Meditation for developing luminous mind

General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
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Element

Meditation for developing luminous mind

Post by Element »

Dear Forum,

In the texts, the Buddha has provided instruction on developing a luminous mind.

In the Samadhi Sutta, the Buddha instructed:
And what is the development mind using concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads to the attainment of knowing & seeing? There is the case where a monk attends to the perception of light and is resolved on the perception of daytime [at any hour of the day]. Day [for him] is the same as night, night is the same as day. By means of an awareness open & unhampered, he develops a brightened mind. This is the development of mind using concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads to the attainment of knowing & seeing.
In the Iddhipada-Vibhanga Sutta, the Buddha instructed:
There is the case where a monk develops the base of spiritual power endowed with concentration founded on desire & the fabrications of exertion, thinking, 'This desire of mine will be neither overly sluggish nor overly active, neither inwardly restricted nor outwardly scattered.' He keeps perceiving what is in front & behind so that what is in front is the same as what is behind, what is behind is the same as what is in front. What is below is the same as what is above, what is above is the same as what is below. [He dwells] by night as by day and by day as by night. By means of an awareness thus open & unhampered, he develops a brightened mind.

"He develops the base of spiritual power endowed with concentration founded on energy...

"He develops the base of spiritual power endowed with concentration founded on intent...

"He develops the base of spiritual power endowed with concentration founded on investigation & the fabrications of exertion, thinking, 'This investigation of mine will be neither overly sluggish nor overly active, neither inwardly restricted nor outwardly scattered.' He keeps perceiving what is in front & behind so that what is in front is the same as what is behind, what is behind is the same as what is in front. What is below is the same as what is above, what is above is the same as what is below. [He dwells] by night as by day and by day as by night. By means of an awareness thus open & unhampered, he develops a brightened mind.
With metta

Element
fijiNut
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Re: Meditation for developing luminous mind

Post by fijiNut »

Element,
This is a good thread, I would be interested in the cushion veterans comments on this topic as to how to develop this quality of mind as this is directly pertaining to practice.


metta,
fijinut
fijiNut
Posts: 124
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Re: Meditation for developing luminous mind

Post by fijiNut »

And from Pa Auk Sayadaw from his book "Knowing and Seeing" pg15
You Develop the Light of Wisdom

Strong and powerful concentration produces strong and powerful
light
, and it is by that strong and powerful light that you are
able to penetrate to ultimate reality (paramattha sacca). It is explained
by The Buddha in the ‘Ābhāvagga’ (‘Splendour Chapter’) of the
Aïguttara Nikāya:4F
1
• Bhikkhus, there are four splendours. What four? The splendour
of the moon, of the sun, of fire, and of wisdom........................... (paññ-ābhā).
• Bhikkhus, there are four radiances. What four? The radiance
of the moon, of the sun, of fire, and of wisdom....................... (paññā-pabhā).
• Bhikkhus, there are four lights. What four? The light
of the moon, of the sun, of fire, and of wisdom...........................(paññ-āloko).
• Bhikkhus, there are four brilliances. What four? The brilliance
of the moon, of the sun, of fire, and of wisdom........................(paññ-obhāso).
• Bhikkhus, there are four brightnesses. What four? The brightness
of the moon, of the sun, of fire, and of wisdom...................... (paññā-pajjoto).


And He refers to the light also in His very first teaching, the
Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, when He explains His enlightenment:

2
…thus, bhikkhus, in regard to things (dhammā) unheard before,
there arose in me vision (cakkhu), knowledge (ñāõa), wisdom (paññā),
true knowledge (vijjā) and light (āloko).
Consciousnesses of mundane insight produce strong and powerful
‘light of enlightenment’ (vipassanobhāso), but consciousnesses of
supramundane insight produce light that is extremely strong and
powerful: for example, the light of the Enlightened One’s enlightenment
spread throughout the ten-thousand-fold world system.
1
How does this light arise? The mind that is in deep concentration
is associated with wisdom (paññā). Such a mind produces
many generations of consciousness-produced materiality (cittaja
rūpa) of great brightness.

2 Using that light, we are able to penetrate
to ultimate reality (paramattha sacca); to see things as they really
are. It is like going into a dark room: we need light to see the objects
there.
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Ngawang Drolma.
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Re: Meditation for developing luminous mind

Post by Ngawang Drolma. »

Thank you Element :namaste:
rowyourboat
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Re: Meditation for developing luminous mind

Post by rowyourboat »

Thank you Element, another part of the puzzle is found...
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Jechbi
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Re: Meditation for developing luminous mind

Post by Jechbi »

Rain soddens what is kept wrapped up,
But never soddens what is open;
Uncover, then, what is concealed,
Lest it be soddened by the rain.
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