On Jan 8, 2011, at 2:41 PM, seventhray1 wrote:
The thing about effortlessness, to me is like the same about gold.
Is pure gold, pure? No, it is only 99.999% pure. Is TM completely
effortless ? No, but why quibble about the amount of effort to
introduce or come back to the mantra. Maybe it's only 90%
effortless. I'll give it a pass on that basis. Is this really an
area of contention?
The primary reason is that in Indian (and Buddhist or Jain)
meditation systems, Patanjali for example, explains that effort is
necessary in a dualistic system. ANY system of meditation that relies
on objects or "props" (alambanas) will, ipso facto, require some
effort. The more balanced and innocent the effort, the better the
technique. Effortless meditation, in eastern metaphysics, refers to
either the higher end of prop-based meditation practice where the
intent to enter absorption is all that is necessary (for hours of
effortless deep meditation) OR, more importantly, it refers to
nondual meditation.
It's the naive confusion of the style of "non-meditation" in nondual
mediation practice, like used in Advaita Vedanta or Dzogchen that
should be a warning sign to any careful listener. It's a sure way to
tell if the person is a programmed parrot or not.
In the west such nuances are easily glossed over. But in the east, in
front of a knowledgeable pundit, you wouldn't fare as well.
It it has alambanas, it has effort. Period.
Otherwise you'd have to deny that TM relies on the support of mantras
and the memory to return to the mantra when transcending stops and
engagement with thinking starts again.
Alambana
n. depending on or resting upon ; hanging from Pa1n2. ; supporting ,
sustaining Megh. ; foundation , base Prab. Kat2hUp. ; reason ,
cause ; (in rhetoric) the natural and necessary connection of a
sensation with the cause which excites it Sa1h. ; the mental exercise
practised by the Yogin in endeavouring to realize the gross form of
the Eternal VP. ; silent repetition of a prayer [W.] ; (with
Buddhists) the five attributes of things (apprehended by or connected
with the five senses , viz. form , sound , smell , taste , and
touch ; also %{dharma} or law belonging to %{manas}).
