RIGHT ACTION
Reflecting Upon Mental Action
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However the seed is
planted, in that way the fruit is gathered. Good things come from doing
good deeds; bad things come from doing bad deeds. (SN 11.10) What is the
purpose of a mirror? For the purpose of reflection. So too mental
action is to be done with repeated reflection. (MN 61)
When you are doing an action with the mind, reflect on that same mental
action thus: "Does this action I am doing with the mind lead to my own
affliction?" If, on reflection, you know that it does, then stop doing
it; if you know that it does not, then continue. (MN 61)
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The body has a
natural capacity for proprioception, for knowing what it is doing as it
is doing it. What about the mind? How often do we know what we are
thinking as we are thinking it? Not often, it appears. Mindfulness of
the body is being aware of the body while breathing, for example.
Mindfulness of mind is being aware of the activities of the mind as they
are unfolding. This takes some getting used to, but it can be done.
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This particular
text is encouraging us to notice the ethical quality of our mental
activity and in particular whether it contributes to some sort of
self-harm. Sometimes we are our own worst critic, our own most
undermining voice, our own adversary. When we pay close attention to
what the mind is doing, we can catch it in the act of hurting us and
gently let go of that in order to point the mind in a more positive
direction.
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Tomorrow: Abstaining from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures
One week from today: Reflecting upon Social Action
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