Self Awareness Through Meditation

Author(s): Ranjitsingh Kumat
Publisher: Ranjitsingh Kumat

Page 82

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DHYANA IN AACHAARAANGA SUTTA—II
Shaving the heads is a symbol of being saintly or a person who has left home for spiritual pursuit. Kabir, famous saint and poet of India in the 16th century, said that if shaving of head could make a man saint, sheep would always go to heaven because it is shaved so often. Shaving head is not essential; essential is to shave all desires, get shorn of all riches, belongings, relations or clinging. The feeling of aloneness' and treating things, relations etc as ephemeral and exclusive of self makes one free of desires and cravings. Such a 'shaved person is in reality the ‘Saint' or 'Great Muni'. “Such a person does not care for what is said of him. Some people may malign him, abuse him, blame him, pass unwanted, lowly and mean remarks but the Saint is not bothered. He does not react; listens with equanimity and endures without any grief or pain. He observes the touch of all these words on the body without any reaction and thus cuts the trap (action and reaction) by remaining in equanimity. Such a person is without any knot and complex (Nirgranth) and will not come to this world again and again. My Dhamma is (to follow) the commandment.”88
These are clear directions to carefully observe all sensations on the body to attain equanimity. This is also the way Buddha taught Vipassana meditation. Again the stanza below is similar to what is taught in Vipassana:
"If there is touch of grass, the saint, making earnest effort, should feel and observe the touch of grass, If there is touch of cold, feel and observe the touch of cold, If there is touch of heat, feel and observe the touch of heat, If there is touch of mosquito or other insects, feel and observe the touch, Feel and observe the touch of one type or of many types and endure them with equanimity; attain acuity. Such a one is truly in penance.”89
The foregoing is clearly directing the aspirant to observe sensations as they are. The aspirant is asked not to react but observe all sensations—pleasant or unpleasant—with equanimity.
"Having overcome the craving and aversion, Enlightened, freed and attained the objective. Moving in equanimity and restraint Cannot be moved by scarcity or inadequacy. Is striving, alert and fully awakened. Just as light of a lamp is visible to everyone,