RIGHT EFFORT
Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States
Whatever a person frequently
thinks about and ponders, that will become the inclination of their
mind. If one frequently thinks about and ponders unhealthy states, one
has abandoned healthy states to cultivate unhealthy states, and then
one’s mind inclines to unhealthy states. (MN 19)
Here a person rouses the will, makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts
the mind, and strives to restrain the arising of unarisen unhealthy
mental states. One restrains the arising of all five unarisen
hindrances. (MN 141)
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Having gone
through each of the five hindrances one at a time, we now regard them as
a group. At all times, and in no particular order, we want to become
sensitive to the harmful effects of sense desire, ill will,
restlessness, sluggishness, and doubt, and to work actively to restrain
their arising. With the development of certain skills, we can position
ourselves wisely so that the conditions that feed these unhealthy states
will diminish.
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Cultivate the
habit of being sensitive to the five hindrances throughout all
activities of daily life. If some particular activity tends to make you
restless, like drinking a lot of coffee, you might think about cutting
down. If interacting with a particular person provokes your ill will,
you might think about seeing them less. It is just a matter of knowing
what conditions trigger unhealthy states and working to diminish them.
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Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Body and the First Jhāna
One week from today: Abandoning Arisen Unhealthy States
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