Sunday, September 10, 2017

Breaking up with bliss

I have often in my years of meditation fallen into the trap of mistaking the lovely effects of meditation as the goal of meditation.  This is doomed loop because simply the act of aspiration loses sight of the fact that we are already what we seek.  Beneath and in and around this suffering is the true clear self.  The more we grasp at this absolute self, the more we lose it.

This week I am experimenting with what Mingyur Rinpoche calls breaking up with bliss before it breaks up with you. My meditation practice is mature enough that I have frequent moments of clarity, non-conceptuality. Though less frequent, I also have moments of bliss.

I have a tendency when I feel bliss to do my utmost to extend it, as though I am going to increase it, like a lung span.  But perhaps what I need to do is the opposite.  See bliss as a cue to resting in suffering.  When I'm aware of suffering, I don't increase the suffering, I create space around it.  I'm not sure exactly of the dynamics of bliss. But I do know that if I'm courageous enough to feel my suffering, the lessening of it makes the experience calm and pleasure more frequent and more durable.

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Bliss, Clarity, Non-Conceptuality

According to Mingyur Rinpoche in Joy of Living

Bliss is pure undiluted happiness. As it grows stronger it seems like everything is made of love.

Clarity is being able to see into reality. Everything makes sense.

Non-conceptuality is total open mindedness. No distinction between self and other.


These are the fruits of meditation