A Staircase to Enlightenment
In one of the sutras, or discourses by the Buddha, he says that those who practice shamatha meditation, or dwelling in peace, are building a staircase towards enlightenment. To construct such a staircase to enlightenment requires precise measurement and carpentry. The boards have to be completely measured and properly built. The steps must be built properly, the angles must be looked at, and then finally we have to choose certain particular nails that can bear the pressure of people walking on them, and then we hammer them in. So when we talk about shamatha practice, the sitting practice of meditation, we are talking about building a staircase very deliberately, according to the instructions of Buddha. We might ask, “A staircase to what? What’s it like at the top of the stairs?” It doesn’t really matter. It’s just a staircase. We are just building a staircase. No promise, no blame. Let us simplify the whole situation. Let us just build this particular staircase, very simply and directly.
This article was written in February 1998 in response to the following post from Emily Danies: 1) Please would somebody define "mamo" so I can explain it to other practitioners. 2) What is the home practice for mamo chants during this last week before Shambhala Day? ( there's no "center" wherein one can practice).
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