密集默照禪修經驗對生命意義轉化歷程之探究-以法鼓山聖嚴法師教法為中心=A Study on the Process of the Transformation of Meaning in Life from the Intensive Silent Illumination Meditation Experience: on the Basis of the Teaching of Master Sheng Yen
The silent illumination meditation, regarded by Master Sheng Yen as the most practical meditation method for modern people, is very enlightening to the author in his pursuit and exploration of the meaning of life. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of the silent illumination meditation on the transformation of the meaning of life through the phenomenological description and analysis in qualitative research based on the narrative of the experience of the author’s life and meditation and also the notes taken in the 49 days of silent illumination meditation practice in 2018. The research questions are: 1. What is the individual''s experience of changes of physical and mental perception and the process of changes of consciousness during the intensive silent illumination meditation practice? and 2. What are the important changes on the perception of the meaning of life after understanding and practicing the silent illumination meditation? The major conclusions from the phenomenological analysis are: 1. During the intensive silent illumination meditation process, the author experienced changes in external sense of space and time, the spontaneous energy movement in the body, the loss of the sense of body weight, the successive emergence and disappearance of thoughts, the feeling of the unreality of thoughts and oneness with environment, the unification of the thought stream, the fading of discriminating mind and the sharper perception and awareness; 2. there is a close relationship between the meditation experience and the feelings, perceptions, and consciousness of the body and mind; 3. the transformation of consciousness is the basis of the transformation of perception and cognitive awareness; 4. the practice of silent illumination meditation helps realize the untruthfulness of vexations and deluded thoughts, eradicate attachment to thoughts, experience the truth and delusion of life with a unbiased ordinary mind in daily life, and then reconstruct the correct attitude and knowledge toward the essence of life and the truth of the universe; and 5. in summary, when the moments in the silent illumination meditation experience are listed, they are found to be based on various feelings and perceptions, and these feelings and perception in turn are based on transformed consciousness. These moments constitute the wholeness of the meditation experience in a specific way. This is a similar result achieved in the long-term process of the Eastern civilization in which various methods are used to understand the effects of consciousness. In addition, the following understandings are achieved: First, this can be a shift of the focus from the experience of life phenomena to the essence of life - an in-depth awareness from "self" to "selflessness"; and second, this is an experience of impermanence and selflessness through the observation of an ordinary mind. Finally, the following research findings have been obtained: 1. The phenomenological aids are helpful to understand the operational relationship between "consciousness" and "self" and reveal the essence of life; 2. start with t