Lamrim Meditations
Practicing Lamrim Meditations changed my life. It can change yours, too.
The New Meditation Handbook from Tharpa Publications, production of the New Kadampa Tradition:
The New Meditation Handbook is a practical guide to meditation that teaches us how to make ourself and others happy by developing inner peace, and in this way making our lives more meaningful. Without inner peace there is no real happiness at all. Problems, suffering and unhappiness do not exist outside the mind; they are feelings and thus part of our mind. Therefore, it is only by controlling our mind that we can permanently stop our problems and make ourself and others truly happy. The twenty-one Buddhist meditation practices presented in this book are actual methods to control our mind and experience lasting inner peace. This extremely practical guide is an indispensable handbook for those seeking happiness and meaning in their lives.
This one book, more than any other, is responsible for changing my life.
I also own the three-volume set The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, an extended study on Lamrim.
I’m into it.
The books are merely a guide. It’s the practice, it’s doing the meditations that changes your heart and your life.
Practice, practice, practice.
Buying the book merely for intellectual knowledge is a waste of time.
Understanding gets you nowhere.
Feelings lead to your destination.
The original Lamrim sequence was prepared by the Buddhist Master Atisha (982–1054). It was later updated by Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419) and translated by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso (1931–2022).
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso– 1931–2022, RIP. You were the bridge between our cultures. I owe you everything. I felt your Love. Thank you.
I request one last Blessing: Please, find me in the Bardo and guide me on my journey. I will navigate by the Power of your Radiant Light.
The Void
Several years ago, I arranged my life to spend several hundred hours in float tanks practicing Lamrim in total sensory deprivation.
I learned to hear the distant streams in my mind through years of meditation practice.
The voices and forces I animate dramatically are both the raging rivers and the quiet voices, barely noticeable, difficult to tune.
I had time to meditate in sensory isolation — lots of time. I developed a sensitive radio dial.
It’s a practiced skill, nothing more.
Like hitting golf balls.
I marvel at the Power of the mind. Anyone who devotes time to practice can achieve this.
I’m not the first. The Buddha achieved this 2,500 years ago and went way, way beyond.
He taught meditation.
The monks who’ve been following his footsteps ever since, same thing.
You are more powerful than you realize.
Much more powerful.
Enter Zen from There
An apt analogy comes from a Zen Buddhist story.
Master and disciple sit in meditation. The Master was calm, peaceful, and open to life. The disciple was uneasy, his mind aflutter.
The disciple asks, “Master, How do I enter Zen?”
The Master sits and listens. Meanwhile, the disciple’s mind is agitated by impatience for an answer.
The Master finally says, “Do you hear the mountain stream?”
The disciple turned his attention away from his disturbing thoughts and listened for the distant, faint sounds of cascading water.
He observed.
He became peaceful.
His mind fell silent as he focused on observation.
After some time and focused concentration, the disciple heard the stream.
Excited, the disciple exclaims, “Yes! Master, I can hear the stream.”
The master replied. “Enter Zen from there.”
(the end)
Jack Kornfield, The Roots of Buddhist Psychology was Buddhism 101 for me. I’ve listened to all 9 hours many, many times!
My Most Challenging Meditation
One of the virtues you meditate on is called Equanimity. Scholars come up with all manner of odd interpretations, but it’s basically about balance.
Ideally, you want to hold all people in your heart Equally.
No favoritism.
It sounds like an admirable goal to aspire to, but when you get down to the mechanics of it, it’s really, really hard.
My Most Hated Enemy
I no longer have enemies, but I did at one time.
Many people collect enemies like marbles they can use to weigh down their Hearts.
When I thought about this person, all manner of hatred and bile would spring forth, flooding me with negativity, and that sickly stench of Death would poison my heart.
I would meditate on my victim story, beating this person mercilessly in my mind.
Over and over until my heart turned to stone.
It wasn’t wise.
No, No, a Thousand Times No
My Equanimity meditations prompted me to examine this behavior and try to turn Darkness into Light.
I decided to meditate on my enemies’ good qualities and accomplishments and look for admirable items.
HOLY CRAP! NO WAY!!!
Well, my mind did provide some resistance to the process.
A little.
For a second or two.
Okay, maybe for months….
War was raging in my heart.
The Lynchpin
When I won that battle, my heart cracked open, like it broke free from its chains.
I released that enemy and all my other enemies ran to the door.
Yes, I still had work to do, calling up each one, admiring them, and setting them free.
There is no get-out-of-jail-free card. You still have to do the work.
But once it’s done, a pure heart, no longer dragged down by those marbles of hate, is Life’s greatest reward.