Ornament of Precious Liberation by Gampopa

Author:Gampopa
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wisdom Publications

16. The Perfection of Meditative Concentration

The synopsis for the perfection of meditative concentration is:

The perfection of meditative concentration is summarized as sevenfold: reflections on the drawbacks of its absence and the benefits of its practice; its nature; its different aspects; the essential characteristics of each aspect; how it can be increased; how it can be made pure; and its fruits.

The first of these, [namely, the drawbacks of its absence and the benefits of its practice,] is as follows. Someone possessing the qualities of generosity and so forth but lacking meditative concentration can be overpowered by distractions and so will be wounded by the sharp fangs of the afflictions. Thus Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life says:

Humans whose minds are very distracted

live between the fangs of the afflictions. BCA 8:1

Furthermore, without meditative concentration, the clear cognitions325 will not arise, and without them you will not be fully equipped to benefit others. Lamp for the Path to Awakening says:

Without the achievement of tranquility,

the clear cognitions will not emerge. BP 38

And without the force of the clear cognitions,

others’ welfare will not be achieved. BP 35

Moreover, if you lack meditative concentration, wisdom will not arise, and if wisdom has not arisen, enlightenment will not be attained. Thus the Letter to a Friend says:

There is no wisdom where there is no meditative concentration. SU 107

In contrast, if you are endowed with meditative concentration, you will abandon craving for lesser things, clairvoyance will emerge, and many doors of meditative absorption (samādhi) will be opened within you. Thus the Verse Summary of the Perfection of Wisdom says:

Through meditative concentration, craving for lowly sensual pleasures are rejected,

and one truly attains intelligence, the clear cognitions, and meditative absorption. RS 32:3cd

Furthermore, if you are endowed with meditative concentration, wisdom will develop, and this will cause every affliction to be overcome. Thus Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life says:

Understanding that the afflictions are totally vanquished

by profound insight (vipaśyanā) conjoined with tranquility . . . BCA 8:4

Moreover, if you are endowed with meditative concentration, you will have insight into the perfect truth and therefore generate compassion for sentient beings. Thus Perfectly Gathering the Qualities [of Avalokiteśvara] says:

Through settling the mind in meditative equipoise, there will be insight into the ultimate just as it is. Through insight into the ultimate just as it is, bodhisattvas will enter into a state of great compassion for sentient beings.326

Further, through being endowed with meditative concentration, you will establish disciples in enlightenment. Thus the Ornament of Mahayana Sutras says:

It is through meditative concentration itself that all individuals become established in the three types of enlightenment.327 MSA 17:40c

The second, the nature of meditative concentration, is this: It is characterized by tranquility wherein the mind rests within, focused on virtue. Therefore, in the section dealing with the nature of meditative concentration of the Bodhisattva Levels, it says:

It is a one-pointed mind, abiding in virtue.328

This kind of meditative concentration is attained through eliminating its opposing force, namely, powerful distractions. Hence the first priority is to overcome distraction. This

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