RIGHT EFFORT
Developing Unarisen Healthy States
Whatever a person frequently
thinks about and ponders, that will become the inclination of their
mind. If one frequently thinks about and ponders healthy states, one has
abandoned unhealthy states to cultivate healthy states, and then one’s
mind inclines to healthy states. (MN 19)
Here a person rouses the will, makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts
the mind, and strives to develop the arising of unarisen healthy mental
states. One develops the unarisen awakening factor of energy. (MN 141)
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Energy is a
word with many different meanings in English. Here it refers to a mental
state that may or may not co-arise with other mental states. Its
presence or absence determines how much effort we put into whatever we
are doing in any given moment. Energy levels can be adjusted by
intention. Sometimes we need to put more effort into what we are doing;
sometimes we need to back off and stop trying so hard.
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Since our
concern here is developing healthy states, working with energy is a
means of supporting such things as practicing when you don't feel like
it, being patient when your impulses are urging otherwise, and looking
more closely at a situation to see where the wisdom is to be found in
it. Think of energy as an impersonal factor you can either dial up or
dial down, depending on the situation.
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Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Mind and Abiding in the Third Jhāna
One week from today: Maintaining Arisen Healthy States
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