Monthly Archives: October 2013

Seedless Contemplation

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Vajragoni

Completion of Book I

Seedless (Nirbīja) Contemplation

The prior sutras all bore merit in disabling the cognitive functions of mind and simultaneously planting rich bodhi-seeds of awareness, thus empowering the yogin to transcend all spheres of samsara and rest in the tranquility of the un-bifurcated (undivided) Unborn Mind. However, the exercises are not yet complete since there is, however subtle, a need to supersede all forms of the slightest objective-semblance that one yearns to meditate on. Seedless Contemplation is when the yogin is so totally AT-ONE with the Unborn that there is no longer any maturation of discursive thought patterns; it is the ultimate prajñā that is Self-Realized without any outflows of intellectual interference. In effect, all becomes sublimated within the Amala-consciousness of the Tathagatas. read more

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Mind Mastery

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Vajragoni

i.40-47 The Refinements leading to Perfection

1.40 Mastery of Mind extends from the smallest particle to the infinite vastness of the Cosmos. read more

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Zen

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Tozen

Zen [1] is the name of [unborn]Mind, and only through the purifying power of Zen can the mind [of a potential Buddha] fully recall itself, its true nature; which is Mind Unborn and no-thing else.
The first mistake all beginners make about Zen, is to believe it is best achieved sitting or standing or even walking, because its foundation is believed to be found on top of a temple governed by a grey lump and source of conditioned consciousness. read more

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Mind Stabilization

Posted on October 27, 2013 by Vajragoni

i.35-39 The Means to secure Absolute Contemplative Focus

Patañjali utilizes a word in this section that will sound familiar to Lankavatarian adepts: pravṛtti. Fernando Tola and Carmen Dragonetti (mentioned in earlier posts) translate it as follows: read more

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Obstacles that prevent Mind’s Quiescence

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Vajragoni

i.29-34 Obstacles that prevent Mind’s Quiescence

1.29 When the Sacred OṀ is invoked, one-pointedness of Mind is assured as obstacles are rendered dormant. read more

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Mircea Eliade on Spirit, Suffering and Yoga

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Vajragoni

In researching this present series on Patañjali I’ve been utilizing numerous resources. By far the most profound is Mircea Eliade’s Yoga, Immortality and Freedom. I feel it indispensable to reproduce in full the following section from his text as it sheds light on our most recent blog, “Divorced from the Cross of Matter.” Eliade is shedding light on the Nature of Spirit (as noted within Saṃkhya-Yoga) and its interesting how one could draw parallels within the scope of Unborn Mind Zen: read more

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Divorced from the Cross of Matter

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Vajragoni

Vomitus Maximus

Triumph of the Spirit

i.24-28 The Lord of Yoga transcends the trap of temporal manifestations read more

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Differences in Subtle Degrees of Samadhi

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Vajragoni

Differences in Subtle Degrees of Samadhi

Throughout these sutras Patañjali frequently formulates his approach through the philosophical principles of Saṃkhya-Yoga: read more

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Yoga: The Art of Transformation

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Vajragoni

In synchronistic fashion with our present series, a new art exhibit portrays the vast tradition of Yoga read more

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Stages of Samādhi

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Vajragoni

Stages of Samādhi

i.17-18 There are varying degrees of samādhic attention

1.17 (Samprajnata Samadhi) distinguishing objective-meditative stimuli via four cognitive tools: through form (gross level); through discriminative participation on more subtle levels; through inspirational means leading to a state of bliss; through direct sublimational identification, I-AM-NESS. read more

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