Silent Illumination (Part 02)

Introduction

The speaker introduces the four Great vows and mentions that they will be discussing meditation with a focus on illumination. They also introduce the special theory of pratika samapada cycle of dependent origination.

Four Great Vows

• The speaker introduces the four Great vows, which include delivering innumerable sentient beings, cutting off endless fixations, mastering limitless approaches to Dharma, and attaining supreme buddhahood.

Special Theory of Pratika Samapada Cycle of Dependent Origination

• The speaker discusses the special theory of pratika samapada cycle of dependent origination by a Tibetan master who died in 2014.

• The presentation goes along with what has been discussed in previous classes.

• The quote "whoever sees dependent origination sees the Dharma" is introduced as the understanding of Buddha Dharma.

• Whoever sees Dharma sees the Buddha because there is no such teaching; it's just this realization, this direct realization as to how things appear.

• Pratika samapada was the very first thing that Buddha taught.

Understanding Things

The speaker discusses three ways of understanding things and how we possess one mind that is clearly demonstrated in Garba Sutra.

Three Ways of Understanding Things

• There are three ways of understanding things - basic cable (just written words), profound (deeper meaning), and esoteric (directly mind to mind).

One Mind Demonstrated in Garba Sutra

• All of us possess this one mind that is so clearly demonstrated in Garba Sutra.

Conclusion

The speaker concludes by discussing how we don't really get things completely and shares a personal anecdote about their father.

Not Really Getting Things Completely

• We don't really get things completely, even if we think we do.

Personal Anecdote

• The speaker shares a personal anecdote about their father explaining things to them and how they thought they knew but didn't really know.

The Theory of Dependent Origination

In this section, the speaker discusses the theory of dependent origination in Buddhism.

General and Special Theories

• There are two theories: a general theory and a special theory.

• The general theory explains how things came into being, while the special theory explains the genesis of living sentient beings in samsara and their potential release from it.

• The special theory goes beyond the idea that everything is connected and shows how we come into this life as sentient beings and how we can potentially be released from it.

Four Noble Truths

• Understanding the twelve nadanas and how they produce what appears to be sentient beings leads to understanding that there is no sentient being to be saved.

• The four noble truths present the way out, but they must also be probed, investigated, and contemplated.

• Wisdom and compassion are necessary for following this path.

Dependent Origination Sutra Passage

In this section, the speaker discusses a specific passage from the Majima Nakaya that refers to dependent origination.

Understanding Dependent Origination

• Dependent origination is a special theory that shows clearly how things come into being and their appearance.

• Understanding dependent origination makes it easier to perceive Buddha through wisdom and compassion rather than through clinging to illusionary perceptions.

The Power of Ignorance

In this section, the discussion centers around the power of ignorance and how it relates to the mind and gods.

Ignorance vs. Gods

• The mind creates samsara and mara, making ignorance more powerful than gods in heaven.

• Gods are still subject to ignorance because they are phenomena arising in mind.

• Only Buddhas are more powerful than ignorance.

The Limitations of Heaven Dwellers

This section discusses the limitations of heaven dwellers and their inability to save ascension beings.

Heaven Dwellers

• Even with all their power, gods cannot save ascension beings if they cannot save themselves from within.

• Heaven dwellers are caught up in being heaven dwellers and lose their saintliness or perfection when they fall out of heaven.

• Those who used to be in the heaven realm often hate being in the human realm because they do not understand it.

Deceptive Self-existence

This section explores how deceptive self-existence plays a role in perpetual ignorance.

Deceptive Self-existence

• Gilbert is asked about how much deceptive self-existence plays a role in perpetual ignorance.

• No further discussion takes place on this topic.

Avidia: Ignorance

In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of Avidia, which is ignorance in Sanskrit. The power of ignorance is discussed and how it locks us into samsara.

The Power of Ignorance

• Things arise due to ignorance.

• The unknowing mind is what locks us into samsara.

Buddha Mind and States

• Buddha mind does not have states.

• Buddha is beyond states.

Unknowing Mind and Sight Illumination

In this section, the speaker talks about how the unknowing mind locks us into samsara and its relation to sight illumination.

Unknowing Mind

• Unknowing mind is what locks us into samsara.

