Chapter 15 - Right Concentration Flashcards

1
Q

define:

Right Concentration

5

A
  • cultivating one-pointed mind
  • becoming the moment
  • touching the ultimate
  • being aware of sign vs. reality
  • maintaining evenness
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

enumerate:

2 Kinds of Concentration

A
  1. active concentration
  2. selective concentration
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

define:

Active Concentration

A
  • mind dwells on whatever is happening in the present moment, even as it changes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

define:

Selective Concentration

A
  • one object chosen and held onto
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Worldly Concentration

as opposed to supramundane concentration

A
  • seeks to escape
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

define:

Supra-mundane Concentration

as opposed to worldly concentration

A
  • aims at complete liberation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

enumerate:

9 Levels of Meditative Concentration

Nine Dhyanas

A
  1. (form realm)
  2. (form realm)
  3. (form realm)
  4. (form realm)
  5. limitless space
  6. limitless consciousness
  7. nothingness
  8. neither perception nor non-perception
  9. cessation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

describe:

Four Dhyanas - form realm

2

A
  • 1st still uses thinking
  • 2nd-4th give way to other energies
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

describe:

Four Dhyanas - formless realm

3

A
  • begin to see the impermanent, non-self and interbeing nature of phenomenal world
  • sensual desire and materiality reveal their illusory nature, no longer obstacles
  • inter-are: earth/ water/ fire/ air/ space/ time/ nothingness/ perceptions
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

describe:

Limitless Space / object of the 5th level of concentration

2

A
  • space is only one of the six elements that make up all material things (inter-is with other 5)
  • space hasn’t a separate, independent existence

wrong view: everything is space

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

describe:

Limitless Consciousness / object of 6th level of concentration

2

A
  • consciousness is also earth, water, fire and space
  • what is true of space is also true of consciousness
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

describe:

Nothingness / object of 7th level of concentration

3

A
  • fruit is in flower is in cloud is in etc
  • family members contain each other
  • going beyond outward appearances or signs and arrive at signlessness

wrong view: the universe contains millions of separate entities

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

describe:

Neither Perception nor Non-perception / object of 8th level of concentration

5

A
  • recognising everything is produced by our perceptions, which are partly erroneous
  • we can’t rely on our old way of thinking to be in touch with reality
  • we can’t stop perceiving altogether, but we can know that perception is perception of a sign
  • no longer believing in the reality of signs, perceptions become wisdom
  • we go beyond signs (non-perception) but we do not become perception-less (i.e. no non-perception)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

describe:

Cessation / object of 9th level of concentration

3

A
  • cessation of ignorance in feelings and perceptions, therefore insight arises
  • manas is transformed and internal formations in store consciousness are purified
  • arhatship
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

define:

manas

3

A
  • “this is me, mine, not mine”
  • war of consciousness produced by afflictions of impermanence and non-self (greed, hatred, confusion, pride, doubt etc) and always discriminating self from other
  • number one discriminator
    NB: consciousness has to be transformed rather than thrown away

7th Consciousness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

enumerate:

Three Concentrations

A
  1. Concentration on Impermanence
  2. Concentration on Non-self
  3. Concentration on Nirvana
17
Q

describe:

Concentration on Impermanence

2

A
  • keeps from getting caught in suffering of craving, attachment and despair
  • see and listen to everything with this insight
    ex: every time we look at beloved, see him as impermanent and do best to make him happy today
18
Q

describe:

Concentration on Non-self

2

A
  • touching the interbeing nature in everything we contact
  • brings much peace, joy and decreases suffering
19
Q

describe:

Concentration on Nirvana

2

A
  • helps touch the ultimate dimension of reality
  • helps establish oneself in the realms of no-birth and no-death
20
Q

enumerate:

Four Wisdoms

A
  1. Wisdom of Equality
  2. Wisdom of the Great Mirror
  3. Wisdom of Wonderful Observation
  4. Wisdom of Wonderful Realisation
21
Q

describe:

Wisdom of Equality

5

A
  • seeing interbeing and penetrating nature of things
  • comes from manas
  • our consciousness has to be transformed and not thrown away
  • if we throw everything, even the bad, away, nothing left: no joy, no peace, no nirvana!
  • seeing others’ lives as precious as our own as no longer discrimination between self and other
22
Q

describe:

Wisdom of the Great Mirror

5

A
  • seeing everything in the universe reflected
  • maturation of seeds of awakening, love, compassion in store consciousness
  • reflects reality of the cosmos
  • outcome of vow to save beings as volitional action
  • brings the miracles of seeing the Dharmakaya
23
Q

describe:

Wisdom of Wonderful Observation

4

A
  • seeing interbeing, the one in the many, all manifestations of birth and death, coming and going etc without being caught in ignorance
  • transforms manas into the Wisdom of Equality
  • helps understand “enemies”
  • results from transformation at the base
24
Q

describe:

Wisdom of Wonderful Realisation

3

A
  • eyes, ear, tongue, nose and body that previously caused suffering become miracles that bring us to the garden of suchness
  • using first 5 consciousnesses to serve others
  • using 6 senses skilfully to realise good things
25
Q

Where does the Lotus Sutra tell us we need to dwell?

A
  • in historical and ultimate dimensions at same time
26
Q

Why can’t concentration be a means to run away from our suffering?

A
  • Because we concentrate to make ourselves deeply present (to our suffering)
27
Q

define:

Touching the Ultimate

A
  • living every moment of life deeply
28
Q

According to the poet Ngyuyen Du, what happens as soon as we see with our eyes and hear with our ears?

A
  • we open ourselves to suffering
29
Q

What is the difference between having the reality and having the sign?

2

A
  • “Being there” is a concept
    Ex: a tour to India to be photographed with the Buddha
  • The reality touches the ultimate dimension
30
Q

What are Vietnamese girls said to often be told by their mothers?

3

A
  • That if they concentrate, they will be more beautiful
  • This kind if beauty comes from dwelling in the present moment
  • Moving attentively displays freshness and ease
    = Right Concentration
31
Q

enumerate:

2 Levels of Concentration

A
  1. worldly concentration
  2. supra-mundane concentration