Instruction on Meditation at Taiwan Kagyu Buddhist Institute

Many religions practise meditation, even people without a religious belief. Almost everyone accepts that meditation is beneficial. However, what is meant by meditation in Buddhism, which leads to liberation and awakening, is not simple.

In Buddhism, the quality of meditation is judged by the presence and degree of clinging and not only by how settled and stably rested the mind is. This is related to the Buddhist view. Any meditation with clinging, no matter how subtle it is, will not lead to ultimate awakening.

So when you are practising meditation with an object, try not to feel, ”I’m looking at that.’ Don’t grasp at it tightly, that will only increase dualistic clinging.

Just maintain awareness of the object being merely apparent. Practice like this with short durations repeated many times. The ability to be aware is the purpose of the training.

If you can see your thoughts clearly, you’ll realise that your mind never comes to rest for even a second. Seeing this is a sign that your practice is going in the right direction, you have entered the first stage of meditation.

Don’t just accept everything I’ve said, thinking it must be right. That would be stupid. Don’t just reject it either. That would be stupid too. Think about it, examine what you hear, and come to see whether it is true or not for yourself.

Instruction on Meditation by Drupon Rinpoche at Taiwan Kagyu Buddhist Institute, 16 November 2016