In the tradition called Mahayana, the highest goal is the realization of is a realization of ultimate truth, which is intimately joined to great compassion. a realization of the emptiness which is united with great compassion.

[01:07]

This is the highest goal for the Mahayana. Sometimes it is said that the realization of the emptiness, they don't mention even compassion because The root of the bodhisattva's life is compassion. So it is the realization of emptiness joined to the root of compassion. Emptiness united, realization of emptiness united with great compassion is also sometimes called buddhahood. And sometimes in describing the path to realizing emptiness devotees of the Mahayana have said the first step is the practice of Samatha.

[02:24]

We've been talking about this practice of Samatha and I I want to continue to look at the practice of samatha, which is sometimes called calm abiding, sometimes called tranquility or quiescence, sometimes called mental stabilization. Many names, many translations. But before talking about Samatha, in accord with the Zen tradition, even before beginning to practice it, there is of how to practice it without defiling it from the start. Bodhidharma said he recommended to tranquilize the mind stabilize the mind without

[04:01]

any contrivance. Yes, stabilize the mind, but don't use any contrivance to stabilize it. Stabilize it with no contrivance. How can Samatha be practiced without being defiled by using some contrivance? It must be practiced together with insight, some insight.

[05:14]

It must be practiced together with an insight that does not set up an agent of gain or a gaining activity. The practice of samatha, in order to not be defiled, we need to understand that it's not the self that practices samatha and realizes It is that whatever comes forth, whatever arises, comes forth and practices shamatha.

[06:19]

You as the self. If I practice shamatha, the shamatha is defiled. But if what practices and realizes Samatha of me, then it's not defiled. It is possible for attention to turn around, to shine back, and inwardly engage with the mind itself without defiling this engagement of the mind with itself.

[07:25]

This activity can occur without interjecting with self doing it. Thank you.

[08:40]

Thank you. Learn to take the backward step that turns the light and shines it inward. Hearing the words, learn to take, or maybe I shouldn't even say learn to take, learn the backward step. that turns the light and shines it inward. Consciousness hears, consciousness is aware of those words.

[10:14]

Now, consciousness is aware of the words. Turn the light around and shine it inward. Learn the backward step. Learn the backward step that turns the light around and shines it back. Let those words come forth. Let those words arise and come forth and practice and confirm Samatha. Hearing those words, just let those sounds be sounds.

[11:19]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[12:42]

Thank you. Okay. Thank you.

[14:21]

Thank you. Thank you. Okay. you

[16:18]

Thank you. Be close. And do not... When an experience arises, it's already close.

[17:42]

Stay close. Be close. It's already the way it is. Being close with whatever's arising. Actually, being close to of what's happening. And do nothing with that mental representation. Do nothing with that conception.

[18:55]

Whatever is arising in awareness is just a concept. A close concept Nothing is done with it The concept is fixed in being just a concept. Being closed in this way is being still.

[20:26]

Being unmoving is being close. continuing to be still, not the concept, not doing anything. The practice of Samatha is realized by the of this closeness and stillness. Samatha is realized and practiced with no contrivance. Okay.

[21:41]

you Thank you. Thank you.

[23:27]

Being intimate with what's happening. Without doing anything with what's happening. is the realization of Samatha. Thank you.

[25:41]

Thank you. Okay. Thank you.

[27:45]

Often, human beings do not appreciate that the mind is intimately engaged with itself. This lack of appreciation of the mind's intimate engagement with itself of the mind resting in itself. Forward step. The backward step is to appreciate the mind peacefully resting in itself.

[29:25]

the peaceful resting which is always going on. If we do not appreciate this backward step if we do not understand it and we try to do something to understand it that's another step forward if we do not understand

[30:30]

We do not realize the mind being closely with itself. If we don't realize that, and just completely do nothing with that lack of understanding, just completely without using acceptance as an contrivance. Just accept that we don't understand the mind is intimately resting in itself. That way of being with this lack of realization of Samatha is the realization of Samatha.

[31:38]

Being close and not doing anything with the forward step is the backward step. In the midst of all experience, giving up all contrivance to realize, realize its comp.

[33:24]

giving up contrivance without making giving up contrivance into a contrivance realizes realizes the calm which was already there which is the nature of mind. The nature of mind is that it does not meddle with itself. It only rests intimately with itself.

[34:29]

It does not meddle with objects. It is simply aware of them. And being aware of Being aware of the object with no contrivance realizes the vivid and abrupt and full completeness of the concepts. Letting the concepts just be the concepts, the concepts become more fully just the concepts.

[35:33]

And there is a realization that they need no meddling. Leaving them alone, appreciating them just for what they are, the mind is calm. When the mind is calm, all things are appreciated for being what they are. Appreciating them just for what they are is realized by the mind restate in itself. Learning that body and mind of themselves

[37:24]

drop away. The original face is manifested Thank you.

[38:39]

These words are offered to encourage the practice realization of Samatha. without any defilement, without any contrivance. These words are offered to encourage wholehearted closeness with what's happening

[40:05]

So that all things that happen can and practice can confirm calm abiding. And that this calm abiding will be the opportunity for body and mind of themselves dropping away in the original selfless space manifesting.

[41:04]

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