按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ch may be our parents or our partners and so forth。 Then we should contemplate in a similar fashion： These individuals are ones whom we enjoy a good relationship with at the moment but this in and of itself is only temporary； at most； its time…limit will be this life only。 So again using reasonings which we've gone through： In a previous existence I have been an enemy to this person； they have been very unkind and difficult to me； they have been my parents and so forth。 Through this contemplation then； our attachment to that individual lessens and then we finally bring them into the fold of all sentient beings towards whom we've developed this equal view of equanimity。
So it's very important that when engaging in this meditation； we do it in a serious and serial way。 'Serious' in the sense that we engage in the practice； and once we've developed some kind of taste for that practice then we move onto the next part … we don't just do it in a kind of haphazard way。 Because if we just make the prayer … 'May I e to view all sentient beings in an equal state； free of anger and attachment； holding some as close and some as far away'； and then making the request to the spiritual master to bless one's mind…stream so that this view will e about； then that's as far as it will go … it will just be a prayer。 So some days it might go well and other days it might go poorly。 But if this is the case； then one has no real chance of developing the causes for bodhicitta because one hasn't really developed the proper field within which these seeds are to be planted。 So it cannot be over…emphasised how much one should strive at developing this field and then one should set about planting the seeds within that field。 Otherwise； some days one's practice might go well whereas other days it will go very poorly； and thus one's request to the lama to bless one； so that one develops the mind of equanimity； free of anger and attachment； which holds some as close and some as far； will just be mere words。
The recognition of all sentient beings as one's kind mothers
So then having developed this equal view towards all sentient beings； one should then familiarise oneself with this view until it bees stable within one's mental continuum； or mind； and then one should strive to develop the first of these six causes which is the recognition of all sentient beings as one's kind mothers。 So then the meditation scenario is similar to what we've gone through： initially we pick someone with whom we have no particular relationship； then an enemy； then one to whom we have a particularly close affinity； and then use the lines of reasoning which we have gone through previously … that just as I have had beginningless lives； so in the same way the individual whom I'm bringing to mind in front of me has had countless previous existences。 Then in those existences； we have not just e out of thin air； but rather we were born from our mother's womb。 So as we equally are the same in having had beginningless existences； then we are also the same in that we have also had a beginningless； or countless； number of mothers。 So if we put two 'countlesses' together； they kind of fall one on top of the other； so it's very likely that this person in front of oneself has been； at some point； one's kind mother。 And then through that kind of contemplation； we e to generate the mind or belief that the individual whom one is visualising； has at some point in the past had the experience of being one's mother； and then we stabilise this belief until this es a part of our being。 And then after that has been stabilised； we move our attention towards our enemies； and then to those to whom we are close and again use the same lines of reasoning – that just as I have had countless previous existences； they too have had countless previous existences； and during those existences； we were not born from nowhere but rather we were born from a mother。 So then it is extremely likely that this individual has been my kind mother in a previous existence。 And then we continually familiarise oneself with this view that all sentient beings throughout space have had in a previous existence the experience of being our mother。 Then when； through familiarisation； this view bees stable； we can move on to the next part。
Remembering the kindness of one's mother
So then just viewing all sentient beings as having been one's mother in the past is nothing much in and of itself； rather this is just providing the basis for the following two contemplations … that is； remembering the kindness of one's mother and then wishing to repay that kindness。 So the word 'mother' when we contemplate that； evokes images of somebody who has been incredibly kind to one； for example young children always cry for their mothers and so forth。 So then if we contemplate how our mother of this life has been incredibly kind to us； then the reasoning will follow that； equally； in previous existences how all sentient beings； at the time that we were undergoing the experience of a parental relationship； were equally as kind to us as the mother of this life。
So then if we look at the initial stages when we are a fetus in the womb： the person who was carrying us； our mother…to…be； was very strict in her diet； was very strict in the amount of work she would engage in； would be very careful about going here and there because she didn't want to bring any harm to the child she was carrying。 Then at the time of birth； as it says in the scriptures； the bones are moved by the very birth of the child。 These days it’s probably less painful than it was in the past because we often hear accounts of mothers dying during childbirth。 Then at the time of birth； a child's flesh is very tender and the child can only be held in a very delicate； very soft way； can only be held in very fine cloth and so forth； all of which is provided for by one's kind mother。 And then as one starts to grow； our mother continually takes care of us； feeding us with milk from the breast； and clearing away mucus from the nose with her hands； removing excrement and so forth； continually watching over us； and making sure we are not in any kind of minor distress； making sure that