On Meditation
The present moment is all we have.— Tuan Tran
Breath awareness is easy the moment effort becomes effortless.— Tuan Tran
Letter to a friend
Sorry it took me a while to respond to your email. I'm not familiar with Turiya state so I can't comment on it. However, since the class reached that state through guided meditation then I would suspect it is achieved through the power of suggestion.
I'm skeptical of any meditation that is not observing the reality of the present as is, whether one is experiencing a pleasant or an unpleasant mental state, with full acceptance. True happiness and compassion arise from experiencing suffering and letting it go since everything is impermanent; thus in essence there is no self as it is also impermanent and subject to change.
Suffering is caused by the attachment to anything at all. Since all things are impermanent, therefore attachment to anything at all will lead to suffering. For example, a rose is beautiful and fragrant while in full bloom, yet it will not last and the attachment to that state in its development will lead to suffering. The greater the attachment, the greater the suffering.
Trying to reach a Turiya state for its blissful effect will hinder one's progress in meditation. The goal of meditation is to move beyond suffering, which is not the same as trying to experience bliss. One can take drugs to feel good but it doesn't lead to greater wisdom and compassion, only more suffering.
Sincerely,Tuan Tran
I have been drawn to meditation since I was a boy. At twelve years old I tried to meditate by myself, without instruction, without a teacher.
At twenty-six I attended my first Goenka course and reached bhanga during that retreat. It transformed my life. I traveled to India seeking deeper guidance, but did not find what I was looking for.
In 2007, at forty-seven, I lived as a monk at a Theravada forest monastery in Myanmar. I woke each morning to the sound of the temple bell. I wanted to stay for the rest of my life. But my family needed me, so I returned.
I now meditate daily on the breath. I carry that awareness through the day.
I believe Webu Sayadaw's method — mindfulness of breathing — is the most direct path. It is a complete method in itself to achieve both concentration and wisdom. Simply observe the natural breath at the nostrils where the breath touches, without controlling it, and with continuous awareness.