A View on Buddhism

[peter288]

Hello, I am having some difficulty on meditating on a visualised image of the Buddha. From what I've read, you have to make a Buddha image come to your mind and then your focus on it. However, after staring at the image, as soon as I shut my eyes I can't see the image in my mind. Can anyone help? Thanks,
Peter

[JeffC]

Great question!

The idea of visualizing anything for a prolonged period is daunting.

The image of Buddha is recommended because of it's purity but it isn't always the easiest to maintain because of our lack of familiarity.

So I would recommend starting with something simpler and more easily identified for you. It doesn't mean you can never change it but meditation is quite difficult, especially in the beginning.

Of course, whatever image you choose you are going to have trouble maintaining it and will need to tirelessly bring your mind (gently) back to it over and over.

That's why many people use the breath. It's hard to forget. But it works and that's what matters.

Best,
Jeff

[Crazy Wisdom]

I struggle with visualisations too

I think the thing is not to worry too much about it, if you do, you can end up making your practice soley about picturing something.

Just do what you can, the visualisations will either come or they won't.


How long have you been practicing?

Jon
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Is that so?

[Mani]

Hello, Peter.

I think that the various meditation techniques all involve "training your mind" in some capacity. Visualization is certainly no different! Whatever it is that one is visualizing, it will probably take some effort to sustain a clear image for even a short length of time.

I might suggest to begin with the basic shape, and then perhaps try to focus on a particular or specific aspect, the eyes for example, or any other details. this may help instead of looking for visual clarity right from the beginning.

Another suggestion would be to use the same picture, or statue so that your mind will become more familiar with it, rather than having it try to remember many different ones.

One more...If you have even a bit of focus but then it disappears, once realizing this, without disappointment, just try to re-establish the image or even some aspect of it. Once again, one aspect of this kind of method is to train a chaotic mind.

In time, visualization will probably get a bit easier.

Hope this helps...

[rudyh01]

Also, perhaps we tend to take the word visualizing often too litterally. It is just imagination. For example, if you were to imagine you felt pain in your left thumb, you would not be able to feel anything like pain of course, but you can start to imagine that you are hammering and miss the nail; then you get a vague sense of what it is to have a painful thumb.

Similarly with visualizing; don't imagine that you will have a clear, bright and sharp image from the start. Unless you have been a meditator for many lifetimes, that's very unlikely. But you can start by remembering the face of your father or mother, and see what that looks like in your imagination - you may be surprised to find how vague and changing that is - and this is a face you see (or have seen) thousands of times! So it can help to start with just the feeling of the Buddha being in front of you, it may start as a ball of light that radiates peace, and ove time, you gradually imagine a vague face, the rough position etc. and build it up.

Having said that, after over 20 years, my own visualizations are still lousy...
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Love & clear light,
Rudy

[matt]

A nun from Sravasti Abbey told a group of us that visualization does not mean a mental image. I know it does for adepts, but she implied that it is really just a matter of intention, which made me feel better. I am an artist, with a trained mind's eye, still I just rely on a thought of the Buddha when I am supposed to visualise, sometimes something comes up spontaneously, but usually not.

I would say just relax, begin with the thought that you will visualise the Buddha, and whatever happens, know that you are getting benefit from it, and gently bring your mind back to the practise when it wanders. According to many teachers, whether we actually see something or not, is not what matters.
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I want to be more compassionate, humbel and loving.

[Mitch White]

My answer is a bit less lofty , I suggest you do what I did long ago, buy a small buddha about 4.5 inchs tall, I have a very nice one made in Japan, place it were you can see it often, mine is always on my desk, take it down and really look at it every day, hold it in your hand and feel its weight. Then think about what it represents to you personally. Familurize yourself with every aspect of it. Then each day meditate on some aspect of it, maybe just its color or its face, always what it means to you. Have patience with yourself. some day you will be able to draw it and its meaning up like you do your phone number or your name, it will come.


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"Investigate Right Where You're Standing"
Master Chu-hung