When one sits down to meditate, it’s a swell idea to consider why one is doing so. What is it all about anyway? It’s easy to use this time for many other things like planing, ruminating, daydreaming, and sleeping. The following four contemplations, turning the mind right at the start, can set the tone, the determination, and focus of your meditation. They are called the preliminaries; setting the direction and intention right off the bat. Each time we sit to meditate, we can begin by turning from worldly concerns of pain, pleasure, gain, loss, fame, obscurity, praise, and blame toward the serious matter of awakening with a brief contemplation of these four thoughts. We touch into the four thoughts at the start of meditation and often throughout our days: the fortune of having a precious human life, that it is fleeting, that we and all others are challenged with great difficulties and vexations, and that there is a cause and effect for everything including our experience.
Precious human life. We, here and now, have gained a unique opportunity. We have faculties that work, more or less. We have minds that are clear, now and then. And we have come across profound teachings that have endured for centuries, showing us a path to use this life wisely and to be of use. This first of the four thoughts is to appreciate this precious life of fortune and leisure and consider then, what is it for? What will you do with this brief and precious life? The Four Noble Truths tell us to use it to relieve the vexation of dukkha and that it is possible. It’s up to each of us. We do this together and we do it alone.
This is the only opportunity to save ourselves and others from the round of suffering loss, pain, and death. The Bodhisattva vow is to save ourselves and all sentient beings. But there are so many people to save; how can one do it? It’s an impossible task. We may not feel quite up to it. We start where we are, as Pema Chodron says. Dropping the idea of I, dropping the idea of time, we just manifest it in Now. And Khandro Rinpoche says to be one of the rowers in the boat, or even in an inner tube pushing it along is our job. You aren’t doing it alone.
With full determination, we acknowledge what gets in the way of it. We acknowledge our obscurations and apply antidotes to our anger, clinging, and ignorance. There are many practices for this. And we keep our intent to save all beings, impossible as it seems. How else will it happen? It starts there and it starts with effort, discipline, and virtue. And we do our part with humility and with all beings. That humility is without any concept of being apart and instead realizing our inseparable nature, dropping self-clinging. This project is the antidote to self-clinging. And it can be joyful to open to the whole of life.
Impermanence. This whole situation is and must be impermanent. In impermanence lies possibility. Things change, come apart, and reform. The acknowledgement and clear seeing of impermanence inspire urgency; the bell rings telling us, “Don’t waste time.” This precious rare life is also fleeting. Thus, we take one stroke, dog paddling in the swamp.
Samsara. This is the ocean of suffering that tosses us about. In the other realms of samsara, there is no chance of true well-being. We and others are subject to the suffering of old age, illness, loss, and death. We must progress now in this life. Knowing that this life is the rare opportunity for us, and to help others, go beyond Samsara, a session of meditation is critical and brief.
Karma. With cause and effect we see the importance of virtue. Our unskillful actions have results. We see that in the outer world and it applies to our lives in ways we may not see or understand. Having not achieved all-knowingness, we can’t unravel the source but we go forward. That we behave ethically is vital; we find it difficult to meditate without morality and good behavior and stability. Being frightened of unskillful actions and their results, give up all naughty habits and develop love and compassion.
You know all this, beloved readers. But those on this path are encouraged to reflect on this over and over, millions of times. Create a new habit. I encourage you to reflect on it often and at the start of each meditation.
|
From The Teacher Collective at IMFW
An Introduction to Buddhism will be offered this August, taught by IMFW teachers Pam and John Steinbach. Class will meet at 6:30 pm till 8:00 on the four consecutive Monday evenings in August at IMFW (in person only). The intent is for all who participate to have a better understanding of Buddhism and gain some insight into how these teachings apply to daily life. John and Pam look forward to seeing where the discussions take us and are planning to allow plenty of time for conversation. The class will address the Four Noble Truths including the Noble Eightfold Path, the Three Marks of Existence, lists of the virtuous qualities, the Hindrances, and the different schools of Buddhism. 
We are offering the Introduction to Insight Meditation course in October. This four week class meets every Monday evening during October, beginning at 6:00 pm lasting for about an hour. Drew Consalvo, resident teacher at IMFW, is teaching. This class is offered in person only and meets at 2332 Sandpoint Road, Fort Wayne, In. If you are interested in attending or would like more information about the course, please 
