Do meditative "exercises" and "mental workouts" enhance the ability to reach enlightenment?
Upvote:1
You become enlightened only when you develop knowledge of Dependent Origination, the 3 characteristics, and 4 Noble Truths. Not when you develop powers.
If you do have powers this might help in teaching (the only permissible use of such powers in Theravada Buddhism). But trying to develop them you might get "lost" as you might get attached to the powers.
Upvote:2
All the abilities you have might work as a tool to benefit others or an obstacle on your way. It really doesn't matter what abilities you have, Buddha gave countless of teachings for people with various capabilities and they all are able to reach enlightenment.
Personally, years ago I developed really good memory. Many people are astonished that I am able to recall details of events that happened years ago or that I remember long sequences of numbers, words etc. Maybe not a super power, but something I gained while deliberately practising some specific cognitive techniques. Does it help in my Buddhist practice? Well, when reading texts I easily remember many details so I need much less time to read and understand some teachings of my masters. But on the other hand, I also remember lots of bad days of my friends. While others already forgot some unpleasant things, I still keep it and my good memory doesn't want to let it go. This is a real obstacle on my way.
If you want to develop great abilities to benefit others, it implicitly means that you feel compassion to other sentient beings. But to benefit others you really don't need super powers, you can simply be kind. Try to smile to strangers, say some nice words to cheer people up, offer some time to your friends so you can listen to them and give some comfort. There is lots of people around us who suffer and very often all they need is someone to offer a little bit of interest and support.
To answer your 2 questions directly:
No, super abilities won't enhance the ability to reach full enlightenment. To be fully enlightened you need to get rid of ego and understand the emptiness of all phenomena. You need to embrace the impermanence of all compounded things - your brain is only a tool you can use and one day it will die. The enlightened mind, on the other hand, is a clear space without the limits. To reach enlightenment you will need to give up your ego and brain. So it really doesn't matter if you have to give up a normal ego or super-mundane ego. In terms of ease and time needed to reach enlightenment - it all depends on how much pride, attachments, compassion etc. you have. So better start with working on that.
Super-mundane abilities are only tools so on their own they won't help you to benefit other beings. Imagine having a knife - you can either cut bread to feed others or you simply can kill them. It all boils down to whether you have more compassion or anger.
If one wants to quickly reach enlightenment there is no point developing super-mundane powers. The fastest way to enlightenment is to use techniques to give up ego and understand emptiness. The fastest way to benefit others is to develop compassion and start with being kind to people around us.
More post
- π Are all Buddhists vegetarian?
- π Can someone give references of the four stages of enlightenment in the four major Nikayas?
- π Finding a Sangha in London
- π Goal of liberation in yoga/meditation - Isn't it Boring?
- π How do I recognize the attachment to certain things?
- π Does Buddhism give methods to ask questions when you are proliferating?
- π Is there a tradition or practice involving fasting in Buddhism or Buddhist countries?
- π Attachment to trifling material things
- π What to focus on between breaths
- π What happens if a Person spent money on good things which are earned from bad ways
- π Who or what is observing
- π Should I decrease the amount of time I practice concentration meditation?
- π What is Buddhism's view on divorce?
- π Where is the story of the non-returner who "sold" pots on the side of the road?
- π What is a headman?
- π Is there a benifit to "wishful thinking"?
- π Devotion in Buddhism
- π Where did the Buddha say that Teachings that don't contain the Noble Eightfold Path cannot lead to Enlightenment?
- π Why Vipassana meditation need a base object?
- π The relation between the three types of dukkha
- π Better results when pausing meditation?
- π What other suttas instruct how to do Anapanasati, apart from the Anapanasati Sutta?
- π What is Sang Hyang Adhi Buddha?
- π How to concentrate to suppress hindrances?
- π Anyone know about the use of the skull for magic in the Burmese traditions?
- π Is there a point to delaying detrimental behaviours?
- π Is there a commentary for the Dhammapada?
- π What is the history and (current) location of the root text sources comprising the Pali Cannon?
- π Why are there are only one Buddha per universe?
- π Choosing between contemplative traditions
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π Do meditative "exercises" and "mental workouts" enhance the ability to reach enlightenment?
- π Which Hindrances are counteracted or enhance by the 37 and Jhana Factors?
- π What are the differences between vipassana and mindfulness meditation?
- π Are Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism the same thing?
- π How are 'conceit' and 'identity-view' not the same?
- π How do I slow down and start living according to my values? How do I change the direction of my life?
- π How compatible are the beliefs of atheists and Buddhism?
- π What is the difference between craving and clinging?
- π What are the differences/similarities in the concept of faith as used in Buddhism and Christianity?
- π What is the difference between rebirth and reincarnation?
- π Found items and the Second Precept
- π Attachment is a poison. Why is attachment to the Buddha and to Buddhist philosophy not a problem?
- π What is the difference between relative and absolute truth in Buddhist philosophy?
- π Can a person live by the Dhamma and have another religion as well?
- π Please explain when and where to use the terms Theravada and Hinayana
- π What is the difference between VijΓ±Δna, Manas and Citta?
- π What is the difference between non-self and emptiness?
- π What are the other Theravada Councils held between the 4th and 6th
- π What does breaking the fetter 'Clinging to rites and rituals' actually mean?
- π What are the differences between "Nirvana" in Buddhism and "Moksha" in Hinduism?
- π What is the difference between Satipatthana and Vipassana?
- π What is the difference between samadhi and samatha?
- π What is the difference between 'compassion' and 'pity'?
- π "Guard the sense doors"- What does this mean, and what is it's application?
- π How compatible are (Theravada) Buddhism and the Western life?
- π Mindfulness when on the train, underground and bus
- π What is the difference between a cula sotapanna and 'faith follower' ?
- π Does hosting guests at home with meat and alcohol (because they are fond of it) amount to aiding the guests break their Sila?
- π How and when did the name "Buddhism" appear?
- π Where is the Buddha originally quoted as saying "On heaven and earth, I alone am honored"?