RIGHT MINDFULNESS
Establishing Mindfulness of Mind
|
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 uplifted, one is aware: “The mind is uplifted”. . .
One is just aware, just mindful: “There is mind.” And one abides not
clinging to anything in the world. (MN 10)
|
|
|
|
An uplifted
mind is one made more noble by the presence of an ennobling mental
factor or combination of factors. Buddhist psychology measures the mind
in moments that quickly come and go, so a mind that is uplifted in one
moment by kindness, for example, might be the opposite the very next
moment if ill will or selfishness shows up. Among other things,
mindfulness involves noticing the quality of the mind moment by moment.
|
|
|
Closely examine
your mind—not the content of your mind but the quality of your mind. By
quality we mean whether it has healthy mental factors like kindness,
generosity, and wisdom. Many mind moments do not have such uplifting
factors, but many of them do, and it is important to recognize your own
good qualities when they are present. This allows you to not only
appreciate your good qualities but also encourage their arising in the
future.
|
|
RIGHT CONCENTRATION
Approaching and Abiding in the Third Phase of Absorption (3rd Jhāna)
|
|
|
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)
One practices: “I shall breathe in experiencing mental formations;”
one practices: “I shall breathe out experiencing mental formations.”
This is how concentration by mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated,
so that it is of great fruit and great benefit. (A 54.8)
|
|
|
Tomorrow: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering
One week from today: Establishing Mindfulness of Mental Objects and the Fourth Jhāna
Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
#DhammaWheel
Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.
No comments:
Post a Comment