Zen question
Tommy Grand
Can you play guitar while in samadhi? Be gentle with me, I'm just
learning the basics.
TG
Tashi
Tommy, I'll be gentle here. I wouldn't worry about being able to play
guitar while in Samadhi, because you, nor I, have a snowballs chance
in hell of attaining that state in the Kali Yuga......... but, by all
means try, it will plant the seeds for attainment of samadhi in a
future life!
" Sentient beings are as numerous as the atoms of the earth, Gods are
like day time stars. "
Tommy Grand
> Tommy, I'll be gentle here. I wouldn't worry about being able to play
> guitar while in Samadhi, because you, nor I, have a snowballs chance
> in hell of attaining that state in the Kali Yuga......... but, by all
> means try, it will plant the seeds for attainment of samadhi in a
> future life!
>
> " Sentient beings are as numerous as the atoms of the earth, Gods are
> like day time stars. "
Oh, I had the (apparently faulty) notion that getting into Samadhi was
the point of Zen Training. But I've only read the first few chapters
and have barely started counting my breaths. Much to learn!
Tashi
In Tibetan Buddhism, the Lamas refer to meditation as "practice" as in
the sense of "practicing" guitar to get good at it. Samadhi is not
the goal of Buddhism it is more of a tool used. There are so many
different kinds of Samadhi. Mastering Samadhi is very difficult, and
is the reason monks go into extended retreats.
Four developments of samadhi are mentioned in the Pali Canon:
Jhana
Increased alertness
Insight into the true nature of phenomena (knowledge and vision)
Final liberation
Post-canonical Pali literature identifies three different types of
samadhi:
momentary samadhi (khaṇikasamādhi)[8]
access concentration (upacārasamādhi)
fixed concentration (appaṇāsamādhi)
Not all types of samadhi are recommended either. Those which focus and
multiply the Five Hindrances are not suitable for development.[9]
The Buddhist suttas also mention that samadhi practitioners may
develop supernormal powers (abhijna, also see siddhis), and list
several that the Buddha developed, but warn that these should not be
allowed to distract the practitioner from the larger goal of complete
freedom from suffering.
The bliss of Samadhi is not the goal of Buddhism; but it remains an
important tool in reaching the goal of enlightenment. It has been said
[who?] that Samatha/samadhi meditation and vipassana/insight
meditation are the two wheels of the chariot of the noble eightfold
path and the Buddha strongly recommended developing them both.[10]
David Raleigh Arnold
No. daveA
--
For beginners: very easy guitar music, solos, duets, exercises. Early
intermediate guitar solos. One best scale set for all guitarists.
http://www.openguitar.com/scalescomparison.html ::: plus new and
better chord and arpeggio exercises. http://www.openguitar.com
Music theory should be clues you can use,
not blues you can't lose.
David Raleigh Arnold
> On Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:04:03 -0800, Tommy Grand wrote:
>
>> Zen people:
>>
>> Can you play guitar while in samadhi? Be gentle with me, I'm just
>> learning the basics.
>>
>> TG
>
> No. daveA
Because when playing you are forming attachments. daveA