Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

HOMAGE TO THE MAHABODHISATTVAS
MANJUGHOSA AND MAITREYA
Chapter III
THE EXACT DEFINITION OF SOME BUDDHIST
TERMS CONCERNING MEDITATION
Today we hurry, as we are a little late. Our time is
short. The subject, we have been warned, is
extensive and knowledge of it a necessity. It is very
important to know the precise meaning of Buddhist
terminology used in meditation, for three related
reasons: so that one may initially understand
meditation; so that one's practice progresses
without needless obstacles; and, most vital, so that
the practice bears good fruits of realization.
As we approach the hermitage, a curtain moves, a
face is seen behind, the curtain falls back in to place;
Mr. Chen has seen us coming. An hour or so before,
the yogi must have finished his last afternoon
practice, a one and a half hour period of certain
meditations and spiritual exercises usually
completed upon the ringing of an alarm wrist-watch
at five o'clock. Now he greeted us just outside his
door and said, "I thought you were not coming."
Bhante replies that we must come as today's talk is
fundamental to the idea of meditation practice in
Buddhism.
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