• Constantly in a state of unknowing.

Relation to Sight Illumination

• Has a lot to do with sight illumination.

• Silent illuminations from the way I practice it is everything is just the way it is so um whether it's an ignorance or not it's just is um suchness.

• Removing ignorance has to do with silent illumination.

• Silent illumination utilizes awareness to illuminate or eradicate ignorance.

Silent Illumination

In this section, the speaker discusses silent illumination and its relation to knowing and quietness.

Knowing and Quietness

• Awareness part is the knowing part but the silent aspect when you meditate is a kind of quietness.

• Almost like you're knowing but you're not engaging in knowing because you are being so silent.

The Suchness of Meditation

In this section, the speaker talks about the nature of meditation and how it is often misunderstood. He emphasizes that meditation is not about going quiet or stopping thoughts, but rather just sitting in awareness.

The Nature of Meditation

• People often make the mistake of trying to go quiet during meditation, but this is not necessary.

• The mind has a knowing aspect that is always present and aware, even if there are no thoughts.

• During meditation, thoughts may come and go like waves on a beach, but they do not stick. The mind remains timeless and aware.

• One thought for ten thousand years - just sitting in awareness without engaging in any kind of thought.

Understanding True Understanding

In this section, the speaker discusses how true understanding is often misunderstood as an absence of knowing. He explains that true understanding goes beyond words and phrases.

True Understanding

• True understanding is not a mere absence of knowing or true understanding; it goes beyond words and phrases.

• There is a story about "the person with no rank" who represents the true self - just this present moment without any ranking or hierarchy.

• Untruthfulness does not mean a mere absence of speaking truth; it means speaking something opposite to truth.

• When we open our mouth during meditation, we betray the truth. It's important to be silent and let go of desires for continuation.

Practicing Sincerity

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the importance of practicing sincerity during meditation. He encourages practitioners to shut up and not let their minds continue with distracting thoughts.

Practicing Sincerity

• During meditation, it's important to practice sincerity and shut up. Don't generate a mind that desires continuation.

• When distracting thoughts arise, be aware of them and let them go. Don't engage with them or try to push them away.

• The mind is just there during meditation - there's no time in meditation, just simply sitting in awareness.

The Importance of Sitting and Illuminating Thoughts

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the importance of sitting and illuminating thoughts. They explain that vexations will arise during meditation, but it is important to let them go and not get attached to them.

Determination to Sit

• The speaker talks about their determination to sit and not move during meditation.

• They emphasize the importance of sitting and illuminating what is occurring without getting attached to thoughts or distractions.

Tests During Meditation

• The speaker explains that all vexations are tests during meditation.

• They express their opinion that one cannot pass these tests because more will come up.

Letting Go of Thoughts

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of letting go of thoughts during meditation.

• They explain that various thoughts will naturally come up, but it's important to understand that they have nothing to do with you.

Wrong Perception and Ignorance

In this section, the speaker discusses wrong perception and ignorance. They explain how grasping onto things creates suffering and how severing the mind can help alleviate this suffering.

Wrong Perception

• The speaker defines wrong perception as a contrary quality to understanding.

• They explain how wrong perception creates an idea from ignorance to aging and death.

Severing the Mind

• The speaker emphasizes the need to sever the mind or state of mind in order to alleviate suffering caused by grasping onto things.

Understanding Not Knowing

In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of not knowing and how it relates to the Four Noble Truths. He explains that our constant grasping and polishing of things creates a stronger ego and self, but through meditation, we can let go of this illusion.

Not Knowing as Ignorance

• The speaker explains that not knowing is a kind of ignorance that falsely misapprehends objects.

• This ignorance is moment-to-moment and constantly certifies an illusory nature.

• Through meditation, we can allow this illusion to disappear.

Mindfulness of Time

• The speaker discusses how our past and future are so narrow that we cannot see them.

• He gives an example of giving a fossil to monastics to illustrate mindfulness of time.

• Super mundane abilities come from being able to stop the idea of a sentient being and utilizing the mind.

Perverse Misperception

• When we don't see things in the right way, we have perverse misperceptions.

• These misperceptions can be divided into conventional objects like cause and effect or Ultimate Reality with no self.

