THE PATH OF PERFECTING THE FOUR SUBLIME STATES
This Path, of course, involves the generation of the Last Conceptualization of those Four Sublime States, and we have said that it must begin with Equanimity. We further showed that the Path to the opening of the first seeds of Equanimity starts with the Cognitive Development of Generosity.
DEVELOPING OTHER-DIRECTEDNESS
Other-directedness forms the basic meditational advance in the development of the Sublime States. We saw that one begins with a careful COGNITIVE GENEROSITY which involves the giving of one's apparent self in the process more than real objects.
In the section on COGNITIVE GENEROSITY we saw that it is stained, but that by continued guarding of INTROSPECTION this GENEROSITY takes on a new aspect. It becomes less and less mental and objective-oriented. NATURAL GENEROSITY then arises and eventually reinforces itself.
You can perhaps see that this GENEROSITY is to be both mental and generated as active behavior. It is, of course, BENEVOLENT AFFECT, but not BENEVOLENCE of ACTION.
At that point it is no different than that recommended as one of the Sublime States by Buddha.
THE NATURAL INTENTION TO CULTIVATE VIRTUE
This NATURAL GENEROSITY begins to strengthen what we term in Chan Dharma the ZEAL component and there arises without a CONSCIOUS INTELLECT a NATURAL IMPULSE which is an INTENTION TO CULTIVATE VIRTUE. It is not to be forced in any way. The INTENTION just seems to manifest itself.
You can perhaps deduce what the consequence will be.
That is correct: a greater impulse activating further development of ZEAL Contemplations.
You will then notice a certain arising of the germs of NATURAL EQUANIMITY that is not forced.
That Equanimity reveals itself in the arousal of a NATURAL PATIENCE.
There is a choice which can be made here. The first it to continue only with this Path of Patience, which in and of itself is a Noble undertaking in which the human creature is liberated in this life and requires nothing more.
However, one can continue with this Path of Patience and at the same time develop the Path that leads to the full Non-conceptual Experiences of the Four Subime States.
DEVELOPING THE LAST CONCEPTUALIZATION OF EQUANIMITY
It is those germs of NATURAL EQUANIMITY that are not forced that form the base for the Development of the Last Conceptualization of Equanimity.
Now we must make clear an important point.
Within Chan, due to the way in which characters and not words formed concepts for the Chinese, a new form of Buddha Dharma developed. It was no longer necessary to develop the Last Conceptualization of Words and Phrases as PERFECT REFLECTIONS that we see in Buddha's teachings to his disciples. These REFLECTIONS, which are Cognitive within VITAKKA, automatically developed within meditation into the Last Conceptualization of the COGNITIVE EXPERIENCE of the Device, which is the VICARA state.
The discussion of this important topic, which is ESSENTIAL for the understanding of all Buddha Dharma Absorption and Contemplation, is found in the section:
THE PERFECTION OF THE END OF KNOWLEDGE
Buddha himself, and probably selected disciples too, was capable of directly generating those Cognitive purified Experiences as Supra-mundane Contemplations, which led to his Awakening.
What the Chinese attained was the Direct Contemplation through these Last Conceptualizations of the COGNITIVE EXPERIENCE.
But the Chinese disciples were living a Dharma existence and were not embroiled in Samsara.
Today the majority of those who are not within the Buddhist trap and follow true Buddha Dharma are nonetheless embroiled in different degrees by the demands of Stained Samsara, and since there are few with a mind that is not confined to lateral and logical thinking as a main way of operating they have to develop the Last Conceptualization through the perfection of the REFLECTION.
Naturally this is not easy and takes time and devotion to the task.
BUILDING REFLECTION OF THE LAST CONCEPTUALIZATION OF EQUANIMITY
We mentioned that at a certain point there is a certain arising of the germs of NATURAL EQUANIMITY that is not forced.
A question then must arise, for if we develop the RECOLLECTION of Equanimity which is built with words, and this leads to the Cognitive Experience of Equanimity, then why do we need to go by the Generosity route, developing the germs of NATURAL COMPASSION?
