Using our senses, thoughts and emotions as a support
In
the last workbook, two basic practices of shamatha meditation were
introduced: watching the breath and focusing on a form or image. Now you
will build on this knowledge and learn how to use every aspect of your
experience—even the sources of distraction itself—as a support for
calming the mind and finding inner peace. All the methods described
in Part 1 and Part 2 are quite simple, and with sustained daily practice
they can have a radical effect on us. With just a bit of effort, we can
learn to relax and remain centred, aware and at ease; we no longer have
to be endlessly distracted by our thoughts and emotions.
The
contents of this workbook have been written by students of Sogyal
Rinpoche, under his guidance and based on the programme devised by him.