Understanding Attachment and Ignorance

In this section, the speaker discusses how attachment and ignorance are related to each other and how they contribute to our perception of self.

Attachment and Consciousness

• Attachment is present only in mental consciousness but not in sense perception.

• Attachment grasping is concommitant to all six consciousnesses (ear, nose, tongue, body, mind).

• All these types of defilements dictate the way we see things.

Ignorance and Perception

• Nissians which bind sentient beings to samsara is the root of all other afflictions like attachment.

• The niscience or ignorance which is the misperception of the reality of no self creates a misperception where there is no I or mine.

• We need to break through this Nissian ignorance to see that we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Meditation and Clarity

• The mind is very active in meditation but it's just not engaged in the way that we believe it should be engaged.

• From the viewpoint of self, we trick ourselves into doing meditation wrong by being quiet rather than resting in rig paw (clarity of awareness).

• As long as one grasps at aggregates (form, sensation, perception, volition and consciousness), one will perceive an "I".

# The Illusion of Reality

In this section, the speaker discusses how our perception of reality is an illusion and how it contributes to our attachment.

False View and Vexations

• All evils originate from a false view of perishable aggregates.

• As long as one grasps the aggregates, one will apprehend an "I".

• All these things are empty because they are a bubble in the stream. We think they're real but they're not.

Understanding Karma and the Illusory Eye

In this section, the speaker discusses how grasping onto an illusory eye leads to action and karma, which results in birth and aging. The Madhyamaka Batara emphasizes that afflictions arise from false views of impermanent aggregates.

Grasping onto the Illusory Eye

• Nagarjuna explains that grasping onto an illusory eye leads to action and karma, resulting in birth and aging.

• The Madhyamaka Batara emphasizes that afflictions arise from false views of impermanent aggregates.

Nullifying the Self

• Utilizing the self as an object can nullify it.

• Ferreting out what we believe to be the self is key to reaching enlightenment.

Compassion for Those Trapped in Samsara

In this section, the speaker talks about prostrating oneself to compassion for those who are involuntarily trapped in samsara. As bodhisattvas, our function is to deliver others from samsara.

Prostrating Oneself to Compassion

• The speaker prostrates himself to compassion for those who are involuntarily trapped in samsara.

• As bodhisattvas, our function is to deliver others from samsara.

Water Wheel Analogy

• The water wheel analogy illustrates how we become fond of a self called "I" and create attachments to things called "mine."

• Dependent origination is taught as the root of whatever misfortune there is in the world.

Teaching Beginners to Meditate with Right View

In this section, the speaker discusses how beginners can be taught to meditate with right view. He emphasizes the importance of strengthening their arm and holding it steady from the very beginning.

Teaching Beginners to Meditate

• The speaker believes that beginners can be taught to meditate with right view.

• Strengthening beginners' arms and holding them steady is important from the very beginning.

Taking Faith in Right View

• We take faith in right view to the cushion with us when we sit to meditate.

• The speaker takes questions and comments from viewers.

Overcoming Ignorance and Faith in Mahayana

In this section, the speaker discusses how to overcome ignorance and have faith in Mahayana. He emphasizes the importance of seeing the world as an illusion and recognizing mind as it is.

Seeing the World as an Illusion

• See the world like the Diamond Sutra: a bubble in the stream, a flash of lightning, a summer cloud, a dew drop on a leaf.

• Repeat this idea like a mantra wherever you go and whatever you see.

• Recognize that everything is an illusion and not real.

• Little by little, attachment to self will be overcome.

Faith in Mahayana

• Have faith in Mahayana and recognize that there is only one Buddha.

• The ultimate return is to mind (ekayana).

• Recognize that trying to become enlightened is like trying to cash in a ticket created from samsara.

• Simply recognize mind as it is and see it clearly.

Clarifying "Shut Up" and Attachment

In this section, the speaker clarifies what he means by "shut up" when referring to attachment. He explains that shutting up means not attaching to thoughts or beliefs about oneself.

Clarifying "Shut Up"

• Shutting up means not attaching to thoughts or beliefs about oneself.

• Everything naturally appears in mind; we don't have to exclude anything from it.

• Let things go by without attachment.

Attachment

• Attachment confuses us into thinking there's a life or being.

