Six conditions for serenity

• Unsuitable versus appropriate motivations for cultivating concentration
• Five elements of a favorable environment for meditation
• Having little desire and developing contentment
• Giving up worldly activities and living in pure ethical conduct
• Having realistic expectations and using your present situation wisely

Gomchen Lamrim 120: Six Conditions for Serenity (download)

Contemplation points

1. In the motivation, Venerable Tarpa said that because all our dukkha arises from the misperception of how things exist, the wisdom that realizes emptiness is the direct antidote. As a result, all the teachings of the Buddha prepare and lead us into attaining a realization of emptiness. Spend some time thinking about teachings at different stages of the path and consider how they lead to this wisdom.
2. With that in mind, how does meditative stabilization facilitate wisdom?
3. Even though you may not be able to attain serenity in this life, you can begin to build this skill. As Venerable Tarpa said, the drops in the bucket add up. How might cultivating the ability to concentrate in meditation, to whatever level you are able, benefit your practice now, on and off the cushion? How does it lead to having meditative stability at some point in the future?
4. Consider the first of the six conditions to develop serenity: dwelling in an appropriate place.
   • Why is this condition beneficial for cultivating serenity? What benefit does it provide?
   • How do ease of access, good companionship, being able to attain supplies easily, etc. help to create an appropriate place for serenity meditation?
   • To what extent have you already started setting up these kinds of conditions in your life? What has been the benefit of doing so?
   • What obstacles arise keeping you from further cultivating this condition and what can you do to overcome them?
5. Consider the second and third of the six conditions to develop serenity: having little desire and being content.
   • Why are these conditions beneficial for cultivating serenity?
   • Venerable Tarpa said this is about totally dedicating yourself to the spirit of attaining full awakening instead of sitting on the cushion daydreaming about how things could be better. To what extent do you see this kind of distraction in your meditation practice? What are the disadvantages of that?
   • To what extent have you already started countering desire and cultivating contentment in your life and what benefits have you experienced as a result?
   • What obstacles arise keeping you from further cultivating these conditions and what can you do to overcome them?
6. Consider the fourth of the six conditions to develop serenity: completely giving up many activities.
   • Venerable Tarpa said this is about abandoning certain activities while in retreat, like email, taking care of family, shopping, socializing, etc. Why is this condition beneficial for cultivating serenity? What benefit does it provide?
   • To what extent have you already started abandoning or reducing certain activities in your life and what benefits have you experienced as a result?
   • What obstacles arise keeping you from further cultivating this condition and what can you do to overcome them?
7. Consider the fifth of the six conditions to develop serenity: pure ethical discipline.
   • Why is this condition beneficial for cultivating serenity? What benefit does it provide?
   • To what extent have you already started cultivating good ethical discipline in your life and what benefits have you experienced as a result?
   • What obstacles arise keeping you from further cultivating this condition and what can you do to overcome them?
8. Consider the sixth of the six conditions to develop serenity: completely getting rid of thoughts of desire.
   • Why is this condition beneficial for cultivating serenity? What benefit does it provide?
   • How does meditating on impermanence help to cultivate this condition?
   • Venerable Tarpa said that because what we’re trying to do is progress through the form and formless realms (abandoning the desire realm), any worldly desire we cling to directly counters that goal, so it must be abandoned. Take some time to really consider this point.
   • What obstacles arise keeping you from cultivating this condition and what can you do to overcome them?
9. Why is it so important to be realistic about what you can achieve right now, remembering that even small efforts you make matter and contribute to getting you to your goal?
10. Seeing the many benefits of cultivating meditative concentration, resolve to strengthen these six supportive conditions in your life.