Awareness in Buddhist Meditation

Awareness in
Contemplation
I wish to conclude these observations on awareness in Buddhist meditation
with some special observations on what are usually thought
of as the most sublime states (brahma-vihāra) of mental concentration,
the sublime states of the mind dwelling in universal love
(mettā), with boundless compassion (karuṇā) and sympathetic joy
(muditā), rising into the most sublime state of equanimity (upekkhā).
But they will be observations with a difference. Here they
are not presented as the highest peaks of virtue, and hence not as
a goal striving for perfection. Such may be the road mapped out
for a Bodhisatta, a being striving for enlightenment to make others
enlightened too. As such they could be classified with the ten perfections
(dasa pāramitā) on the purifying way with the illuminating
truth towards a unifying life. It is an old doctrine, the doctrine of
fulfilment in perfection, the doctrine of gradual attainment, of striving,
of progress, and of achievement. The Way, the Truth and the
Life (via, veritas et vita).
Here is given the instantaneous realisation which comes through
insight. When the truth is seen, there is no need of development.
When the false is seen as false, there is no need to explain the truth.
The fool, who knows that he is a fool, is a wise man. Thus it is
with instantaneous insight. Once the curtain is drawn aside, there
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