Set and Setting

[KriyaYogi]

For me the hot water just helps with tiredness... I've been doing meditation in hot water for ages though, even in 2008 when I went on a retreat with Jeff in Arizona we went to a hot spring and I used the hot spring for meditation.  I just picked up this process again a few months ago.  I like to sit cross-legged in the tub and I noticed my knees touch the side of the tub which gives me support without having anything against my back.   Sometimes I meditate in my room but I've been almost daily doing some Kriya and meditation in the tub lately.

-David

[Jhanananda]

Just keep in mind, the technique is not an end in its self. It leads to the 8 stages of samma-samadhi. Samma-samadhi begins with bliss, then goes to a still mind, where the technique ends, then on to 6 more stages of increasing depth.

[Jhanananda]

I find the contemplative life is all about moment-to-moment mindfulness when we endeavor to keep our mind still and upon the present moment in every moment. Yes, our mind wants to cling to the past or the future, and there is often a mental reaction, but we just keep ever vigilant upon the mind to keep reigning it in to the ever present moment. Meanwhile we invigorate each moment with reestablishing bliss which produces joy when we recall a previous peek meditation experience, or perhaps just recall how useful the Noble Eightfold Path has been in gaining bliss, joy and ecstasy.

[Michael Hawkins]

I find the contemplative life is all about moment-to-moment mindfulness when we endeavor to keep our mind still and upon the present moment in every moment. Yes, our mind wants to cling to the past or the future, and there is often a mental reaction, but we just keep ever vigilant upon the mind to keep reigning it in to the ever present moment. Meanwhile we invigorate each moment with reestablishing bliss which produces joy when we recall a previous peek meditation experience, or perhaps just recall how useful the Noble Eightfold Path has been in gaining bliss, joy and ecstasy.

This has been on my mind recently, so thank you for speaking out loud here, Jeffrey.

In endeavoring to keep my mind still and upon the present moment in every moment, I have to accept that what presents itself in the moment is not always noble or skillful.  A big hindrance for me in this lifetime is the tendency toward self-judgment and condemnation, which can occur when I perceive the contents of my mind to be lacking in some way - as when I am avoiding, or when I'm angry, or when I only see the negative in life.  The beauty of the contemplative life that you describe is that it doesn't really matter what's there in the moment.  The important thing is to maintain awareness of it, recognizing that everything is impermanent and that nothing constitutes a permanent self, letting go over and over again - and then the cycle carries on.  Bliss, joy and ecstasy bring skill and nobility to the mindfield, making the Noble Eightfold Path tangible and attainable.

[Jhanananda]

Very well stated, Michael.

[Tad]

I find the contemplative life is all about moment-to-moment mindfulness when we endeavor to keep our mind still and upon the present moment in every moment. Yes, our mind wants to cling to the past or the future, and there is often a mental reaction, but we just keep ever vigilant upon the mind to keep reigning it in to the ever present moment. Meanwhile we invigorate each moment with reestablishing bliss which produces joy when we recall a previous peek meditation experience, or perhaps just recall how useful the Noble Eightfold Path has been in gaining bliss, joy and ecstasy.

Jhananda,

this is an excellent teaching. It is helpful for us to know that your experience confirms what we find in Pali suttas. For example, Bahiya sutta is about developing awareness of present moment through the day. Then there are quite a few suttas that advise us to use inspiring dhamma contemplations to facilitate joyful mindstates as "set & setting" for jhanas.

SN 47.10
"That mendicant should direct their mind towards an inspiring foundation. As they do so, joy springs up. Being joyful, rapture springs up. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. Then they reflect: ‘I have accomplished the goal for which I directed my mind. Let me now pull back.’ They pull back, and neither place the mind nor keep it connected. They understand: ‘I’m neither placing the mind nor keeping it connected. Mindful within myself, I’m happy.’ That’s how there is directed development."

I think the "Set and Setting" thread might be one of the most important threads on this forum.

[Jhanananda]

Jhananda,

this is an excellent teaching. It is helpful for us to know that your experience confirms what we find in Pali suttas. For example, Bahiya sutta is about developing awareness of present moment through the day. Then there are quite a few suttas that advise us to use inspiring dhamma contemplations to facilitate joyful mindstates as "set & setting" for jhanas.

SN 47.10
"That mendicant should direct their mind towards an inspiring foundation. As they do so, joy springs up. Being joyful, rapture springs up. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. Then they reflect: ‘I have accomplished the goal for which I directed my mind. Let me now pull back.’ They pull back, and neither place the mind nor keep it connected. They understand: ‘I’m neither placing the mind nor keeping it connected. Mindful within myself, I’m happy.’ That’s how there is directed development."

I think the "Set and Setting" thread might be one of the most important threads on this forum.

Thank you, Tad, for expressing your kind thoughts and providing such good quotes from the Pali Canon in support of our efforts here. Yes, the contemplative seeking fruitful attainment must be ever vigilant in maintaining the foundations of bliss, joy and ecstasy.