• Consciousness tricks us into believing there's an observer (the self).

• Let go of attachment; don't try to make the mind blank.

Slogans and Side Elimination

In this section, the speaker discusses slogans in Tibetan Buddhism and how they can lead to silent elimination. He emphasizes that doctrinally, these slogans can only take us so far; we have to do it ourselves.

Slogans and Silent Elimination

• The first six slogans in Lojong walk us right up to silent elimination.

• Doctrinally, these slogans can only take us so far.

• We have to do it ourselves; that's the difficult part.

The Importance of Practice

In this section, Gilbert discusses the importance of practice and how it is essential to tell people that they have to do it themselves.

Sticky Thoughts

• A student thanks Gilbert for his lecture on meditation from last week where he kept calling thoughts "sticky." This simple description has changed the way she views attachment during meditation.

• Gilbert explains that the most insidious of all sticky thoughts is the "I" because it does not have a form. It's difficult to ferret out that appearing in mind, but we don't have to kick the "I" out; we just simply have to illuminate it.

• The Nissian entrenchment is believing in a life and being or an ego or personality. We cannot understand that because we think this world is real, but as we begin to look at it, we see it's not real.

Hearing with Your Eye

• A student asks if there's a correlation between K-16 and silent illumination. Gilbert explains that while listening with your ear, you cannot tell when hearing with your eye (or heart), you are truly intimate. This suggests that senses can be interchangeable and sometimes beyond common vision or listening.

Potential of Senses

• Qigong teaches us that senses can be used interchangeably. For example, if someone has an alcohol problem, one can smell their liver or see some defect in them beyond common vision or listening.

The Infinite Potentiality of the Mind

Gilbert discusses the infinite potentiality of the mind and how it is not limited. He explains that we don't practice for those things because that's silly, but sometimes those things do manifest.

Understanding the Infinite

• When we sit to meditate, we contemplate the infinite.

• There's a great potentiality of the mind that's infinite.

• The mind is not limited; it's infinite.

Seeing Through the Self

Gilbert talks about seeing through the self and understanding that it is not necessarily the thought that's the self, but rather, it is the attachment to the thought.

Attachment to Thoughts

• It is not necessarily the thought that's the self; it is attachment to thoughts.

• We become adept at catching these sticky thoughts or thoughts that emanate from an idea of self.

• It's important to understand this fine line between mine and illusory consciousness.

Breaking Down Reliance on Thoughts

• As we practice and hone our ability to be aware, we are now honing our ability of not attaching to anything going by.

• When we sit to meditate, we have a greater chance of breaking down reliance on attaching to all these thoughts arising moment-to-moment.

Understanding the World and Compassion

In this section, the speaker discusses how to understand the world and develop compassion for others.

The World is Not Real

• The world is not real, it is part of a bubble called samsara.

• Samsara is not self-purifying, but originally pure.

Developing Compassion

• Seeing the world in this way helps us understand how it functions and creates compassion for others who are trapped in samsara.

• We should have compassion for everyone else who is burdened by living in this revolving wheel.

Illuminating Sensations During Meditation

In this section, the speaker discusses how to deal with sensations during meditation.

Identifying Self During Meditation

• When meditating, if you feel good and your body feels wonderful without thought, that sensation can be identified as the self.

Illuminating Sensations

• Don't play into or punish yourself for having these thoughts arise in your mind; just illuminate them.

• Learn to become adept at illuminating what's arising in your mind without picking and choosing; this is a supreme way of practicing meditation.

Letting Go of Sensations

• If you hold onto sensations during meditation, it's like pulling you back from falling into the void; let go of them little by little.

• Don't think about getting close to falling into the void; just continue to meditate and illuminate your mind without thinking about it too much.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this section, the speaker concludes the talk by thanking the audience for attending and encouraging them to practice what they have learned.

Practicing Right View

• The speaker encourages the audience to practice what they have learned about Right View.

• Using Right View in meditation is infinite and wonderful.

• The speaker believes that everyone should learn about Right View and not withhold it from anyone.

Closing Remarks

In this section, the speaker ends the talk by saying goodbye to the audience.

Goodbye

• The speaker says goodbye to the audience.

• The talk will continue next week.