I hope to use this post as a space to collect in one place the various entries and expedient means for cultivating prajna paramita (the perfection of wisdom) that I have found helpful. May it be of benefit to others on the path as well.
For those unfamiliar with prajna paramita, some related practices are:
- Emptiness
- Non-duality
- Dzogchen
- Mahamudra
- Chan and Zen
- Middle way reality
What is being known?
- Ask into the mind: “What is being known?”
- Observe any experiences taking place of any type.
- Continually take no action in relation to them. Simply notice as they pass by with no movement of mind.
Don’t bother
- Notice what is going on, whatever is being experienced across body, speech and mind.
- Don’t bother reacting in any way.
- If reaction is already taking place, don’t bother with it and return to simply noticing whatever is being experienced.
Letting go
- Observe the current experience, and look for any sense of disturbance, gross or subtle.
- Relax and let go of any amount of disturbance that can be set down or released.
- Smile if helpful.
- Repeat the process again and again.
Dual cultivation
- Begin by reciting Amitabha or Guan Yin’s name in a regular, rhythmic way.
- As each recitation finishes, notice the fall back into silence.
- Recite with longer and longer stretches of silence between each.
- Observe as each recitation arises and falls away.
- Notice where it arises from, and falls away into.
- Notice this intangible void that all thoughts and phenomena arise out of and fall away back into.