Concentration vs &"Zazen&"
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From my experience there are two fundamentally different ways to meditate - 1) keeping my attention on one point, e.g. the breath or a mantra, and 2) "just sitting", "wu wei", "letting the grass grow". I've always preferred the latter, as it is more peaceful to me and lacks the effort and struggle of concentration. So I've always been inclined to say "Success is thy proof", "Do what thou wilt", etc. and say my particular path involves the more passive "just sitting" rather than the active concentration. However, Crowley suggests that concentration is the way to go, and as a practice it is useful in Magick, which I've been thinking about delving into recently.
So, any input on this subject would be helpful. Does anyone else here prefer "just sitting" to concentration? Is the continual practice of concentration necessary in the system of the A.'. A.'.?
Thanks!
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I was under the impression that zazen included concentration on the elixer field, hara or dantien. Also mental repetition nam myoho renge kyo mantra.
After the initial effort or struggle of attempting to concentrate the mind seems to settle down into a deeper peace than I think just relaxing in a sitting posture would offer.
I would highly recommend Exclusive Concentration. Flinging your Basilisk Eye against ordinary objects can reveal occult knowledge about them.93 93/93
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It's worth practicing different categories of meditation simply to diversify ones armory.
But, in particular, there is no capacity that will assist one in magick or mysticism, or in the practical affairs of life, quite like the ability to concentrate. Drilling, and thereby increasing, one's ability to concentrate expands one's practical capabilities enormously - in more ways than one could count.
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If you use a meditation mudra in zazen wich is typicaly dhyana mudra - (palms one over the other) you ARE improving your concentracion. You can help a lot with your attention but if you have nowhere to rush and can spend doing zazen rounds for hours skip it. My yoga teacher recommends to focus on the tail bone using the dhyana mudra a minimum of one and a half ours and he adores the zen guys who do zazen for 8 hours a day! Have fun!
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Cool, thanks for the advice. Incidentally, this seems to me a nice summary of the method, with regards to the combination of male energy and female passivity. From "The Psychology of Hashish":
"As a matter of practical politics, I think that a judicious mixture of the methods of East and West is likely to give the best results.
Let the young Adept, for example, master thoroughly the groundwork of the Hindu system.
Let him master Asana, posture, so that he can sit motionless for hours without any message from his body reaching and so disturbing his brain. Let him include in his accomplishments Paranayama, control of the breath and of the vital nervous currents which react in sympathy with it.
Let him then exalt to the utmost his soul by the appropriate ritual of ceremonial magic; and when by this means he has most thoroughly identified himself with the Supreme, let him, as that Supreme One, continue to meditate with intense force upon Himself, until his sphere is entirely filled with the single Thought.
Lastly, if this, the male energy, suffice not, let him transform it into a pure and perfect emptiness and passivity, as of one waiting for the Beloved One, with intense longing rendered passionless by the certainty that He will come.
Then, it may be, the Eye will open upon him, and the tomb of his Pyramid be unsealed."