“The Scientific Basis and Application of Meditation“003《冥想的科学基础与应用》连载003

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现在，我们所说的冥想，在佛教修炼中被称为观想，就是让人在冥想之中，向往一种比人类更伟大的存在，继而得到自由和超越。这种观，只有在正念状态下的观才起作用，才有意义，其目的是为了叫人明白心性和保任心性。而不明白心性的观，其实和妄念一样，意义不大。

正如崔东红教授所说：“如果只有修止入静、修观入定的技巧，而没有精神境界的提升，就好像一杯泥浆水，沉淀后沉渣落入杯底，上面的水变清澈，但如果不将沉渣清除，只要有个震动或者搅动，沉渣必然泛起，水会重新变浑浊。所以不仅需要让沉渣沉淀，而且还需要将沉渣清除。”所以，冥想的本意就是，让自己达到和宇宙中一种巨大善能量的相应。

现在的瑜伽也罢，灵修也罢，如果不能破除执著，不能达成觉悟就都属于世间法，它离解脱还有一定距离。因为要是始终把自己的心灵和解脱寄托在心外的什么之上，就无法达到真正的自由。解脱是一种绝对自由。绝对自由就是没有任何条件的自由，这才叫解脱。如果需要一种条件，比如他通过念咒子、观想佛像，或者关在房子里面，与世隔绝，他感到很快乐、很自由，这种有条件的自由不是真正的自由，不是解脱。现在好多所谓的瑜伽、灵修，还是有条件的修炼，它还处在修炼的初级阶段。

在《冥想的科学基础与应用》中，就有各流派的很多修炼方法，如打坐、诵经、持咒等，这对提升正念都是很好的方法。像诵经和持咒，就有很好的作用，只要你的心正，就不会有负面的作用。因为，正面的行为不会产生负面的“反作用力”，负面的行为才会产生负面的“反作用力”。比如说，如果你诅咒别人，那你得到的肯定是负面的东西。无论咒也罢，经也罢，只要是一种正念，用于健康，用于利益众生，用于让自己明白，甚至用于求福报都是有好处的。

不过，一定要明白，诵经和持咒，是为了给自己营造一种大善的环境，用大善的信息不断熏染自己的心灵，增长自己的大爱与智慧，消除欲望与分别心。当一个人没有分别心、没有欲望的时候，他就是快乐的。这一点对于任何一个人来说都一样。所以，我们诵经和持咒最直接的目的，就是拒绝整个社会环境中欲望化的信息，让心灵趋向宁静、清凉、快乐。

我们知道，人类在潜意识中，都有一种莫名其妙的焦虑和恐惧。这种焦虑和恐惧更多的来自于死亡，有些人能非常清晰地感受到，有些人则不一定能清晰地感受到，但这种焦虑始终像一柄剑悬在头上，让人产生莫名其妙的恐惧。当人感受到这种东西的时候，或者死亡的气息将人笼罩的时候，他定然会产生焦虑和恐惧。这时候，只有他自己才能让自己解脱，才能拯救自己，别人是很难帮他的。而禅修的作用，就是为了让人解除这类焦虑和恐惧。

但是，对于一个真正明白了真理的人来说，死亡并不可怕，可怕的是愚昧。如果把人的烦恼比作大树，那大树之根就是烦恼之心，只有斩断树根，大树才会枯萎、死亡，烦恼才会真正断绝。就是说，息灭烦恼的究竟之法，就是改变心性。佛家修炼的目的也在于此。当然，佛家修炼有一套训练心性的方法，非常科学严谨，任何人只要依法而修，久久行之，必能打开脉结，改变贪婪、仇恨、烦恼的生理基础，让人得到身心自在。它属于一种向心内探求的生命科学。

所以，治病的药，也一定要在自己的心里找。向心内找什么呢？找自己的本来面目，也叫真心。那么，找到这个真心的时候，你就明白了。明白了什么呢？明白了好多焦虑也罢，恐惧也罢，压力也罢，其实都是一些情绪而已。在对治它们的时候，你不要把它们当成敌人或者对手，不要把它们当成伤害了你的东西。你要明白，它们只是一些现象，是虚幻无常的，没有自性。只有当你的真心之光放出之后，所有的黑暗就一下消失了，你的烦恼之根也就斩断了，这是究竟之法。

实质上，人的生命就类似于一个游戏，任何烦恼也都是游戏，都是一种幻化的东西。当你把它当成实质的东西时，它就会影响你的心灵并伤害你。当然，你不但要在道理上明白这一点，事上也要体验到这一点，让身体产生觉受。当你能够在事上体验到一切如梦如幻的时候，许多所谓的都市心理病也就不药自愈了。

What we now refer to as meditation is called “visualization” in Buddhist practice. It involves directing the mind during meditation towards a greater existence beyond humanity, leading to freedom and transcendence. This type of contemplation is effective and meaningful only when conducted with mindfulness, as its purpose is to help people understand and maintain their true nature. Without this understanding, such contemplation is no different from delusions and lacks significance.

