On Meditation

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More Juvenile or Young at Heart T
Basic Know-How T
On Duck Sounds T

More Juvenile or Young at Heart

Be allied with some of the best methods in the the best ways at hand

The moment we fall asleep we are inside.

Be gentle as when laying a feather on a goat's horn - that is, with delicateness. ¤

Stick to the method selected, and it should help you to benefit or prosper in time

TWO OR THREE main sessions or diving periods can be recommended if you are all right. ¤

Train your focusing prowess for a spell, then return to daily living

Becoming more lively and more juvenile - not exactly like little children in diphers - suggests "more careful about looking appropriate". Beter be careful about appearances, to be on the safe side of that.
One should not bargain for or jeopardise subtle, inner attainments. The most adamant athlete focuses very well. Applied: "The moment you become aware your mind has drifted into being preoccupied with ideas, perceptions, feelings, images, memories, reflections, and commentaries, then return really gently to the method at hand.

Summary

Even first-class diving methods may give rise to discomfort. The best practitioners know what to do about such things: Go gently.
Lack of exercise is to be met with tact, and frankness may not suit a thing like that.
Let those who know how to conduct mental research apply meditation themselves first, before they recommend it. For first-hand experience can be a boon.

Basic Know-How

Divulge a fair Way (method, techniques) to unfit others and take the consequence: good, bad or sort of middling.
Should the good thing be diivulged to friends and mates? Well, discretion is not bad. And as with tanning, a little exposure may be all right, while much of it may harm your skin.

A Good Things Works Well Throughout

Figure 1. Front, middle, and end.

Explanation

In Figure 1 it is suggested how a something (a phenomenon) may be good at first, but turning bad in the longer run. It is good to take the long-run effects of things into account as soon as possible, in order to manage our lives much better.
The horizontal arrow represents time, and the vertical axis represents various degrees of "good, bien, bon" upwards from the zero level, and derangements are represented below that ground line; the farther away from the zero line, the more intense it gets, is the idea.
Also, time is somewhat divided into three parts or stretches, attuned to Buddha's teachings: He maintains his teaching (Dharma) is excellent in the front, in the middle, and in the rear. Opposed to such a good thing, many phenomena seem good at first, may be so-so later, and turn destructive in the longer run, at last, as when a bubble bursts: One such example is tentatively (heuristically) illustrated in Figure 1:
The arrow that turns clockwise stands for "good" turns, constructive things, boons. A flattened clockwise turn is still good, but not as much as the rounded one. Anti-clockwise turns represent "bad", deranging influences. So, in Figure 1 we are faced with something that works well at first (phase 1), not as well in the middle (phase 2), and works harm or derangement in the long run, or later (phase 3).
The art of living consists in finding and sticking to what works well in the beginning and throughout, or for as long as needed. If not, for the lack of such "items" of living, one has to make switches from time to time in order not to succumb to derangements and nasty sides to living.
When something new appears, there is an event facade, a front. In figure 1 such a facade (represented by the vertical bar in the utter left). It helps not to succumb to it, as with salesmen's fronted arguments. A facade may not tell truly about what it covers, what is behind it, so to speak. The facade may turn into a veneer, and neuroticism may take over. Some struggle with that.

An example: Thalidomide

What seems excellent in the beginning, may be true or not really so.

And even though a beginning venture may look good and work well for ten years, and "all the people" think it is something wonderful, consider carefully what happened to pregnant women who got thalidomide around 1960. Thalidomide was a sedative that seemed to be unusually safe, with few side effects and little or no toxicity even at high doses. Further testing revealed that thalidomide was particularly well-suited to alleviating nausea and other symptoms associated with morning sickness in pregnant women. The drug went on the market as a treatment for morning sickness in more than 40 countries beginning in 1958. This was "of the beginning".
The harmful effects on the fetuses of certain mammals was not recognized during testing. It produce severe malformations and defects in an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 infants. Once these effects became known, thalidomide was taken off the market in 1961–62. In other words, the "middle" was not good.
The third phase - the end phase" is one of compensations for damages done, and troubles.
And from this we have seen that the facade and first part of a "thing" - a happening, event, a drug, and so on - may look good, and seem very well tested scientifically, like thalidomide was. However, not all aspects of its effects - especially long-range effects on foetuses and the like, were covered. Many often overlook that nice point, both when it comes to new drugs, masters, and a lot else.

