19-8-2011 STABILITY

STABILITY
"Discipline, Stability, and Wisdom" together are known as the "Three Non-outflows" or the three requisites for achieving the state of "Non-outflows," wherein one is liberated from all troubles. One must gain an understanding of these three concepts after entering the doorway of the Buddhadharma.
The first requisite is "discipline" or "precepts," which I discussed yesterday. "Stability" is the next concept of the "Three Non-outflows." How is stability generated? Tomorrow I will discuss some of the meditation techniques and illustrate how discipline can generate stability ad how stability can generate wisdom.
Stability without wisdom is tantamount to "foolishness." Wisdom and intellect without stability turns one into an "arrogant maniac." Therefore, in our practice, we have to cultivate both stability and wisdom.
Whether one practices exoteric or esoteric Buddhism, the most important key is still to develop a stability or "stillness." A stabilized and profound state of meditation leads one to Enlightenment. Therefore, it is paramount that one learns to develop this stability or stillness. Without stability, one cannot tap into the source of all powers or obtain the wisdom associated with Truth. Without stability, one will absolutely not be able to obtain any Dharma Taste in this life. Whether one adopts the approach of "theory" or "practice," the ultimate union with the Truth or the Buddha still requires the engendering of stability. The cultivation of stability or stillness is a very important key in the spiritual practice of Buddhism.
Therefore, the goal of meditation is to enter into a true state of stability or stillness. I have written in my books that this involves the processes of first retrieving all wandering thoughts and focusing them into one point, then returning this one point to zero. What is this zero? Is it Emptiness? Zero can be described as a state of Emptiness, a spontaneous and natural state of “being,” a kind of Emptiness that negates everything. The Buddhist Emptiness is a liberated and natural condition that is totally undifferentiated or unqualified. Although it is a state that defies verbal description, my explanation is that the Emptiness state is spontaneous, liberated, free, and a condition wherein everything arises as the play of consciousness. [audience applause] Tomorrow I will go into the methods of how to enter into the state of stability in our meditation.
In my discussion today, I have pointed out that the approach of “practice” surpasses that of “theory,” and that focusing on one single actual practice is superior to gaining a wider, surface knowledge. In other words, engaging in one single in-depth practice is better than pursuing multiple practices simultaneously. Through the practice of Buddhadharma, the transcendental state of consciousness will become manifest and be integrated into and demonstrated in every aspect of one’s daily life. When there is an ultimate identification with the True Condition, one attains liberation and freedom, as well as obtaining all the powers mentioned in the Buddhist sutras.

Amituofo

Lotuschef

Pure Karma

True Buddha School