When we practice peaceful samadhi, three experiences arise.
The first one is the experience of movement, which is likened to a waterfall coming down a steep mountain. When water falls down a steep mountain, it cannot be stopped even with great force. When one first meditates on stillness (Skt. shamatha) and insight (vipashyana), it is extremely difficult to control the mind. It is not possible to control it for a minute or even a second. When one gets distracted, if one thinks that it is impossible to control one’s mind and just gives up, that will not help.
If one wants to catch a monkey or a wild horse, one should first give it food and be gentle with it. In that way one can catch it. Once one gets hold of it, one can make it do whatever one wants. Similarly, if we try to catch the mind while it is wild, it is not possible to control it. Knowing that our mind is wild, we should develop renunciation and weariness when the mind is not weary. When we feel weary, tamed by that suffering, the mind will stay still. In that state of being tamed by suffering, we can develop stillness and insight. When we do not feel happy, according to the great beings from the past, that is the best time to develop samadhi.
Practicing samadhi with great diligence, in the future we will attain happiness and, eventually, the fruition of nonreturning. Thus we should rejoice and cheer the mind; in that state we can develop samadhi.
The second experience is the experience of achievement. What is achieved? We achieve a level that is quite peaceful compared to what we have had before. Once we have understood that our mind is like a waterfall coming down a mountain, we will not make the mind tense up, and it will be easier to meditate on stillness and insight. The strength of the wildness will let up. Properly concentrating on a visualization, our mind will be a little more steady than before. Even though the mind may be wild or drowsy, the force of that is not as strong as before. The mind is stronger because it is more used to samadhi. As wild as a horse may be, once it has been tamed, if one restrains it with a bridle and saddle, it will go wherever we want. In the same way, we can stabilize our samadhi a little bit. That is called the experience of achievement, which is like an ocean not stirred up by the wind.
The third experience happens when we get used to samadhi. When a yogin preaches samadhi, even if one shows him a hundred entertaining things, his mind will not be distracted in the least. He can completely control his mind through samadhi. Supported by the qualities of samadhi, the mind does not move. Even if we practice samadhi for many months or years, the mind will not become drowsy, sleepy, or weary. Even if we try to make it wild using desirable things, the mind will not be disturbed, because it has become steady. It is like a mountain on a great plain covered with a forest of all sorts of trees. No matter how much wind and rain come, the mountain cannot be moved.
To continue the samadhi practice, when drowsiness arises, we cheer the mind. When wildness arises, we tame it with mindfulness and awareness. In that way, we attain stability. When we get used to this, instead of being how we are now – cherishing ourselves above everyone else – if we meditate on bodhichitta, consider all sentient beings as our parents, give up anger toward enemies and attachment to friends, we will cherish other sentient beings above ourselves. We will not feel anger or attachment to others, and we will also not have anger or attachment to ourselves. This will come gradually as we get used to the practice.
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche – Pure Appearance – Collected Works Vol III pp 539-40, Shambhala
These gems collected from Dharma Samye