Do not overlook or forget to consider middle and end phases too

In the Kalama Sutta it is written that the Blessed One (Buddha), knower of the worlds, "through direct knowledge understood clearly. He set forth the Dharma, good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end". [Anguttara Nikaya 3.65. Kalama Sutta]
Bear in mind that if a thing or diving method is truly good, it helps both in the beginning, in the middle, and in the end - has a beneficial long-run effect. We should go for equipment and methods and other things that work like that, and not overdo it. Most meditation methods that have been explored and subjected to scientific testing, tend to be like thalidomide in that long-range studies (longitudinal research), may be completely missing. In such cases personal testing may be a waste of time, because evidence of single persons does not count as much as statistical testings carefully carried out. There are rules of that "game" to adhere to. It is better to grasp the three divisions of things, study the research in that light, and probe into traditional thoughts that may accompany the methods you take a liking to.
Figure 1 serves to divide happenings (events, phenomena) into three parts to get a rough, first grasp of a whole. The first stretch is the beginning of a venture. The other stretches tend to be overlooked. And it may cost a lot to do it. You should know that.

Do not force anyone to get calm and keep calm, no matter what you think

Unwilling to change -

While you are contemplating (diving within the mind), make a point of keeping the spine straight, and proceed as best you can. Forcing oneself tends to put on brakes deep in the mind, and you probably forced yourself for some time if you get tense. Rotate the shoulders, neck, and other parts of your body, stretching and flexing calmly and with ease; that could offer temporary help during a sitting.
Getting up and taking a walk could help too, but what about taking a wife or husband? Mating breeds a lot of stress that good mates help one another solve, whereas bad mates do not - to the contrary. Maybe you do not want a bad marriage, or are getting old and set in your ways, unwilling to change and make many compromises. Whatever you do, try to practice awareness of what you are doing.

Meditation and recreation both take time

In addition to the regular training, a short sitting (meditation) "whenever" in between other doings may be very fit. Moreover, it may not be fully helpful to practise it with a stuffed stomach. A couple of hours after a regular meal - that seems to suit many; it is a rough guideline. Individual leeway counts a lot too.

Practice could deepen

While you meditate, let go of unsustainable roles. Many tend to get their self-image or perceived identity and worth infiltrated by roles, status, money, responsibilities, and position, but these may be ephemeral in comparison to your inner self - the "I" of identity.
The key to more success, may be: "If it is comfortable for you, you can contemplate and build mental reserves, at least."
The first advantages can be measured, sifted and compared with many others. The long-run advantages have to take on a personal hue and colour - even a brand. In the long run they may have to be unique for each unique person that is fostered by contemplative endeavour - some to be realised quickly, others over months or years - some effect you hear or read of may never come your way anyway for a score of years, so why speculate when you can bore (meditate well)?
Note that the secret of success is to be meticulous, careful. You have to get your supplies of things you need in additon, and maybe you should refrain from going deep into unchartered waters so as to save yourself possible trouble "Play safe" is a standard counsel.

Summary

If you force yourself or others to something, maybe you try too hard.
Use the benefits that accrue from sound meditation to promote good living. That is in step with the middle way that Buddha counsels. Enjoy quality time if you get to it.
Contemplation is a developed "fruit" of regular, careful practice. The practice can deepen in time, and there may be ups and downs in perceived effects.

On Duck Sounds

It is possible to meditation on many things, also duck doings and duck sounds [LINK]. Calm or neutral observation is the great help. Great help or great helpers may make some meditators much dependent. Machines derive from tools that were great helps first. The king tends to be much helped, for example by servants. The king is seldom seen as secretly depending on many, but that is a part of the "play", even nowadays.
If great help fits you, most likely you need to improve.

Tantra and Its Tricks

Reflect on what is good in order to accomplish something.

