RIGHT MINDFULNESS
Establishing Mindfulness of Mind
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A person goes to the forest
or to the root of a tree or to an empty place and sits down. Having
crossed the legs, one sets the body erect. One establishes the presence
of mindfulness. (MN 10) One is aware: “Ardent, fully aware, mindful, I
am content.” (SN 47.10)
When the mind is beset by confusion, one is aware “the mind is
beset by confusion”… One is just aware, just mindful: “There is mind.”
And one abides not clinging to anything in the world. (MN 10)
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Not all
practice sessions are filled with bliss. In fact, they are not meant to
be. The idea is to be fully aware of whatever is happening in your
experience, whether it is calm and peaceful or full of confusion. A rush
of random states can still be observed one at a time. You can even feel
content amidst confusion, as long as you abide without clinging to
anything.
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When your mind
is beset by confusion, just be aware that this is what is happening
right now. You don’t have to feel like you are doing something wrong or
try to change it. Just pay very close attention and follow along with
the jumble of thoughts and emotions with as much equanimity as possible.
You can actually be quite attentive to a stream of consciousness that
is on a roller-coaster ride, if you don’t judge it and just examine it.
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RIGHT CONCENTRATION
Approaching and Abiding in the Third Phase of Absorption (3rd Jhāna)
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With the fading away of joy, one
abides in equanimity; mindful and fully aware, still feeling pleasure
with the body, one enters upon and abides in the third phase of
absorption, on account of which noble ones announce: “One has a pleasant
abiding who has equanimity and is mindful.” (MN 4)
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Some people
move easily and naturally through the stages of absorption, but many
people do not. This is not something to be forced if it does not come on
its own, and we should never judge our progress against the schema of
four jhānas. As we can see, mindfulness and concentration each
involve the other, so at a certain point it becomes unnecessary and
unhelpful to compare the two and distinguish two different practices.
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As you settle
into the pleasant feeling tones of the second level of absorption, the
pleasure gradually subsides and resolves into a state of equanimity or
even-mindedness. The body still feels tranquil and at ease, but the mind
becomes more balanced as it becomes more mindful and fully aware.
Simply rest at ease, doing nothing and striving for nothing, and let the
mind settle naturally.
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Tomorrow: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering
One week from today: Establishing Mindfulness of Mental Objects and Abiding in the Fourth Jhāna
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