As Professor Cui Donghong said, “If one only has techniques for achieving calm and deep meditation, without elevating their spiritual realm, it is like a glass of muddy water: after settling, the sediment sinks to the bottom, and the water above becomes clear. But if the sediment is not removed, a disturbance will cause it to rise again, making the water murky once more. Therefore, not only must the sediment settle, but it must also be removed.” Hence, the true purpose of meditation is to align oneself with the vast positive energy of the universe.

Whether it’s modern yoga or spiritual practice, if one cannot break free from attachments and attain enlightenment, they still belong to worldly practices, which remain distant from liberation. If one continues to place their mind and liberation on external things, they cannot achieve true freedom. Liberation is absolute freedom, which means freedom without any conditions. Only this can be called liberation. If it requires conditions, such as chanting mantras, visualizing Buddha images, or isolating oneself from the world and feeling happy and free, such conditional freedom is not true freedom, nor is it liberation. Many so-called yoga or spiritual practices today are still conditional and remain at the beginner’s stage of practice.

The book *The Scientific Basis and Application of Meditation* mentions various methods from different schools, such as sitting meditation, reciting scriptures, and chanting mantras, which are all effective for enhancing mindfulness. Reciting scriptures and chanting mantras can have great effects, as long as one’s mind is righteous, it will not lead to negative consequences. Positive actions do not produce negative “counterforce”; only negative actions do. For example, if you curse someone, you will inevitably receive something negative in return. Whether it is chanting or reciting scriptures, as long as it is done with positive intent, for health, benefiting others, gaining understanding, or even seeking blessings, it is beneficial.

However, it is important to understand that reciting scriptures and chanting mantras aim to create an environment of great kindness for oneself, continually nurturing one’s heart with positive energy, increasing love and wisdom, and eliminating desires and discriminatory thinking. When a person is free from discrimination and desire, they will be happy. This is true for everyone. Therefore, the most direct purpose of reciting scriptures and chanting mantras is to reject the desire-laden information from the societal environment, guiding the mind toward tranquility, clarity, and happiness.

We know that there is an inexplicable anxiety and fear in the subconscious of humans, often stemming from the fear of death. Some people can clearly feel it, while others may not be as aware, but this anxiety always looms like a sword hanging overhead, causing irrational fear. When one feels this, or when the breath of death envelops them, anxiety and fear inevitably arise. At this time, only the individual can free and save themselves; others can hardly help. The role of Zen practice is to help people eliminate such anxiety and fear.

For someone who truly understands the truth, death is not frightening; ignorance is. If we compare a person’s troubles to a large tree, the root of that tree is the mind of troubles. Only by cutting off the root will the tree wither and die, and troubles will truly end. This means that the ultimate method to eliminate troubles is to change one’s nature. This is also the goal of Buddhist practice. Of course, Buddhism has a systematic method for training the mind, which is highly scientific and rigorous. Anyone who practices according to the method for a long time will inevitably unlock energy knots, change the physiological basis of greed, hatred, and worries, and achieve physical and mental freedom. This is a form of life science that seeks inwardly.

Therefore, the medicine to cure illness must be found within the heart. What are we seeking inwardly? We are seeking our true self, also known as the true heart. When you find this true heart, you will understand. What will you understand? You will understand that much of the anxiety, fear, and pressure are merely emotions. When dealing with them, don’t treat them as enemies or opponents, and don’t see them as something that harms you. You must understand that they are merely phenomena, illusions, and impermanent, without inherent nature. Only when the light of your true heart shines forth will all darkness disappear instantly, and the root of your troubles will be cut off. This is the ultimate method.

In essence, human life is like a game, and all troubles are also part of the game, mere illusions. When you treat them as substantial things, they will affect your mind and harm you. Of course, you not only need to understand this in principle but also experience it in practice, allowing your body to develop a sense of realization. When you can experience that everything is like a dream or illusion, many so-called urban psychological ailments will heal themselves without medication.