In order to make the most out of the following analytical meditations, it is
important to realise that one should not only observe the analytical mind, but
also the emotions and feelings that come up. Iit is strongly advised to
start with a good motivation beforehand, to take a few minutes to calm down
(doing e.g. a brief breathing
meditation is very good) and to dedicate the positive energy afterwards.
For this, the following traditional prayers can be used:
Taking Refuge
I go for refuge to the Buddha, I go for refuge to
the Dharma, I go for refuge to the Sangha. (3x)
Setting the Mind to Enlightenment
By virtue of giving and so forth, may I become a Buddha for the
benefit of all sentient beings. (3x)
4 Immeasurables
May all sentient beings have equanimity, free from attachment, aggression
and prejudice. May they be happy, and have the causes for
happiness. May they be free from suffering and causes for
suffering. May they never be separated from the happiness that is
free from suffering. (3x)
7-Limbed Prayer
Respectfully I prostrate with body, speech and mind; I present
clouds of every type of offerings, actual and imagined; I declare all
the negative actions I have done since beginningless time, and
rejoice in the merit of all Aryas and ordinary beings. Please
teacher, remain until cyclic existence ends and turn the wheel of
Dharma for all sentient beings. I dedicate the virtues of myself and
others to the great Enlightenment.
Dedication
By this virtue may I soon reach a
Guru-Buddha-state, and lead each and every being to that
state of Buddhahood.
May the precious Bodhicitta not yet born, arise and grow may that born have no decline but increase forever more.
The following list is quite long; it is advisable to concentrate on only one
realm per session.
Hell - Imagine being reborn in hell: continuous suffering of
extreme heat or cold - Continuous fighting, being wounded, dying and rising
up to fight again - Being continuously tortured being in a totally hopeless
situation; not even death means escape
Hungry Ghost - Imagine being reborn as a hungry ghost: not having
food or drink for years, but not dying as relief - Continuously searching
for food and water - If you think you found water, it changes into blood and
pus when you desperately try to drink it, it burns like acid in your stomach
Animal - Imagine being reborn as an animal: as a donkey in India,
carrying heavy loads - I have little to eat as a street dog, always fighting
over food. - Not knowing what to do - Not understanding anything about
the world - Being alert for danger all the time
Human Being - Imagine being reborn a human being: {choose either a
or b} A) Somewhere in a Western country; in the rat-race for money, being
lonely in a city of millions - Somewhere in poor parts of Asia, overcrowded,
noisy, no personal freedom, poor. - Living in a dictatorship, being put in
jail and tortured without any reason - In Africa, in a famine, civil war and
the population dying out because of aids. B) Being born feels like being
squashed between mountains. - When I am born, everything feels hard, cold
and painful. - I will sooner or later meet with unpleasant things,
situations and people. - I will work hard to get the things I like, but
often I will not get them, loose them, or they break down. - I will sooner
or later loose everything I love and care for. - I will get sick, pain in
the head, stomach, throat, intestines, joints, muscles - Inevitably I get
old, ugly, helpless, senile a wreck of body and mind. - I will die, possibly
in great pain and confusion.
Demi-god - Imagine being reborn
as a demigod: a nice life, but the gods above have more enjoyments and
possessions. - The gods steal away all beautiful women and children. -
We have to fight against them, these spoiled thieves. - But however many
wars we fight, they always win. - The women who stay back at home, see their
husbands die in visions.
Heaven - Imagine being reborn as a god: life is great, blissful,
every desire instantly fulfilled. - Not a worry in the world, everything is
paradise, eternal youth. - But sooner or later I will die: my body will turn
ugly, my possessions will not please me any more. - My clothes will become
dirty. - My body will start to sweat and smell. the other gods will reject
me. - Worst of all, I will see my next rebirth as a pig, hungry ghost or in
hell.
Think of some nice experiences; skiing, movie, sunset, sex and check the
following: - How long did it last? - Did it really satisfy me? - Can
I think of any unchanging, lasting happiness in my or others' lives? - Every
relationship ends, food ends, movies end, holidays end, flowers wither - The
final result of nice experiences are: parting, leaving, finishing, withering,
decay and death - Is this really happiness?
- How do I feel right now? - Not very hungry, thirsty, not alone, not too
unhappy, maybe even happy? - My knees and back may hurt a bit, but for the
rest maybe I am ok right now! - Will this happiness stay forever? - Am I
ever sure about anything? - Am I sure to live for 50 more years? - Do I
know what will happen after death? - Am I sure I will be completely
disappear or end in paradise? - I may not believe in hell, but am I
absolutely sure about that? - The pain in my knees would stop if I moved,
but would not some other problem come up sooner or later?
1. Actions produce similar results: negative actions give suffering, pain;
positive actions give happiness 2. No result without cause; nothing arises
without cause, I cannot blame others for my problems; every experience comes
from my own actions in the past 3. Karma expands - apple seed gives tree
which gives many apples, small negative actions may give rise to extensive
suffering, small positive actions may give rise to extensive happiness;
therefore we need to be very mindful of all actions 4. Once an action is
done, result is never lost: nothing just disappears; still, positive karma can
be prevented from ripening by one moment of anger and negative karma can be
prevented from ripening by simple purifications - We cannot eliminate
problems, but we can eliminate our negative reactions. - Understanding karma
means taking full responsibility for my life!
- The law of karma means that certain causes will bring about similar
results. - Is this true in physics, biology, technology, psychology and even
theology or any other "ology"? - If I push hard enough, anything will move;
action is reaction - If I plant rice, I don't get potatoes; causes give rise
to similar results. - If karma exists, I am my own judge, because only I
decide my own future. - When I behave cruel to others, what results can I
expect? - When I am good to others, what result can I expect?
