Mar 9, 2014
The practice of Calm Abiding (Zhiné) is considered the foundation for developing and mastering all other, higher meditation practices in Tibetan Bön Buddhism. In this recording of a live webcast, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche gives instructions for three forms of Zhiné (forceful, natural, and ultimate) and explains how to deal with obstacles to your practice.
The ability to maintain focused attention and abide in clear, open awareness not only enables you to live more fully in the present, it also cultivates spiritual awakening. The practice of Zhiné develops the strong, stable attention and stillness necessary to overcome the continual movements of the mind. When you train yourself to abide naturally in openness, the healing powers of a focused mind are revealed.
Good Morning!
I would like to deepen my calm abiding practice and I was hoping to listen to the following teaching, but it looks like it is not working in ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/44710095
Would you be able to repost it?
Kirsten, thank you for bringing this to our attention. I’m hoping the problem with this video is temporary — it was viewable when I checked just a few weeks ago. In the meantime, if you’re interested, there is instruction in calm abiding meditation (zhine practice) in this free online course: http://www.ligminchalearning.com/starting-a-meditation-practice/ — see Section 3.
Good evening, I have a question regarding the Zhine practice. For how long, months, years etc. should be practice? thank you very much.
Dear Jean, how long someone practices Zhine depends very much on the individual. For example, one might initially devote a couple of months to the practice until the mind is quieter and more stable, or until one eventually is able to abide without effort in the natural state of mind. Throughout life one can come back to the practice at any time as needed. Even very advanced meditators find this practice helpful.
Hi! Can I do zhine instead of the meditation that the person closes his eyes and observes/listens to his breath?
I mean, can doing zhine meditation instead of breath meditation lead to enlightenment?
Hi Semih, nearly any practice of the Tibet Bon or Buddhist traditions can be in itself a path to enlightenment, depending on the practitioner and his or her capacity, and I expect that would include zhine. When one reaches the ultimate stage of zhine, one abides without effort in rigpa, non-dual awareness. For sure, Zhine is very helpful as a basis for any other contemplative meditation practice, since it helps us to develop concentration and quiet the mind. If you’re interested, Rinpoche is offering a free 2-week workshop on zhine at Glidewing that can be joined at any time and goes into a lot more depth about the practice. See: https://www.glidewing.com/twr/zhine_meditation_home.html