All Buddhist practice is based on the observation of phenomena
Indeed, we do not meditate on abstract ideas; we observe what actually appears in experience. However, it is common for people to believe that only negative or disturbing states are phenomena.
This is understandable, because if one does not know what the category of phenomena truly includes, it is impossible to observe accurately.
Eliminating Misunderstandings About the Purpose of Spiritual Practice
The purpose of practice is therefore not:
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to eliminate thoughts,
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to suppress emotions,
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nor to reach a particular state or level.
The purpose is to learn to see phenomena clearly, in order to understand their nature, namely:
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their impermanence,
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their absence of self,
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their emptiness.
Without these understandings, the experience is not truly understood: it is modified instead.
One then tries to produce certain states and avoid others, projecting a biased interpretation onto experience.
In Buddhism, this mistaken way of reading experience is what is called cognitive obscurations.
Yet far too many misconceptions continue to circulate
This is how misconceptions such as the following arise:
➜ “When I am awakened, there will be no more phenomena.”
Here, there is a misunderstanding that awakening means escaping phenomena, rather than no longer appropriating them.
➜ “I observe phenomena.”
Here, it is not understood that the sense of ‘I’ who observes is itself a phenomenon.
➜ “This is not a phenomenon; it is profound / sacred.”
Here, one becomes attached to a state that is itself a phenomenon.
➜ “If it is a phenomenon, then it must be a problem.”
Here, phenomena are mistakenly confused with problems.
Study and practice are two inseparable aspects for eliminating mistaken understandings and thus moving forward in genuine transformation
It is therefore essential to reflect on the teachings, to decode and analyze sentences and words, and to understand that each word points to a complete teaching.
In this way, we can draw a parallel with the idea that each teaching is a piece of a puzzle, and that it is the integration of all these pieces that allows a correct view to emerge and thus enables one to truly walk the path.
As a reminder, the word PHENOMENON appears in the Tog Chöd manual in the following sentence:
“We have an erroneous view of ourselves, of our world, and of our connection to all phenomena,”
within the paragraph on Buddha Nature.
The context behind why I wrote this article on this blog
In reality, I did not write this article on the blog itself, but in one of the online community spaces (or forums) of the course platform, where you can find:
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programs for the general public,
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teacher training programs in Lu Jong and Tog Chöd.
Not everything is reposted here on the blog. If you would like to go further and also benefit from video answers to questions, feel free to join us on the platform!
So if you go further, you will be able to discover a resource on the different realizations of emptiness and compassion according to the type of individual (arhat, bodhisattva, Buddha). This resource is connected to the one on phenomena; both are included in LIVE 3 of the Tog Chöd teacher training, a mental practice in which we study the mind.
So do not remain stuck in your beliefs—study and practice, practice and study!
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