On Saturday, December 7th we discussed the nine stages of Shamatha.
Acording to Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche:

“These nine stages are a map of the meditative process.  The first four stages—placement, continual placement, repeated placement and close placement—have to do with developing stability. Stages five and six—taming and pacifying—have to do with developing clarity. And the last three stages—thoroughly pacifying, one-pointed and equanimity—have to do with building strength.”
Click here for a brief, elucidating article.

Surprisingly, at the fourth stage, one is NEVER distracted from the breath.  Meaning there are five more stages of dealing with the mind that go beyond the ability to completely focus at will.  Meaning complete absorption is intermediate.  Well, I certainly have experienced greater steadiness during some of the weekend retreats I’ve done, but as I’ve never even participated in a week-long retreat much less a dahtun, this kind of concentration seems like an elusive island in the setting sun.  In non-retreat day-to-day life?  To quote a Nichtern: “midnight at the oasis.” But the idea is pretty exciting.

Furthermore, (and I don’t know if I’m breaking the rules here), I really want to know if anyone has tasted this concentration personally and I absolutely want to hear if you experience it constantly.  Why?  Well because what I really like about the nine stages of Shamatha teaching is its implicit suggestion that these states are possible.  That they are, in fact, ordinary steps on the pathand something (dare I say) to strive for.  Sometimes I feel like the challenge of meditation is overstated.  Yes there are times when it’s difficult, but my mind is not the Alamo, thank you very much, and when I buy into the “mediation is so hard!” vibe too strongly I find that motivation and effort tend to fade.  Conversely, really believing I’m on the way to a mind that is so stable it can see through objects kind of gets me sitting.  One of the reasons I liked “Turning the Mind into an Ally” so much is that the Sakyong presents the taming of the mind as attainable for anyone who puts forth the effort.
In conclusion: Goals.  Can be bad, but also good!  Like so many other frigging things.  Ah dualistic youth, full of rigid black and whites – if I hadn’t been so depressed when we were together, I would miss your blind, single-pointed didacticism.
So the Hardcorers are brushing up on facts for our informal exam this coming Saturday, which will conclude our classes until we reconvene in 2009.  In the meantime I’ll continue to write these Sancho Panza-esque posts for One City and I’d love some ideas for winter session study, so if anyone has suggestions for a book or set of topics to explore during next few weeks I’d appreciate it.  Please weigh in!  Otherwise I’m just going to write over and over again about how Christmas is materialistic, New Years is too much pressure and family is irritating but we love them anyway. 
Happy testing! (Be it in classroom or life school)
Love, TF