An Overview of the Buddhadharma By Living Buddha
Sheng-yen Lu FLAME SAMADHI AND OTHERS The Buddha taught us to meditate and use the Skeleton Visualization method to enter into Flame Samadhi. By igniting his inner fire to incinerate the self during visualization, the Buddha could enter into Flame Samadhi, a fruition of fourth level Arhats. In the beginning, although the Buddha also taught us many other different practices, the highest level of achievement attained by most of the disciples who were Arhats was throught Flame Samadhi. This is accomplished by the first kindling the inner (psychic) fire. This fire is then led to ignite the whole body to burn away all obscurations, all unwholesome habitual tendencies, and all emotional afflictions, until a state of total purification is reached. The Realization of Emptiness through incineration of the self by inner fire is known as Flame Samadhi. Realizers of the Flame Samadhi are fourth level Arhats. At the very beginning of our spiritual practice, it is not feasible to instantly abide in Emptiness. We usually start out by training to concentrate our consciousness to one-pointedness. In one of my earlier books, Highest Tantra and Mahamudra, I explained that the most effective methods to bring the mind to one-pointedness are also the simplest methods. Such methods should be clear, distant, and focused, and they include the Vajra Chanting Practice (an inaudible recitation with the lips closed and the tongue slightly moving) and the Treasure Vase Breathing Practice. “Chih and Kuan” is another method. Furthermore, there is the method known as “Termination of Linkages.” In this practice, as soon as one sits down, one empties one’s mind completely and opens oneself totally to the Earth, wind, and atmosphere, and the whole Universe. Such a method is practiced by people who have extraordinary wisdom and are able to merge with Emptiness as soon as they sit down to meditate. All these methods are tools to help one enter into “stability” or “stillness” when one meditates! |
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