Читать книгу Treasury of Dharma - Géshé Rabten - Страница 12

Meditation is a means of controlling, taming and eventually transforming the mind so that the necessary freedom can be achieved which makes it possible to eliminate suffering. The most favourable meditation posture is what is known as the full-lotus position. If you find it difficult to sit in this way the half-lotus is also satisfactory. The main point is to sit comfortably, whether one is on the ground or on a chair. If we try to sit in a particular posture and experience pain in our legs and knees and are unable to sit calmly, our meditation session will be wasted and all we will think about is physical pain!

The hands should be placed at the level of the navel, the right on the palm of the left with the thumbs forming a triangle with the palms. If you have difficulty in keeping your hands in this position, you can put a small cushion underneath them to prop them up. The arms should be held slightly away from the body to allow the circulation of air. The shoulders should be erect and the spine straight. The head should be inclined slightly forward. You should not allow your eyes to wander but should focus them in the general direction of your lap in a relaxed, half-closed position. If you try to focus them on the end of your nose you will become tired and your eyes will begin to ache. The tongue should rest lightly against the palate and the mouth and teeth should rest in a natural position.

The reason for sitting in this way is that when one is meditating there is a tendency to forget about the body and this position allows the body to remain comfortably erect without having to make a conscious effort. The fact that the navel is contained within the triangular shape formed by the arched thumbs and the palm of the right hand will be useful in future practices. The body is kept erect so that the channels in the body straighten and the air element which circulates through them can pass freely. If we are breathing properly and the air is flowing through the channels correctly our mind will become clearer and our meditation will benefit accordingly. The head is slightly bent forward to keep the heat element from increasing which would cause us to become thirsty while meditating. Also, if the heat element were to increase we would tend to get headaches and a painful neck. The eyes are lowered to prevent the mind from wandering as a result of visual stimulation. They should not be completely closed as this would cause drowsiness and one might fall asleep. However, it may be easier for some people to meditate with their eyes closed. If so, this is all right. The tongue should rest against the palate to prevent the throat from becoming dry. The mouth itself should be left in a relaxed, natural position with the lips gently touching.