Highlights from the teachings of Shamatha & Vipassana Meditation

March 2008 (Part One)

I. What is a Dharma friend?
A dharma friend is one who digs out your hidden faults.

II. Listening, contemplating and meditating - the path to realisation.

III. Samsara begins at the time you are confuse and ends when we dismantle the believe of dualism.

IV. According to Tarpo Tashi Namyel, once we embrace buddhism, it is important to practise. (Mahamudra, Shambala)

V. Meditation need blessings and merits to be successful, hence it is important to have spiritual guidance. Tranquility Meditation (Shamatha) is one-pointed concentration - non conceptual and without duality. Insight Meditation (Vipassana) is analytical comprehension (wisdom that analyses all the time) is supplementary, a perception that examines the mind.

Combining them
Eventually the perfect ease of mind and body is automatic and effortless and the analytical mind is also automatic and effortless. Tranquility & Insight has become one. Shamatha and Vipassana are closely linked and has no difference.Tranquilty makes the mind unshakeableInsight makes the mind unmovable, like a mountain. The goal of both is to attain realization.

VI. A root guru is one who can show you your true nature of mind directly. Nowadays, it is difficult to meet with your root guru, due to the degenaration age hence your refuge guru is very important. The degeration age causes the 4 elements to be imbalance. (ref. notes on Guru Padmasambhava's hidden treasure treatise - terton)

VII. It is important to be guided by Mindfulness, which reminds you of your good acts, and Awareness, watches your acts.

NB. If any errors are found above, all errors are of the author and are not a reflection of Rinpoche's teaching which are perfect in itself.