Here is the deal. Instead of laying bare potent ways and methods to all and sundry indiscriminately, and instead of hiding it all to newcomers, as some do and call such teachings esoteric, there is a sort of middle way. Ancient tantra shows it nicely. It consists of much figurative language, where "things may not be as they appear", or "things are as they appear, yet also contain deeper meanings". The latter approach is shown now. It is Tantric. Expect a trick or two, then. It is much easier to get wrong notions from the surface reading than you might expect. Therefore you get this "enfant terrible" explanation.
Tantra consists of secret practices used for both attaining spiritual experiences and fulfillment of worldly desires and duties. Women as consorts to have union with are thought greatly of in Tantra, and mantras, all as means of getting inside to felicity and bliss of union (yoga). What is fit for the adept may not suit the beginner, and gets camouflaged for that reason. Tantra is shown in treatises of a very wide range. Tantra plays a significant part in Buddhism and Hinduism. Vajrayana Buddhism uses highly figurative language and symbolic terms, and relates to your living as a facet of reality, mainly.
Duck sounds are now used to elevate a Tantric approach in writing.

Pros and Cons

Take a frisk look at ducks too. Many that are called great were helped to the top by camaraderie, privileges, and things like that. Ducks are not like that, and embody that being self-helped in many ways can work better in time. Independence is linked to freedom.
Now to get helped a lot can be good, as long as your heart is in it. Not to get help is degrading in many cases. So there are pros and cons. Stay with what fits you.

This looks a lot like "There is a right way of doing things and a wrong way, and also one for the Army."

Duck is hamsa in Sanskrit

There are many ways of flying, and flying like a duck could help a lot. Besides, ducks are excellent swimmers. Hamsa is Sanskrit for duck, goose, and swan, and gnothi seauton "KNOW YOURSELF (etc.)" is an old Greek saying used by Plato in his ancient Academy. Ancient Indian texts teach that you can know yourself by the duck [!] . To the degree it is true there is strong, although hidden link between the two.
Be that as it may for now; maybe you should try to become more deeply aware of and attuned to yourself before life's opportunities pass by. Skills help too.
Look well too - not unkempt, but tidy - and life might improve. Adjust: Strong sides of any matter may need to be weighed for the sake of deriving benefits. It is often like that.
To discern in a lot of affairs, it helps to be well versed and be able to compare well. Much may be trained.

Duck sounds - be attuned to them

Begin well. Focus on the task at hand first. Go gently at the start. Much in modern living does not go gently enough, so there is a need for going gently too.

Learn to observe and focus as you tune in to something or somebody in a relaxed way.

Great calm may or may not result from a meditation method. It depends in part on you. As long as you do not get overly shocked or disturbed, it may count for something.
Handle rest too. If you fall unconscious in meditation, the breathing has to start again, for that function is regulated in the region of the medulla oblongata, medical expertise assures us. Some scare others that meditation gives too much rest - but those who drop dead from that have not entered the annals of science :)
Deep duck-contemplation was tended to in Vedic times, ancient texts reveal. The very old "Duck Text" (Hamsa Upanishad) is one such work. During the period of prolonged rest note well "The Duck" and its nice, sonorous sounds - they go deep.

We need to keep returning to the duck sounds as soon as we get aware we have lost ourselves in reveries or something else. Feel free to use a regular time schedule. About 35 minutes three times a day may appeal to many. After each session of listening in to duck sounds, take two-three minutes to slowly return to normal activities. Set off time for it in advance. it could bring good help.

It is fair to say there are more ways than one to tune in to the duck and duck sounds - some may do it twice a day, and it is not needed to breathe through the nostrils for it.

The good thing has to be much comfortable to yourself and at times none else. Then some great wall may give lots of protection. Getting a lot richer than others is much like that

You are probably free to make duck sounds as your own private affair. Hours of regular privacy can help being unfettered for all-round purposes. Maybe you should keep the duck sound practice private, and not even divulge what you are doing to friends and class mates. Privacy is to be protected by lots of discretion, and as half of our marriages break, it may not bode well to divulge one's duck sound practice indiscriminately. It is with practising duck sound and with love-making. Some love not wisely, but too well . . . Make it a point to be discreet and heart-warm at any rate.
Blandness and sound privacy in intimate matters is much to keep, also at night, during deep and sound sleep. It should help to go along strict, fair and bland. Make life simple without deterioration if you can. An economic life-style helps many, of course.

