Chapter 37 - Important Lectures By Grandmaster Lu

A. Meditation, Tantrayana and Concentration

Meditation emphasizes enlightenment from one's Nature, and lays a lot of stress on emptiness of nature. Enlightenment is the enlightenment from nature.

Tantric practice puts much stress on life, that is, working from the inside of one's body. Mudras, mantras, visualization, the three mystic practices (Translator's note: bodily mystic practice - forming the manual sign of a specific deity; verbal mystic practice - reciting the spell of the deity; mental mystic practice - meditating on the deity), illumination in the heart area, inner fire burning, circulation in the three pulses and seven areas, merge with the light of the Universe, all belong to working on the body. They are means by which enlightenment can be achieved.

The processes leading to enlightenment from meditation are difficult to ascertain. The processes leading to enlightenment from Tantric practice are more concrete and tangible. Such is their difference.

However, concentration is indispensable in either meditation, or Tantric practice or Sutrayana, or any other sect in Buddhism, or in any religion in the world.

Without concentration, there will never be enlightenment. In Tantric practice, without concentration, there will no inner fire achievement nor illumination around the heart area, nor merge with the light of the Universe. So for any achievement, one must first of all get concentrated. Concentration generates "oneness"; "oneness" generates "zero" or "nothingness"; from "zero" or "nothingness" you can get to "emptiness". Once you are empty, the light from the Universe can enter you and there will be illumination around the heart area. And then circulation of light and merge of light will make enlightenment possible.

Concentration is absolutely essential.

However, if one is always troubled by name or fame, by interest or gains, by influence or position, or by a craving for Masterhood or for magic powers, he can never take things easy, and he can never set his mind at rest. Of course concentration is not possible then.

One has to learn to take life easy, to be broad-minded, and then he can relax and come to a "state of emptiness". Concentration is possible only when one has nothing to worry (about).

For this reason, the daily cultivation is very important!

B. What Is Reinforcement?

What is reinforcement? Do you know? Is it a touch of the head or empowerment? (laughter).

What is the significance of reinforcement?

If you are playing baseball, you hit hard at the ball. The ball flies away, just at this moment, a gust of wind comes and carries the ball further than usual. This gust of wind is reinforcement!

If you didn't hit the ball hard, or the ball didn't fly out at all, the gust of wind is of no use!

C. Tricks in Chanting Mantras

In chanting mantras you are expected to use the notions from brain-waves to direct the sound frequency of the mantra to the heart area. Chanting the mantra one hundred and eight times, you are to visualize: at the heart area there is a white lotus flower, gradually coming to full blossom.

On the lotus flower there is a seed character "Om" which emits strong, dazzling white light. The white light goes upward along the middle pulse, through the throat, right to the crown point on the head. (Recite your guru's heart mantra one hundred and eight times)

D. Tricks for Entering the State of Samadhi

Quietly go into concentration and then enter the state of Samadhi. (Guide your consciousness into Samadhi of "Great Brilliance" through visualization.) Now visualize: the white lotus flower in the heart area is now in full blossom; the seed character is now emitting white light; the white light goes from the heart area upward to the top of the head. (Pause)

Now visualize that there is a small white lotus seat at the top of your head; sitting on the white lotus seat is Living Buddha Lian Shen, wearing the Five-Buddha Crown with two sacred streamers, dressed in the yellow robe and the red kasaya, forming the "Lotus Youth Mudra". The white lotus seat stands firmly on your crown. (Pause)

Living Buddha Lian Shen transforms into a ball of white light on your head; the white light is becoming stronger and stronger, very much like another sun on your head. (Pause)

Now visualize that this ball of white light goes into your body by the crown point, through the middle vein, goes past the throat and right into the heart area. (Pause)

Living Buddha Lian Shen is still sitting on the white lotus flower in your heart, sending out strong white light, as if there were a sun in your heart. (Pause a little longer so as to train the heart area to shine.)

Living Buddha Lian Shen gradually expands in your heart, until he is as big as your body and merges with your body. (Pause)

Now visualize that you yourself are just Living Buddha Lian Shen, no more, no less you are wearing the Five-Buddha Crown, with two sacred streamers dangling, and a string of prayer beads, in a yellow robe and a red kasaya, forming the White Lotus Youth Mudra. So you are now sitting straight in the lotus seat, staying in the void, with the best appearance, as majestic as the Buddha, surrounded by layers of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Vajra Dharma Protectors. (Pause)

In your (Living Buddha Lian Shen's) heart area the seed character emits strong white light, dashing out to the ten directions of the Universe. (Pause).

All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas send out great light, illuminating the ten corners of the Universe. The whole Universe is bathed in strong light. (Pause)

Your (Living Buddha Lian Shen's) light meets the light from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The lights reflect one another, forming a vast ocean of light. (Pause)

You merge with the ocean of light, thus becoming selfless with neither thinking nor thought ......(Entering the state Samadhi of a "Great Brilliance", of Vairocana Nature.

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