The above is a collection of selected and useful insights from my own meditation practice. There are still many things I do not—or do not yet—understand from the scientific literature I’ve consulted. At the same time, I’m left with several lingering questions and thoughts:

(1) As I continue to practice, my ability to concentrate deepens and gradually becomes instinctive, embedding itself in the deeper layers of the consciousness iceberg.[1] So, could there come a point where, as soon as I begin meditating, I can immediately enter one-pointedness without needing the math exercise? Brother Alpha said yes. But what exactly that looks like—I’ll need time to find out.

(2) After achieving one-pointedness, the occasional mental flickers—are those from the subconscious? Brother Alpha said so. Since the subconscious and unconscious hold our habits, tendencies, repressed thoughts, and unresolved issues, we should try to minimize inner clutter and mental tension so that our concentration is more stable, and fewer of those little distractions rise up from the depths.

(3) After entering deep one-pointedness—let’s say it’s very stable—what kind of consciousness is present at that point? Brother Alpha said that by then, we’ve already shifted into a different realm, one with a different kind of knowing and seeing.

(4) Numbers are neutral. What if, instead of numbers, I used Sanskrit syllables (e.g., Om, A, Hūm) or mantras, and made them complex enough to be hard to remember—would that still work? What would the effects be (e.g., unexpectedly leading to the sixth heaven of the Desire Realm)?

(5) Most importantly, I understand now that the math problems are just a method to enter samādhi. When WM becomes overloaded, we can’t generate new numbers, and the current ones fade—then concentration deepens. The numbers disappear. A still, silent space appears. That’s how I experience it, and Brother Alpha sees it the same way. This made me wonder: could the meditation object be used as an intentional goal, not just a method? In recent days, I’ve experimented. After reaching one-pointedness, could I contemplate a particular image? Yesterday, I couldn’t. The mind only wanted to stay still and enjoy the quiet and bliss of one-pointedness. Today, though, I was able to imagine a green gem from the unicorn of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, and also the red dot and hair bun of Amitābha Buddha. And the bliss was still present. Strange, isn’t it!

Each person is different—our minds, forms, and karmic forces vary. But I believe this technique is adaptable for many people. I’m fortunate to have Brother Alpha, Master Tibu, and a few spiritual friends to listen, share, and learn with. Whether this method is effective, flawed, or incomplete—it’s something each of us must experiment with personally. In the end, as Brother Alpha said: "Meditation is just a tool. It doesn’t bring liberation. Compassion and loving-kindness are the highest superpowers for liberation." And Master Tibu once said: "The greatest blessing is being able to transform yourself."

(End of Part 8/8)

nbt

Notes:

[1] https://eocinstitute.org/meditation/how-mindful-meditation-tames-the-anxious-monkey-mind/