RIGHT MINDFULNESS
Establishing Mindfulness of Mental Objects
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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 doubt is internally present, one is aware: “Doubt is present
for me.” When doubt is not present, one is aware: “Doubt is not present
for me.” When the arising of unarisen doubt occurs, one is aware of
that. And when the abandoning of arisen doubt occurs, one is aware of
that. One is just aware, just mindful, "there is a mental object.” And
one abides not clinging to anything in the world. (MN 10)
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As we cycle
through the five hindrances as arising and passing mental objects, we
come to the last one, doubt. Some doubt is healthy, but this is the sort
of doubt that prevents you from seeing clearly and is an obstacle to
further progress along the path. It may take the form of self-doubt or
doubting that you are practicing correctly. In meditation you can just
be aware doubt is there, and let it go without buying in to what it is
saying.
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The next time
you feel the kind of doubt that impedes your ability to function well,
take some time to examine it phenomenologically. That is to say, pay
careful attention to what it feels like and how it is arising and
passing away each moment, and learn to recognize it as just another
mental factor that comes and goes. Understanding the transient nature of
doubt gives you power to “ride out” its influence on your mind.
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RIGHT CONCENTRATION
Approaching and Abiding in the Fourth Phase of Absorption (4th Jhāna)
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With the abandoning of pleasure
and pain, and with the previous disappearance of joy and grief, one
enters upon and abides in the fourth phase of absorption, which has
neither-pain-nor-pleasure, and purity of mindfulness due to equanimity.
The concentrated mind is thus purified, bright, unblemished, rid of
imperfection, malleable, wieldy, steady, and attained to
imperturbability. (MN 4)
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The four stages of mental absorption described in the system of jhānas
culminate with the attainment of a profound and imperturbable
equanimity. In this state the mind is free of both craving and aversion,
neither favors nor opposes any mental object, and is able to simply
regard things as they actually are, undistorted by our projections and
fears. Notice also that such equanimity has the effect of purifying
mindfulness.
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Sitting quietly
and allowing the mind to become more and more peaceful, progressively
more unified, and gradually steadier will eventually culminate in the
quality of mind described here. This is not a transcendent state but
rather a natural, immanent state of mind. See if you can allow your mind
to become still like tranquil water and watch the mind reflect whatever
comes before it without distortion.
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Tomorrow: Understanding the Noble Truth of Suffering
One week from today: Establishing Mindfulness of Body and Abiding in the First Jhāna
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