Scott Shaw - Nirvana in a Nutshell: 157 Zen Meditations

First published in 2002 by Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC York Beach, ME With offices at: 368 Congress St. Boston, MA 02210 www.redwheelweiser.com Copyright 2002 Scott Shaw All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages. Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request from the Library of Congress. Typeset in Bembo.

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NIRVANA, the state of grace where the individual merges with the cosmic whole and there is no longer any physical suffering, mental anguish, or unanswered questions. NIRVANA, the state of holy union where the limitations of the physical self fall away revealing the Buddha nature hidden within all of us. NIRVANA, the word conjures up images of a garden of eden paradise with pristine blue skies, crystal clear streams, beautiful flowers covering the landscape, and saintly robed beings walking peacefully through the gardens. NIRVANA, the understanding which so many people, through out history, have sought after. Some have renounced the world, gone into seclusion, passed their days lost deep in meditation in the caves of the Himalaya. Others have walked for untold miles, bowing with each step, seeking to gain a glimpse of the infinite.

NIRVANA, why does it seem so distant when we are told it is something we already possess? NIRVANA is distant because it has been proclaimed as distant. NIRVANA is not known, because it has been propagated as the ultimate obtainmentfathomable only by the most holy. NIRVANA is remote because the untruth has been passed on for generations, by the unenlightened, that years of formally structured ascetic training must take place before you can even hope to grasp even the slightest glimpse of pure cosmic consciousness. NIRVANA has been made a desire. And, as Siddhartha Guatama, the Sakyamuni Buddha, profoundly stated, The cause of suffering is desire. Desires remove you from the absolute.

Desires remove you from knowing. Desires keep you from NIRVANAbecause desires make you believe that you do not possess something, thus you are trapped by seeking its obtainment. Take a few moments to read through these pages, let go of your desires, begin to embrace inner peace, and NIRVANA will not be so distant, so desired, so far off. It will become who you are. NIRVANA is. Let yourself experience this truth.

What has kept you from Nirvana? Is it because you are not a monk? Is it because you are not in India, Thailand, Japan, or Tibet? Is it because you do not meditate enough? Is it because you are a bad person? Is it because you developed negative Karma in a past life? Nirvana is. You are. Be enlightenment. Is Nirvana something you get, or is Nirvana something you are? If you can get it, you can lose it. If you are it, it is never gone. People do all kinds of things to find Nirvana: they meditate, they pray, they give up material possessions, they refrain from sex, they live in caves. People do all kinds of things to find Nirvana: they meditate, they pray, they give up material possessions, they refrain from sex, they live in caves.

They do strange things to their bodies. Why? Because they believe that by performing physical actions they will find Nirvana. Actions do not equal Nirvana. Performing an action to obtain Nirvana is no different than the person who believes that once they obtain a desired goal they will never desire anything else. But as soon as they get it, they become bored and move on to their next desire. Be Nirvana, and no external action or technique is necessary.

The concept of Goal Setting is claimed by many to be a necessary element to a fulfilled life. The concept of Goal Setting is claimed by many to be a necessary element to a fulfilled life.

Monks have claimed Nirvana as their goal for centuries. Goals are fine but they create an atmosphere which is absent from fulfillment. Every goal, even that of enlightenment, keeps you from Nirvana. Why? Because when you believe you should have something you do not currently possess, no matter how seemingly holy, you keep yourself from witnessing the glory and perfection of your life in this moment. Let go of goals and Nirvana is.

All life is movement.

Every element of this universe is in constant motion. From science we learn that everything around us, from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest planet, is in a state of continual flux. The majority of this movement is unseen by the human eye. All of this movement is in perfect harmony. If it were not in perfect harmony, this place we call life would instantly cease to exist. If everything is moving in harmony, you too must be moving and progressing in an unseen accord.

By understanding the Universe is in a harmony of movementthis allows you to know that everything which takes place happens for a reason. Thus, everything which occurs lends a hand in the ever-expanding perfection of the Universe. As you are a functioning part of this cosmic whole, everything which happens to you, no matter how seemingly traumatic, must be happening pursuant to a higher purpose and leading to a greater good. Nirvana is acceptance. Relax, be peaceful, and watch the perfection of enlightenment unfold. Nirvana is faithless.

People enter onto the Spiritual Path for an untold number of reasons. People enter onto the Spiritual Path for an untold number of reasons.

Once this inclination strikes, they often times join a particular religious group. Those who remain involved within a specific sect, through time, come to gain prominence, respect, high ranking, and develop a strong voice within their denomination. Prominence, respect, high ranking, and a loud voice does not constitute enlightenment. Nirvana is unnoticed and silent.

Nirvana is believed by many to be salvation. Why do you need saving? If you were savedwhat would be different? People seek salvation because they are experiencing emptiness in their lives.

This emptiness can take the form of lack of love, lack of purpose, lack of fulfillment, and so on. In Zenemptiness is sought after.

Sunyata is the Sanskrit word which describes Spiritual Voidnessthe state beyond conceptual reality. Sunyata is known to be the stepping stone to Nirvana. The moment Sunyata becomes a desire in the mind of the zealot, however, and techniques are designed for its obtainment, its true spiritual purpose is lost. Desires and techniques, in all cases, keep you from Nirvana.

Because they bind you to the doing, not the undoing. Let go of desires. Forget techniques. Embrace Spiritual Voidness. Know Nirvana.

When people enter onto the Spiritual Path, they oftentimes become very judgmental about other people who are not so inclined or who follow a different teaching.

They believe they are somehow more. The moment this thought occursmore becomes less. We all are who we areeach person serves their own universal purpose. Simply by considering yourself to be on the Spiritual Path does not give you a ticket to judge others. All people are as important to this cosmic drama as you are. No one is more or less.

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