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Integral meditation practices on the path to Enlightenment

Posted July 2nd, 2009 by Mike Redmer in Meditation Practices
In Reference to:
Freedom and Fullness: Two Forms of Enlightenment

I was watching this video and some things occurred to me. Any comments welcome.

First some questions:

1. Do States as well as State Stages happen or unfold in a particular sequence (ie. Gross Awareness -> Subtle Awareness -> Causal Awareness -> Non-Dual) ?

2. If so, would it be helpful and faster to tailor practices to address each "body"/"state" as they unfold sequentially?

For example:

Gross Body: Gain concentration in the gross body through concentration exercises on breath, mantra, physical sensations, etc.

Subtle Body: Using your built up concentration, target your awareness in your subtle or interior body by doing dream practices as well as some form of meditation targeting subtle or interior experiences. I happen to be a fan of Shinzen Young http://shinzen.org/ who has variousvipassana practices for this some of which are especially good for interior experience are: Focus In, Focus on Change, Focus on Rest and Focus on Positive. But you could use any other kind of interior meditation like visualization, dream yoga etc.

Causal Body: Then once you can maintain some stability within your Subtle experience (lucid dreams, astral projection, visualization etc.), then move on to causal practices (ie. Shinzen Young's Focus on Nothing ((return to the Source)), Self Inquiry, Shikantaza,  etc.)

Non-Dual: Finally do practices more focused on unifying the Subject/Object differentiation. (ie. Shinzen Young's Focus Out, Self Inquiry, Big Mind etc.)

3. Does awakening typically blossom in this linear way? I've heard of many stories of spontaneous awakenings. I have a feeling this is more the exception than the rule though. Or is it just different depending on the individual?

I realize this outline is very conceptual and perhaps leaves out many insights but I'm just trying to come up with a training plan, so to speak, to wake up. From a lot of the material I've read the typical training seems a bit random and you either get "lucky" or not.

Perhaps this is the way the paths have been teaching to approach Enlightenment all along, and I'm just now putting it together. Any help would be appreciated. It seems like, as old as the technology to awaken is, it still seems primitive to me in many ways and perhaps is in need of a operating system upgrade. ;) For the goal of coarse is to awaken the most people, in the deepest way possible, in the fastest time possible is it not?

Again any comments or insights that could help me and others on our paths would be greatly appreciated.

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Stages for State Training..

Posted August 12th, 2009 by Julius Ko

That's a very interesting observation Mike.  I don't always post comments around here.  But I noticed your post and wanted to respond.  I think you have something with your post.  In my own personal experience, it would seem that causal practices, subtle practices, along with causal and non-dual; seem to compliment each other very well.

For example.  I've been doing ALOT of Big Mind (even went on a week retreat); and now i notice that I'm more aware of my dreams; etc.  So I'm starting to focus more on remembering my dreams and being more conscious in them; etc.

I think it's just important to do what you can; and especially the practices that you ENJOY to do.  I LOVE big mind and genpo; so that's definitely one of my core practices, along with alot of energy healing modulities; which exercise my subtle body; within or without my meditation practice; etc.  And I also try to weight train; just because I love the weight room; etc.

Cheers.

- Julius

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juliusko.hubhub.org 
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