A Good Place to Sit

'Live in joy, without possessions, like the shining ones."-Buddha

Good day! If any have gone to the website, so sorry that there are problems! Hope to have things resolved soon! Guess problems are par for the course. . .

In any event I am most pleased to continue the discussion about the Six Preliminaries. Today is about the Third Preliminary: Sitting on the Meditation Cushion, in the vajra posture (full or half)--go to www.aboutmeditation.org/meditation-posture.php/ for an excellent overview of the vajra posture--and begin to open one's mind to thoughts of refuge in the Buddha, the dharma and the sangha and creating the "bodhimind".

When the Buddha sat upon the grass, knowing enlightenment was near, he took this oath:
My body may dry up and
My skin may fall from the flesh and bone
But I shall not rise from this seat
Until enlightenment, difficult to attain in many aeons,
Has finally been attained.

All night the Buddha remained in meditation, and at dawn he "manifested enlightenment". This was after many years of practice. Still, I am daunted by the oath! I have never felt such devotion and dedication to anything I have attempted.

It is important that your meditation cushion have enough padding so that one can sit for long periods of time without becoming too tired or physically uncomfortable. My understanding is that meditation is not torture we must endure, so it makes sense that when we sit, we create circumstances conducive to extended sessions. For some, it takes some experimentation to find just the right combination of cushions, and I suppose some of us need almost no cushion at all, and can simply assume the vajra position right on the ground, on the grass, just as the Buddha.

A straight back and open chest posture reflects our respect, discipline, and willingness to proceed, to open up to the bodhimind (path to enlightenment).

His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama goes into some length as to the correct placement of you body upon the cushion. Let's go into that tomorrow.

Abide in peace and joy, Cynthia