Lesson Eleven: The Unlosable Treasure-Store (Part II) Sila and Bhavana

The ultimate aim of Vipassana meditation is to

develop penetrative mental powers so as to

understand the Three Characteristics of Life

(Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta) and to realize the Four

Noble Truths.*

The Metta Bhavana can be translatedas the

Development of Universal Loving-kindness or

Unlimited Friendliness. This practice springs

from the understanding that man is not just a

rational being. If the self-transformation is to be

more than an intellectual fantasy,we must

work to transform our entire emotional nature.

Through this practice we gradually develop

feelings of warmth, friendliness, and wishing

well for ourselves (for charity beings at home),

for those who are close to us, and by degrees,

to everything that lives. This feeling is not

confined to people whom -we like but when

Metta is fully developed, it is radiated towards

all, and it springs from our own emotional

fullness irres-pective of external circumstances.

Many people in the modern world have poor

control over their moods and emotions. Instead,

their moods and emotions are controlled by

their pleasant or unpleasant experiences and

external conditions. At the same time, many

religions have advised their followers to have

love and good neighborliness, but these

exhortations have little effect. It is only through

the systematic practice of this meditation that it

is possible to transform one's feelingsto turn

depression into joy, and hatred into love. We

develop the ability to be the masters of our

moods and emotions, and do not allow our

emotions to control us.

By concentrating on the flow of breath in the

body in Mindfulness of Breathing, gradually the

mind becomes peaceful and clear, integrated

and energized, making further progress possible.

By expanding the warm and positive emotion of

friendliness, or loving-kindness by the practice

of Metta Bhavana, we grow more open,

energetic and joyful. These two meditations,

the one primarily inward-going, reflective and

penetrative, the other outward-going,

expansive, can be seen to complement and

reinforce each other. When we are emotionally

positive, concentration becomes easier;

similarly, when we are practised in

concentration, emotional positivity is more

easily generated and more deeply felt.

4.Means to an End

Meditation should not be considered an end in

itself; it is simply the means, a unique and

powerful means, by which we can transform

ourselves from the negative to the positive,

from the lower to the higher aspects of our

nature.

Meditation is not merely pleasant or relaxing

• indeed it requires effort and application - nor
  is it just an avenue to curious or
  spectacular experiences. It is the agent of a
  radical change of our very being, leading
  ultimately to the supreme realization of
  Enlightenment itself.
  The Buddha's message of culturing the mind
  teaches three things: the mind is so near to us,
  and yet is so unknown - therefore, know it; the
  mind is so uncontrollable and stubborn, and yet
  may turn so pliant - therefore, shape it; the
  mind is in bondage all over, and yet may win
  freedom here and now - therefore free it.

*Refer to Lesson 6

*PRECAUTIONS*

Seek the instruction from an experienced

meditation instructor if you wish to learn

meditation. If you are a self-taught meditator,

limit your practice to no more than 20-30

minutes at each sitting, and check your theory

and method with an instructor whenever you

have the chance. This is very important as

prolonged practice of a wrong meditation

technique may bring harm to oneself.

20