tha" in Sanskrit (see below).
Once we have reached this very advanced concentrated state of mind,
we can learn what we want very quickly, including transforming our
mind and developing deep wisdom and insight. Not only our conscious
thoughts can be brought under control, also our emotions and 'unconsciousness',
as they are all based on concepts which can be changed.
WORKING WITH THE MIND
In Buddhist meditation, we try to develop wisdom,
learn to observe our own mind, decrease negative mind states and
develop positive mind states. To develop wisdom and insight, we
need a calm, clear and concentrated mind. To observe our own mind,
we need to develop a kind of inner "spy" - a part of our attention
that checks our state of mind. To decrease negative mind states
we need to understand where they come from and transform them into
positive energy with the wisdom developed from observing our own
mind. To develop positive mind states, we need to focus away from
selfishness and again develop wisdom by observing our own mind.
As you may realise from the above, we should actually become our
own psychologist, or like the title of a booklet by Lama Yeshe:
"Becoming Your Own Therapist".
In order to find the right state of mind for meditation,
we need concentration instead of being scattered, and clarity of
mind instead of dullness. We need to observe our own thoughts and
mind states instead of getting lost in emotions or becoming prejudiced.
We need to be honest towards ourselves instead of fooling ourselves
and walk away from unpleasant problems. Furthermore, we need to
be patient (one does not become a meditation master over night),
generate self-acceptance, confidence and enthusiasm to make the
All these factors need to be in balance: we need to be somewhat
relaxed as well as concentrated, we need to avoid both sleepiness
A quote from the late Lama Yeshe:
"Many meditators emphasise too much on concentration:
if you are squeezing, then there is no control of anger if someone
disturbs you. The beauty of real meditation is, that even if you
are disturbed, you can allow space and time for this."
Another misunderstanding about meditation is that
we should stop thinking. I assume this comes from the emphasis in
many Zen schools to "stop thinking" - which I understand
to mean that one cannot realise or experience emptiness when being
only caught up in conceptual thoughts about it. That would be similar
to trying to experience a beautiful sunset while discussing with
yourself, "Is it the colour of the clouds that make it beautiful,
or is it the quietness; why does the sun turn red etc."
As Allan Wallace writes in Tibetan
Buddhism from the Ground Up:
"The point of Buddhist meditation is not
to stop thinking, for ... cultivation of insight clearly requires
intelligent use of thought and discrimination. What needs to be
stopped is conceptualisation that is compulsive, mechanical and
unintelligent, that is, activity that is always fatiguing, usually
pointless, and at times seriously harmful."
Or, as the late Ajahn Chah said:
"Try to be mindful, and let things take
their natural course. Then your mind will become still in any
surroundings, like a clear forest pool. All kinds of wonderful,
rare animals will come to drink at the pool, and you will clearly
see the nature of all things. But you will be still. This is the
happiness of the Buddha."
But can we change our mind just like that? His
Holiness the Dalai Lama explains in 'An
Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life':
"Though not physical, our states of mind
also come about by causes and conditions, much the way things
in the physical world do. It is therefore important to develop
familiarity with the mechanics of causation. The substantial cause
of our present state of mind is the previous moment of mind. Thus,
each moment of consciousness serves as the substantial cause of
our subsequent awareness. The stimuli experienced by us, visual
forms we enjoy or memories we a react to, are the cooperative
conditions that give our state of mind its character. As with
matter, by controlling th