The Way to Enlightenment is By Dropping An Anchor

Way to Heaven

A Thangka is a traditional Tibetan Buddhist Painting depicting a Buddhist deity, scene, or mandala. The Thangka “Way to Heaven” or “Way to Enlightenment” is very relevant to a meditator. It illustrates the different stages of Shamata Meditation and, thus, the various stages the meditator goes through as they walk the path of practice. Shamata means calm-abiding and is a foundational mind-training practice in the Buddhist Path.

Take some time to look at this Thangka. We shall explore it in greater detail in another edition of this newsletter. For now, I’d like to draw your attention to the animals present in the painting. It has a monk, elephant, monkey, and rabbit.

In the initial stages of the practice, the mind is being led by distractions, scattering of attention and the mind of passivity. As the meditator develops a single-pointed concentration and the ability to direct the attention of their mind, the colour of the animals changes. Now, the meditator leads the elephant/mind instead of chasing it.

This is the journey of “taming the mind” or “training the mind” that we will encounter as we walk on the path of meditation and inner journey. The monk in the Thangka wields a hooked goad and a rope, representing clear understanding and mindful recollection.

Training the Mind

In James R. Doty’s book “Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart” Ruth teaches Jim how to train his mind.

Control is not the word I would choose; I would replace it with “connect” or “work with.” The word control implies brute force or power like I can tame my mind or body into submission.

Ruth’s second magic trick gives Jim three anchors to practice taming his mind: breath, a mantra, and a candle flame.

This edition will discuss anchors and their role in meditation practice.

I’ve studied with meditation teachers, but they have never really explained the concept of anchors and how to be flexible with using anchors in practice. So, let’s do a deep dive into it so that you can switch your anchors in practice and see what is working for you.

An anchor is a nautical device, usually made of metal (in our times). It is attached to a boat or ship by a cable and lowered to the sea bed to prevent the vessel from drifting away due to wind or current. The purpose of the anchor is to stabilise the vehicle and limit the vessel’s progress in the water when it is at rest and not sailing. If a wind or current causes the ship to move or drift, an anchor acts as a brake, thus ensuring that the vessel stays in place.

If we think of our mind as a boat in the sea, the wind and the current as distractions or scattering of attention, the anchor is the object of attention. When we meditate, we focus our attention on the anchor, and when the boat drifts in the currents of distractions and scattering of attention, we gently bring our minds back to the anchor.

The breath is one of the most commonly used anchors in meditation or mindfulness practice. However, breath or body sensations can be challenging to access for some people, especially if they have experienced trauma that makes it difficult to connect with the body safely. So, it is helpful to understand the other anchors available to train our minds.

Types of Anchors

Using anchors, ranging from broad to specific, is important in cultivating present-moment awareness in our meditation practice.

Broad Anchors

Broad anchors are those where we intentionally change the anchor in the practice. We are not focused on one particular anchor. Some broad anchors are

• Sounds in the environment

• Body Sensations while doing an activity mindfully

When we practice using one of the above anchors, we keep our attention open to the strongest source of sound or sensation coming into our awareness.

For example, while using sounds in the environment as an anchor, I could keep my attention on a loud sound and shift it to another sound when it comes sharply into my awareness. I am training my mind to be alert to the sounds in the environment and shifting my attention with intention.

I can do the same in walking meditation, where I can keep my attention on the sensation that is strongly coming into my awareness. For example, the sensation of the grass on my bare feet could be my focal point until I mindfully shift my attention to the movement of my calves as I walk.

Specific Anchors

Specific anchors stay constant in one sitting or a practice session. They are single anchors, and we use these anchors as the resting place, where we bring our mind back when we become aware that our mind has wandered. Some specific anchors are

• Breath

• Body

• Sound (External or Internal) Mantra

• Visual Object (External or Internal)

The first two anchors, breath and body sensations, are the commonly taught meditation anchors, especially in the Buddhist lineages. However, sound and visualisation (both internal and external objects) can be powerful anchors in practice, and they are popular in Hindu and Yogic traditions.

What’s Next

In the next edition of the newsletter, I will continue the discussion of anchors, going into each of the specific anchors, briefly discussing how to use anchors, and explaining the magic of using a hidden anchor.

Invitation to Weekly Thursday Sessions

I explore a range of anchors in my Weekly Thursday Sessions, held at 1:00 PM IST (7:30 AM UTC). I’ve been running this weekly group since 2021, and we meet every Thursday.

As a paid subscriber, I invite you to join these sessions.

If you would like an invite, please email me, and I will add you to these invites. You are free to drop in without any long-lasting commitment to the group. Please let me know if you have requests for other time zones, and I can work them around in my plans.

As a parting thought, I will finish this edition with a story.

My Heart Burns Like Fire

Soyen Shaku, the first Zen teacher to come to America, said: “My heart burns like fire, but my eyes are as cold as dead ashes.”

He made the following rules, which he practised every day of his life.

In the morning, before dressing, light incense and meditate.

Retire at a regular hour. Partake of food at regular intervals. Eat with moderation and never to the point of satisfaction.

Receive a guest with the same attitude you have when alone. When alone, maintain the same attitude you have in receiving guests.

Watch what you say, and whatever you say, practice it.

When an opportunity comes do not let it pass you by, yet always think twice before acting.

Do not regret the past. Look to the future.

Have the fearless attitude of a hero and the loving heart of a child.

Upon retiring, sleep as if you had entered your last sleep. Upon awakening, leave your bed behind you instantly as if you had cast away a pair of old shoes.