Tag Archives: Samatha

Cultivating Śamatha and Vipaśyanā

Posted on November 24, 2019 by Vajragoni

The main emphasis in this chapter of the Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra is the cultivation of Śamatha and Vipaśyanā. Śamatha is contemplative tranquility, or in Keenan’s translation, quietude (which we prefer since it establishes the very essence of quietude). Vipaśyanā is insight-meditation or in Cleary’s translation, observation; hence, it’s a form of meditation that mindfully and insightfully assesses different forms of dharmata and can articulate as such verbally or in writing—this present sutra is a form of Vipaśyanā. As John Powers has stated, “This chapter is one of the great scriptural locus classici for śamatha and vipaśyanā in the Mahāyāna tradition.” read more

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Bodhisattva of Unexcelled Enlightenment

Posted on March 11, 2018 by Vajragoni

This chapter, which elaborates on the ritual practice appropriate for those of lesser spiritual faculties as well as Tsung Mi’s own “meditation retreat” based on this eleventh chapter, was given a nice treatment in the opening blog of this series. read more

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Bodhisattva of Thorough Discernment

Posted on March 1, 2018 by Vajragoni

The Bodhisattva of Thorough Discernment arose from his seat in the sacred assembly, bowed and then prostrated himself at the feet of the Tathagata and then circumambulated about him three times to the right. He then knelt down and with hands clasped in a manner depicting sublime devotion, invoked the Blessed One. read more

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Bodhisattva of Marvelous Ease in Majestic Virtue

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Vajragoni

Then the Bodhisattva of Marvelous Ease in Majestic Virtue arose from his seat in the sacred assembly, bowed and then prostrated himself at the feet of the Tathagata and then circumambulated about him three times to the right. He then knelt down and with hands clasped in a manner depicting sublime devotion, invoked the Blessed One. read more

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Bodhisattva of Universal Vision

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Vajragoni

Then the Bodhisattva of Universal Vision arose from his seat in the sacred assembly, bowed and then prostrated himself at the feet of the Tathagata and then circumambulated about him three times to the right. He then knelt down and with hands clasped in a manner depicting sublime devotion, invoked the Blessed One. read more

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The Ariyan Vocation

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Vajragoni

The Ariyan Vocation is jump-started with two essential variables—Samatha (unshakable calm) and Vipassanā (clear-headed gnosis). Without them one remains bound to patterns of contingency—forever linked with samsaric strings of irrationality and chaotic consequential behaviors. Beings of a nobler-kind are like lotus-flowers that rise above the muck and mire that line the byways of those who are forever linked with ignoble enterprises. read more

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