The answer lies with the Nature of these GERMS OF EQUANIMITY.
THE GERMS OF EQUANIMITY
The Germs of Equanimity is an experience right enough, but it is not Equanimity itself. There arises an experience of a state of "NO EXPECTATION." It is important to experience this through the Path of Generosity, for it is an experience that you will not have encountered before. It feels until you get used to it rather like being suspended in space on a slender rope.
Until you feel confident that the rope will not break there is a certain uneasiness with the fact that you are acting with no expectation at all. The intention is free of Expectation and the Readiness to respond is free of Expectation. Think about that for a moment.
If you stoop to pick up a coin, there is an Expectation that it will be picked up. What happens if it is not picked up? Suffering, although it appears insignificant compared to the greater suffering you have experienced. And if you do pick it up the result is a slight surge of contentment.
In almost everything that you do the Expectation arises and it is quite specific.
When there is No Expectation in that case, do you think that the coin will not be retrieved? Of course not, the body-mind will accomplish the task that is commanded or it will fail. That is all that will happen. The coin having been retrieved will automatically reinforce the action involved, so Expectation does not help.
If we examine the expectation we find that it arises as a result of an Identity investment in the outcome.
You may suggest then that without an invested interest we would not generate intention, but that is incorrect. The natural system when there is no Intention generates Probabilty of Outcome in which all outcomes are possible without an Identity Investment in any one. There arises naturally within the system a confidence that one can deal with all outcomes and this brings a great freedom and confidence in not building Expectations which are really debilitating.
USING THE GERMS OF EQUANIMITY
The Last Conceptualization that is a REFLECTION is built with words and developed into the most simple explanation, which is then in memory automatically linked to the "One Word Equanimity."
It might be built for example by your own idea, which might be:
"Not reinforcing Desire and Attachment as a result of another person's praise or condemnation."
That is a little clumsy, so you might work with: "Not mentally responding to Praise or Condemnation." But that is not really complete, so you may arrive at :
"Not mentally responding to Praise or Condemnation of myself or others."
Almost there!
"Not mentally responding to Praise or Condemnation of myself or others due to my Clinging and Craving."... Okay, you are building the idea nicely.
But now that you understand you can carry it further, for you have experienced the Germs of Equanimity which have been actually experienced as No-Expectaion.
The Last conceptualization then might arise as EQUANIMITY-NO EXPECTATION.
So the question arises, why not start with that without going through that Generosity Path?
The answer is, because if you enter with the word idea of No Expectation you are most likely on a another path of extensive word associations... Recalling the germ experience cuts that off.
There is another interesting factor that you may have noticed for future reference: Generosity can now be reinforced by this conceptualization and germ experience as being a GENEROSITY with EQUANIMITY.
Dwelling in this Vitakka state then automatically the Cognitive Experience of Equanimity will appear. From that resultant Vicara dwelling further will bring the higher fruits.
Now of course your tasks will be the generation of the Last Cnceptualizations of:
Compassion with Equanimity
Benevolent Affect with Equanimity
Gladness with Equanimity
Perhaps you can now see why it is so important to start with the One Word Equanimity.
NOTE: You will remember that the ONE WORD practice of the Last Conceptualization when completed after passing further than Vicara will set up within memory a strong reinforced link between the Direct Experience of the ONE WORD and the ONE WORD itself.
This means that when correctly managed and practiced the use of that ONE WORD will automatically bring to the Cognitive operation system and even Consciousness the related DIRECT EXPERIENCE which will brake all related impediments, and enhance contact with the Dharma Expression of the Masculine Principle through Zeal (the wish to do).
These Direct Experiences then form a part of the DHARMA PRESENCE.
This DHARMA PRESENCE, one may suppose, is the logical equivalent to the Christian Holy Ghost that accompanies one every moment of your life. For us it is the presence within us of the Direct experiences of :
The Four Sublime States
Vacuity
Unity
Impermanence
Clear Comprehension
The Life Force