THE STAGES OF MEDITATION

Daniel P. Brown, Ph.D. Harvard Medical School

Buddhism

Yoga

ATTITUDE AFFECT BEHAVIOR

A. Generation of Faith; Attitude Change

B. Formal Study; Intrapsychic Transformation

C. Sensory/Behavioral Regulation

Uninterrupted Awareness Training

(photon-like)

(wave-like)

THINKING

A. Training Bodily Postures

B. Calming Mental Chatter; Associative Thinking

C. Re-Arrangement of Mental Continuum

discontinuous

momentariness

continuous transformation

of same thing

PERCEPTION

A. Concentration Training; Decategorizing

Internalization; Re-Arrangement of Image

B. Recognition of Various Patterns of all

Sense Modalities from the Seed

C. Stopping the Mind, i.e. Gross Perception

discontinuously

emanating seed

continuously transforming

seed

SELF

A. Tuning in Subtle Perception

B. Recognizing the Subtle Flow

C. Collapse of Ordinary Observer

Restructuring of Perspective

discontinuous

immediate events

Concomitant Perspective

(Access)

continuous vibration

of tanmatras

Reflection of Purusa

(buddhi)

TIME/SPACE

A. High-Speed Search of Subtle Flow;

Eradication of Self; Derealization

B. High-Speed Search of Gross Mental Events

Shift on Perceived Duration & Frequency

of Events of Subtle Flow; Arising Only,

Full Event in Slow Motion; Quick Flashing

Psychic Powers; Raptures; White Light

C. Analysis of Mind-Moments and Their

Succession; The Problem of Perceived

Time-Space interconnectedness of all

potential events

emptiness

non-entityness

(ngo bo nyid med)

discrete flashes

Non-Dissolution

Co-Dependent Origination of All Realms and Times

cessation of

sense-impressions

of oppositional force

(vyutthana)

transformation of one

sustrate (dharmin)

Unity

Unity of Manifest

Cosmos (prakrti)

COSMOS

A. Equanimity of Interrelated Events; Interaction

of Specific Events and Cosmos

B. Stopping all Mental Activity/Reactivity

Enlightenment Moments:

Basis: Cessation of Mental Content;

Vast Awareness

Path: Return of Mental Content from

Changed Locus of Awareness

Fruit: Mind as Cosmos

C. Review: Return of Ordinary Mind

Non-Dissolution

Buddha-Bodies

All Interactions of

Manifest Cosmos

Rain Cloud Samadhi