A lot of threads asking how to meditate. I like to find rare sutras and I found this Mahayana Sutra, the Contemplation of Sitting Meditation. It was compiled in China by Kumarajiva and it's therefore apparently not an Indian Sanskrit Mahayana Sutra. Here's the link of an abridged version with only 18 pages, just focused on the practice>https://philabuddhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Kumarajiva-Sutra-on-the-Concentration-of-Sitting-Meditation-Fascile-1-Parts-1-and-4_rev.pdfI have memorized the order of practice, from the second part, so I will give a TLDR here. You start counting the breath. When you inhale at the peak count 1, when you exhale at the end count 2. Make it to 10 until you can focus on counting without messing up. If you mess up you have to start back at 1. That's counting. Next is flow. You pay attention to the flow of the breath, and realize that the incoming and outgoing breath are distinct because "inhalation is warm, and exhalation is cool." >One should contemplate in the following way: exhalation is drawn In by the mouth and nose as causes and conditions. The causes and conditions of inhalation are brought about by the movement of mind. The way the movement of the mind causes the air to flow is not your own is an analogy to the illusion of the five aggregates. This is probably where most of you will stop. I think you're meant to work at it for a while. But the next step is Fixing. >Fix your consciousness at the tip of the nostrilsIt's analogized to a gatekeeper watching people come in and out. This is the most important part:> In the same way, the fixed mind knows that when the breath goes out, it goes from the navel to the heart, chest, throat, and then reaches the mouth and nose. [The fixed mind further knows] that when the breath comes in, it comes from the mouth and nose to the throat, chest, heart, and then reaches the navel. That way one fixes the mind to one spot, and this [method] is called "fixing."(1/2)
>>41401054Sorry, I reversed flow, it's exhalation is warm, but inhalation is cool.
>>41401054Next after contemplation you do shifting. This is the hardest for me to understand but basically you see the inhalation breath as coming from nowhere and the exhalation of breath as disappearing. The breaths>come into being because [their] causes and conditions meet, and they cease to exist because [their] causes and conditions disperse. Technically this is called sniffing contemplation, the previous method is called coarse contemplation. Finally you attain purification. One practice here is to weed out your negative thought processes like a shepherd takes knots out of the wool of his sheep. Then he talks about mindfulness of body, and finally mindfulness of mind. Hope this helps some people, sorry for messing up the hot/cool, inhalation is cool and exhalation is warm.
>>41401077Shifting contemplation* not sniffing contemplation haaaJeez it's not easy to propagate Buddhism
>>41401054>>41401059>>41401077>>41401080At least you effortposting, that is much more compassionate than simply doing nothing, tyNext time be more patient [with yourself ] and focus on doing the text, when you're doing the text.Then when you've done the text, you'll not need do the text any further.
>>41401275Could you elaborate on what you mean a little more? It gives some merit to propagate these texts. I actually learned from Alan Watts and secondarily a meditation teacher but it's very nice for people to have a TEXT, which is relatively ancient, explaining how to meditate from beginner to expert, in steps.
Bump in case anyone wants help
>>41401346>It gives some merit to propagate these texts.It gives lots of merits, bro. It is just me that am pricky sometimes, but don't worry.Some copypasta that might help the thread:"If you go to practice Prānāyāma, don't go beyond your Guru/Guide say of muscular forcing.The basic texts.--Hatha Yoga Pradipika----Gheranda Samhita----Shiva Samhita--Wherewherewhere? Here:https://archive.orgJust take care when doing the breathing as some muscular tension is needed, Bandhas are important part of it, and you may end with crampling muscles, or a stroke if you overdo the tension.Khumbakas [the breathing patterns] are also essencialhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandha_(yoga)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KumbhakaAlso search for a yoga master or such, to help you out."
>>41402291Thanks, do you guys think this is worth mentioning in meditation threads as they come up?
>>41402546I've heard that some parts of the Atharvaveda have veiled mentions to meditation, but i'll have to check the details before posting it
