fear of death , page-68

Yoga delineates 3 stages. Withdrawing the senses, one pointedness and finally 'samadhi' [absorption, mind without an object ... basically a trance state]

yoga has 8 stages not 3

the preliminary stages are purifying conduct & morals, namely, yama & niyama

if the mind does not have some preliminary purity then attempts to withdraw the senses will merely result in mental suppression, which pushes down fear & other emotions (rather than allowing fear & other emotions to rise up & dissolve)

suppression is like sweeping dirt under the carpet rather than lifting up the carpet to cleaning out the dirt


for fear to leave its cage, the door of the cage must be opened rather than closed more tightly shut





Withdrawing of the senses is something which is the natural effect of a genuine meditation technique. Although I favour Yoga philosophy the very best technique I know about is the Theravadin practice of Anapana Sati.

really?



Withdrawing the senses:- It begins by deciding to ignore the usual things which occupy your attention.

it starts with not having unwholesome things being the usual occupiers of your attention


This 'decision' is more important than it might at first seem because you create a psychological tenor for the practise you are engaging in. The first thing that you deal with when attempting meditation is your daily concerns and worries will still be uppermost on your mind when first you start a practise.

"attempting" meditation is an apt description


Ananpana is an extremely simple technique and also one of the most difficult. All it is .... sit comfortably and with closed eyes bring your attention to the in/out passing of the air as you breath through your nose. The technique calls for you to feel the sensation of touch that the passing of the air makes as it enters and leaves the nostrils.

yes...this is beneficial but it is not the meaning of 'anapansati'

anapanasati means the mind is mindfulness in remembering to engage the factors of the Eightfold Noble Path while/when/with breathing in & out

i does not mean mindfulness of breathing but mindfulness with breathing



It is a good technique because it does not encourage imagination and it is a real time event.

yes...breathing meditation is a good technique to develop peace & calm

but there comes a point if one wants to advance deeper to end all fear then the proper method must be engaged, as Buddha explained



Basically all that it is doing is it forcing you to raise your level of alertness by a small margin.

to go deeper, the mind must stop forcing

forcing is the obstacle to progress

to progress, the mind must let go, be open, gentle, silent, still, flexible

Buddha taught the meditator reaches jhana by making 'letting go/abandonment the meditation object




to end, if the preliminaries are not done, progress will be limited

the usual daily objects of your attention should not be antagonist to the meditation but should support it

regards