
  (2)   The Hall of Seal ('Huyệt Ấn Đường'), located midway between the inside edges of the eyebrows.
  (3)   The Cloud Gate ('Huyệt Vân Môn') on the right chest, located in the hollow just below the lateral end of the right collar bone.
  (4)   The Cloud Gate ('Huyệt Vân Môn') on the left chest, located in the hollow just below the lateral end of the left collar bone.
  (5)   The Chest Center ('Huyệt Chiên Trung'), located at the center of the chest bone midway between nipples.
  (6)   The middle of the closed mouth.
Perform the above rituals seven times.

•   Vows to Read

-   May Manjusri Bodhisattva safeguard me during this practice!
-   May all sentient beings cultivating with me be safe and well!
-   May Dharma Protectors drive all negative and evil influences out of this monastery!
-   May Dharma Protectors be quiescent from bodily movements, quiescent from Dharmic performances, and absolutely quiescent from all activities!

6.   Then start your mindfulness meditation on the vision of a fire kasina. Remember to take notice of your mental state after the session. ANYTHING that could affect your state of mind (e.g., rain, storm, thunder, contact with bad people, excessive talking, anger ... or failure to adhere to sila) will lead to retrogression in concentration.

7.   Before ending the meditation session, thank and dedicate your virtues to all Dharma Protectors.

8.   Exit your meditation session.


Remember: "They can do it. So can I!"


NEVER Confuse a CALM MIND with an ENLIGHTENED MIND !

   Calm Mind:

A calm mind is a psychological state of calmness. It is usually attained by a long-time meditator. This mental calmness is always present in him/her while he/she is earning a living. This state of mind can be exhibited in various degrees as follows:
o   It is the indifference to worldly matters. Sometimes, it is the feeling of "I do not belong here but somewhere else". There appear no ambitions or desires.
o   At a higher state of calmness, this meditator could very well possess premonition, a feeling that something is going to happen but unsure what it is. In the 'Autobiography of a Yogi', Yogananda had such a premonition when he stopped some young kids from bathing in a lake (and hence saved their lives).
o   We should take a special notice of this meditator's extremely high SENSITIVITY. For example, when visiting a patient, this meditator may experience pains or symptoms exactly as the patient.

   Enlighted Mind:

An enlightened mind is also called an ORDINARY MIND (This is a pure, liberated mind, or a mind that reflects everything as such. It is different from the everyday mind of an ordinary person, which is affected by perceptions and defilements). An enlightened mind is profoundly calmer than a calm mind. As such, when a question is raised the answer shows up IMMEDIATELY without going through any intermediate means of meditation, telepathy, mandala, etc. This state of mind is for only those who have attained Jñāna-Pāramitā (the Perfection of Wisdom).



Endnote:

[1] When the meditator is at an advanced level, he/she should read and visualize his/her house.