Mahatma Buddha used to teach the practice of dhyana (meditation) to his disciplines. Some had taken 20 years to attain perfection in meditation while some had taken 40 years, and there were still others who couldn't attain perfection even after 50 years. Some had started as young men but could not attain perfection even in their old age.
Ananda was a discipline of Buddha selected as his personal attendant. He had never asked about dhyana to Buddha and later never spoke about meditation to former. Ananda loved Buddha more than his life. Ananda was constantly engaged in Buddha's service. Once a fellow discipline said to Ananda, "I have finally started to experience the depths of dhyana. My mind is completely quiescent. It took me 80 years of practice to attain this state."
Ananda was perturbed. " I haven't been able to reach such a state yet", he thought. He opened his heart to Buddha. Buddha said, "For you, Dhyana is as easy as snapping fingers."
He then taught Ananda the practice of meditation and on the third day Ananda was absorbed in deep meditation, samadhi.
Ananda asked, "Sir, how is it that I was able to reach this state within three days instead of years that it usually takes?"
Buddha smiled, and said, " Attaining this state is a very long journey for those who want to purify their mind by practicing dhyana alone without doing service. Your heart has been purified and sanctified so much through selfless service that now meditation and samadhi are very easy for you."
Ananda was a discipline of Buddha selected as his personal attendant. He had never asked about dhyana to Buddha and later never spoke about meditation to former. Ananda loved Buddha more than his life. Ananda was constantly engaged in Buddha's service. Once a fellow discipline said to Ananda, "I have finally started to experience the depths of dhyana. My mind is completely quiescent. It took me 80 years of practice to attain this state."
Ananda was perturbed. " I haven't been able to reach such a state yet", he thought. He opened his heart to Buddha. Buddha said, "For you, Dhyana is as easy as snapping fingers."
He then taught Ananda the practice of meditation and on the third day Ananda was absorbed in deep meditation, samadhi.
Ananda asked, "Sir, how is it that I was able to reach this state within three days instead of years that it usually takes?"
Buddha smiled, and said, " Attaining this state is a very long journey for those who want to purify their mind by practicing dhyana alone without doing service. Your heart has been purified and sanctified so much through selfless service that now meditation and samadhi are very easy for you."