Guru Rinpoche, also called Padma-Sambhava. Detail from traditional picture.

As for the duck sound training we mention here, in some it may lead to deep changes of attitudes. Maybe your partners or buddies do not like that you spend a lot of time on duck sounds and not them. It stands to reason to keep what you are doing personal, or divulged only rarely and reluctantly and with great tact. Others have formulated it otherwise, but the general drift of the counsel is: Discretion in intimate matters tends to help. Better be forewarned about it.
It helps to be bulwarked too - even though a big wall, motte, rampart and so on costs - and practical. An OK wall can reduce stress and straining. Be practical about it. A deep hedge may work well in not a few cases.

Sensitive persons need to practise duck sounds very delicately, for the sensitive ones may suffer unless their doings are sensitive too.

If you want to contemplate on ducks and duck sounds for four months, it suggests that you try it all out provisionally. Theoretically speaking, there may be:

Battering changes that make you sad and gloomy and unwilling to listen to the gist-giver or master in question.
More or less harmful or detrimental experiences may surface and make you feel the effects were much bad;
Mid-field changes that pass as neutral, or are fluidly felt to be fairly insignificant in the start;
Pleasant changes;
Very pleasant changes; you would not be without them, for example.

The scale goes from very bad through better and so on to very good. Tie in with research methods like that. It is called the Likert Scale after the American social scientist Rensis Likert (1903-81), and is useful in research that depends on impressions, feelings, attitudes and the like. It can be used as a means of exploring things in many ways. Put another way, "the Likert Scale . . . offers a means of determining attitudes along a continuum of choices, such as "strongly agree," "agree," and "strongly disagree." A numerical value is assigned to each statement." [Ebu "Likert, Rensis]
Observing ducks and the old duck sounds regularly and several times can help toward mind cleansing - or maybe you should seek professional help.
More than half of the population have stress-related physical diseases, according to medical estimates [Ams 477]. Neither neglect nor suppress anything of importance as you tune in to duck sounds. A mentor might assist you to go on and further, and against being too hard-headed, rash and massing.
This is all written to conform broadly to the ancient Tantric style. It is often far better than what it appears to be at first glance.

If discreet training in intoning duck sounds bring on unpleasant feelings, make less effort. Maybe for a week, maybe for your life. It is hard to give general counsel.
Watch out for the small signs of unwelcome experiences as they begin to manifest or surface and let your sails be trimmed to the wind - at times reefed in step with it. Much surfaces; some experiences can be temporary, others quite fixed or much fixed.

It pays to be business-like, administer well, remain a lot tentative deep inside, to put safety first and foremost, and when duck sounds delight you, do not overdo it. Many experiences are of this kind: let it come, do not force anything. If you cannot handle it, perhaps you should seek professional help as is fit. As we were into, relaxing is a boon from duck sounds, and is OK. Many things take time to blossom and set fruit.
Authentic and artistic people may be over-used. Many have "bad habits", but ducks seem to have none. Do your duck observations patently from the start and thereby avoid future unlearning, which may be time-consuming and so on.

Summary

Be attuned to duck sounds to your benefit, and privatly if it suits you best.
Others have formulated these things otherwise: Being protected may help.
Neglect of seeking kindred souls and minds to be with, may cost much as time goes by. Delicate persons need people that are not too different from themselves, or there is a risk of not being understood.

Onword

On this page we have studied "being young at heart again", how phenomena can have a front (facade), and a first phase, a middle phase, and a final phase, and how it matters not to be taken in by facades and even great first results. The good thing is excellent though the three phases, and can be hard to find, especially by a single person's endeavours. It takes tremendous amounts of experience to be able to discern very well in matters of vital importance to the heart, even today, when great hordes of teenagers dream of being popular and neglect that steady performance on top of being genuine is good too -
In the last chapter there is a stress on being attuned to nature and bulwark for it. The text is figurative and allows for being read in several different ways.
On the next page there is more to consider before you finally find a method, teacher, teaching, in-group, and main setting that suits you - hopefully.

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