The highest kind of mentality

In some respects the Greek word theoria and the Sanskrit word dhyâna are almost the same.  Both generally refer to contemplation (L., contemplatio), but contemplation as esoteric which involves the highest kind of mentality (P., abhicetasika).

In the Greek sense, it is by theoria that the good, which is beyond being, is contemplated.  This includes the contemplation of the beautiful which is inaccessible to concepts of any kind.  

On the question of Buddhist dhyâna, it is by dhyâna that Moggallâna, a chief disciple, is said to enter other worlds so as to be able to report on the destiny of those who had died.  In addition, one in the forth dhyâna can be beware of the presence of devas (gods), and converse with them.  

As far as spiritual disembodiment is concerned, after the fourth dhyâna, a monk is said to have a clear observation of his consciousness as different from his physical body, but enveloped and bound by it.  On the same track, the Buddhist adept who is in the fourth dhyâna can make a spiritual body (manomaya) complete in all its limbs and faculties. 

What has been said thus far about contemplation, especially Buddhist dhyâna, is instructive for the beginner who at least will understand that Buddhist meditation (dhyâna) is just not about sitting on a zafu in some Zen center trying to keep still.

 

Comments

[Java Junkie Junebug Julius]

sometimes the very absolute best stuff is written by the enemy camp; unknowingly in their intelligence illuminating the truth which they themselves have rejected..LoL. ```Read chapter two of this book.

http://books.google.com/books?id=w0hGAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=procession&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FzkfT-mZDoXAtweh4-ks&ved=0CGYQ6AEwCTgK#v=onepage&q=procession&f=false

[azanshi]

(inhales) Holy mabuse! You are spilling the beans dude. Now some hardcore wall staring zafu maniacs might read this and start reading the Lanka and Avatamsaka manual on how to enter the club of our exclusive bodhisattva silver surfer club. There goes the good surfing waves man, bummer… (exhales)

[Wai]

It's interesting to think that "Zen", the "most cliche Asian word", is ultimately Indo-European.

Thanks to this Blog and the "Unborn Mind School of Zen" I started to understand my own tradition (European philosophy) in a different light, and see its mystical source.

Western philosophy starts with Parmenides': "to gar auto noein estin te kai einai." Which basically means: "Mind and reality are the same."

When I reread this formula of the ancient European wisdom, I ask myself: didn't this Greek fellow see the same revelation the Old Barbarian talks in the Lankavatara Sutra?

So this is dhyana? This is "theoria"? This is the Sign that Apollo is giving us in Delphi?

Where did the stupidity begin? I think when Descartes says "I think, therefore I am" - it was hopeless then! We're still recovering from how that French dude screwed everything up.