________________
TENZIN WANGYAL RINPOCHE
T.W.: It's always moving. But the moving is not under their control; they are driven by their mind.
L.M.: Yes, we are.
T.W.: So developing a great deal of concentration is necessary. Then on the basis of having achieved concentration, we develop something called contemplation, Contemplation is discovering the truth, the wisdom in onself. That is called contemplation, or rigpa. Once you discover that, and stabilize or maintain that, then you go on to the visionary practices—such as dark retreat, skygazing, sun-gazing. Bon says that the mind is like a waterfall: it is constantly moving. As you practice more, it stabilizes a little bit more. It—the mindcomes down, as water will get to the ground; it moves one way. Then, another level of movement will be like a hawk that is flying in one place. It is not moving in different directions; it is only moving in one place. And then, the next level is like a turtle in a vase.
L.M.: Like the turtle.
T.W.: When the turtle puts in its face, it doesn't move; it takes all its hands and legs, and just stays there.
L.M.: In its shell.
T.W.: In its shell—it is still, not moving. The final level is like a clear sky, when all the clouds dissolve into space; the mind becomes like a clear sky. There is no movement--there is no substance, or duality, either.
L.M.: Do the meditation practices for beginner level students of Bon vary for different students?
T.W.: No, they are general practices as I said. You develop concentration; then you develop contemplation; and then you stabilize the mind through visionary practices.
L.M.: That could all take many years.
57
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
