During the last week's meditation session,
Sunim made a distinction between focus and mindfulness.
He said that non-Buddhist meditation emphasizes focus,
While Buddhist meditation emphasizes mindfulness.
What is the difference between focus and mindfulness?
I said that Buddhism and non-Buddhism,
But since there are several Buddhism within Buddhism,
I don't think it's the right word to use.
So I did differentiate between Buddhist meditation and non-Buddhist meditation,
But even within Buddhism,
There are several different strains of Buddhism,
So I don't think that comparison or division was precise.
When I refer to Buddhist meditation,
I'm referring to the meditation that Buddha has said to have done himself,
Or that his immediate disciple has been said to engage in.
However,
As history flowed,
Buddhism split into different sects,
And then new sects of Buddhism rose as well.
And then there was heterogeneous mixing of different traditions across religions,
So that other religious tradition of meditation was also adopted by different sects.
So right now,
It's very difficult to say this is Buddhist meditation versus not.
So when I say Buddhist meditation,
I'm referring to the meditative practices engaged in the very beginning of Buddhism.
There are three factors that go into meditation.
One,
Your body and mind needs to be relaxed and at peace.
Second,
Focus on one location,
One place.
And not thoughts,
But try to be awake to what's going on.
What's going on in the here and now?
When I say mindful,
Being mindful means that when it comes to physical sensation,
Being aware of all the physical sensation that happens to your body.
When you refer to a sensation,
Being mindful of sensation means being aware of all the different changes that's happening to your sensations.
When you are being mindful of your own mind itself,
Being aware of the different rise and fall of different sets of consciousness within your mind.
So being able to focus on one thing in the midst of relaxation is very similar to our meditative practices.
But the biggest differentiator in Buddhist meditation is being able to focus on the changes and being able to be mindful and awake to the changes that happen.
And the most important thing to notice is that everything rises and falls,
And rises and falls and changes.
And it's important to know that even joyful emotions or joyful sensations realize that eventually turn into non-joyful sensations,
Negative emotions.
And through that experience,
Realize for yourself that there's nothing concrete for you to be attached to.
So the outcome of meditation for Buddhism is not to obtain a calm or peaceful mind and try to make it stable and sustainable.
It's to actually recognize that there's nothing to be attached to.
And using that recognition,
It's our mission to gain freedom from suffering.
So once again,
To summarize,
The purpose of meditation in Buddhism is not to arrive at that state of mind,
Of peace and quiet and sustainable.
It's actually to get there and look beyond the phenomena that's in front of you and by realizing there's nothing to be attached to,
Gain that freedom and nirvana that you seek.
In that sense,
In relative scale,
The scale of mindfulness is more important.
Thank you.
