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Concluding words
These days there are so many techniques of practice. Many contend that their technique is the best, and try to attract people. But the person who realizes the principle of mind can tell what they really are?what are the strong points and what are the short points in each practice. Whatever their approach is, as long as they help to cultivate One Mind and lead the practitioners to find and dwell in the genuine realm of one’s original nature, they can be of value. Each way of practice has its own strong and weak points whether it is reciting the name of the Buddha, or sitting meditation, or being mindful while in activities. So we should not be deluded by exaggerations.
It can be very time-consuming to learn and master the various disciplines which emphasize the practice of ki,
or the circulation of ki, or the enhancement of physical health. A loss of focus can result and become an obstacle for a practitioner’s spiritual cultivation. We can select and utilize several postures for the purpose of strengthening physical health, but we should not regret later that we spent so much time just seeking the best method.
In addition, some are too hasty to the merits of sitting meditation. A hasty mind is another obstacle in sitting meditation. One should enter meditation without any thoughts or ideas. Any wishing mind or calculating mind will lead you into dualistic thinking. This hinders meditation and can cause the meditator to lose interest in sitting meditation. Therefore, we should not develop expectations about the merits or results of sitting meditation. Instead, we should keep sitting with sincerity and dedication. When the dedication is little and the wishing mind is big, this is not The Way.
If you expect that a short period of sitting meditation will decrease suffering or illness, and become suspicious of its merits after finding your health does not improve quickly, you may become disappointed with sitting meditation. Sitting meditation does not make you healthy all of a sudden. It is said, “the suffering of illness decreases,” which means that illness will decrease gradually. Our physical wellness heavily depends on our physical constitution, so too much expectation of enhanced health is unrealistic. Improved circulation, deepened breathing, and a straight and corrected spine help to decrease the suffering of illness. However, it is too much to expect an immediate disappearance of illness.
?So we should not have a hasty mind about the merits of sitting meditation. It is said that one cannot go a long way constantly keeping a quick pace. We should just endeavor to practice sitting meditation well. Just as we eat three meals, we should just keep on practicing sitting meditation comfortably on a daily basis. In the meantime, many benefits will result.
I would like to conclude this writing by quoting the words of Ven. Sotaesan, the founder of Won Buddhism. The Ven. Sotaesan said,
“If you know the merits of Cultivation you will continue sincere practice without any encouragement. However, you should be very careful about the method. If, without knowing the right way, you become impatient or try to look for miraculous signs, this is the wrong way to meditate. It sometimes gives rise to more illusions and can lead you to contract some disease or fall into evil ways. Hence, you have to check your practice frequently and consult your seniors for instruction, lest you fail in your practice of the Law. If you continue this practice correctly and sincerely, you will easily attain freedom of mind and body. All Buddhas, sages, and great ones in the past have attained great power of mind through this way of meditation.” (The Discourses of The Great Master, On Moral Practice, Chapter 13)
As I do not hold the mind which wanders out,
Nor receive the mind which comes inside,
So now I obtain the One Mind which neither comes nor goes.
The original mind, which neither comes, nor goes,
Is primordially pure and clear, so why be troubled with attachments?
Let go your hold of the cliff.
Forget the boat after crossing the river.
Take one more step forward at the edge of the precipice.
or the circulation of ki, or the enhancement of physical health. A loss of focus can result and become an obstacle for a practitioner’s spiritual cultivation. We can select and utilize several postures for the purpose of strengthening physical health, but we should not regret later that we spent so much time just seeking the best method.