Confessions of a Gypsy Yogini by Marcia Dechen Wangmo

Author:Marcia Dechen Wangmo [Wangmo, Marcia Dechen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-962-7341-75-8
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Published: 2011-12-06T00:00:00+00:00

Normally the sixth consciousness, our mental consciousness, looks away from itself, seeking gratification in outer, perceived objects. Through the practice of meditation, this process is reversed, and the mental consciousness comes back inward and looks at itself. Now, gleaning some basic understanding of the workings of mind, let’s begin with a primary form of meditation: shamatha or calm-abiding meditation. The classic example given to describe the reasons and benefits of this practice is looking in a pond of water and wanting to view your face. If the water is stirred up and murky, you cannot see it, but if the water is clear and still, the reflection appears unobstructed. The first step in being able to distinguish our natural face, buddha nature, is to calm down the rush hour of thoughts and anxieties that drive us ceaselessly, day and night, and bewilder the mirror of our mind until it is unavailable and concealed. Right now, we are not working with pure phenomena to change our unstable and volatile minds—that comes later. Instead, we begin by reuniting with the most basic element in our makeup—our present awareness—through posture, mindfulness, and breath.

As in earlier trainings with the Four Mind Changings and bodhichitta, assume a comfortable seat in your sacred space. A relevant but rarely acknowledged point is that meditators should wear loose-fitting clothing that doesn’t constrict body or breathing in any way. It is helpful to place your meditation cushion on top of a yoga mat or a larger cotton one of dimensions suitable for sitting on the floor, because for some it can be cold or uncomfortable, and thus distracting, to have legs directly touching the hard floor or ground.

Sit cross-legged or with your right leg slightly extended, whichever feels correct and relaxed. The most important, essential point is to keep your back straight; if you need to sit in chair, please do so. Your hands can be placed in several ways: either the position of ease of the great adept Longchen Rabjam, hands resting on the knees; or you can place your left hand lightly in your right one with your thumbs touching ever so gently at your navel, as if holding a piece of paper between them. Keep your head and neck straight, with your eyes fully open, gazing downward toward your nose; this naturally makes the eyes half-closed. In later meditations, there will be instructions for looking straight ahead in midair, but for now that might make it more difficult to steady the mind.

Your breathing should be normal and regular, not forced or contrived in any way whatsoever. Particularly, according to the Dzogchen tradition, breathe through the mouth, not the nose. To start with, merely count the inhalation and exhalation of the breath from one to ten. While you inhale and exhale, count one as freely as possible. Don’t do anything else with your body, speech, or mind. Simply concentrate on your breathing. If you observe your mind wandering, bring it back to the inhalation and exhalation of the breath.

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