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Rinpoche's Teachings The Role of Beliefs in Relation to the Concept
of Liberation It is possible to make use of our viewpoints in order to have better meditation experiences. When we are doing meditation we may think meditation experiences are independent from what we believe or independent of a viewpoint. Simply because a meditation experience is independent of our viewpoint and our beliefs, does not mean beliefs can be discarded. Beliefs can help us orient ourselves in the way that we can experience the things that we do. Beliefs can infact steer us in the right direction in order that we have the appropriate meditation experience. In that way you can see how closely these two are connected. And it is because of them, from them, through them, that we can make sense of experience. Otherwise how do we understand what is going on? Otherwise everything would be totally incomprehensible. At the same time, I am not saying that with use of viewpoints we can fully comprehend what is going on. It is just that without them we cannot make sense of experience at all. For example, How do we try to understand meditation? We understand it by reading literature that describes meditation experience. We are told meditation is about emptying the mind. Mind becomes agitated because of discursive thoughts and it is because of discursive thoughts that mind is trapped in the world of appearance, and that leads to us being separated or divorced from reality. Without making use of conceptual tools we cannot attempt to make sense of meditative experience. We would not know what sort of mind-state is conducive to appropriate meditation experiences, the sort of mind-state which should be seen as confirming ones spiritual progress, or inappropriate experiences when one has gone astray. Some experiences have the appearance of being genuine meditative experiences but are infact false, mislead the meditator into confusion and produce false confidence about attainments. Here, in reality the meditative experience may have led the person astray. In order to understand what is going on, we have to make use of our conceptual tools, to steer ourselves in the right direction and continue with our spiritual practice more purposefully. The noble view is connected to liberation because it leads to proper understanding, to insight, and from insight arises wisdom. Unless one has a correct view one does not have a proper understanding of spiritual matters. First we have to have correct our conceptual understanding instead of thinking all concepts are defiling by nature and therefore have to be overcome. Via a proper understanding, proper concepts and thoughts, the correct framework, one is able to do meditation. |