RIGHT EFFORT
Maintaining Arisen 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 maintain arisen healthy mental states. One
maintains the arisen awakening factor of joy. (MN 141)
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Maintaining
healthy mental and emotional states that have arisen in experience
sometimes takes effort. It is worthwhile effort, because the mind will
incline in the future toward whatever states are most often manifesting
in the present. By sustaining healthy states as often as you can for as
long as possible, you are not only blocking unhealthy states but
creating the conditions for a healthier mind in the future.
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When you are
joyful in a healthy way, find ways to sustain that joy. One way to do
that, when the joy comes from noticing the good fortune of another, is
to remind yourself of it continuously. Repeating to yourself phrases
like “May they be happy” and “May their good fortune continue” is a
simple way to reinforce the basis upon which the joy is established.
Remember, it is good for you to feel joy, so cultivate it as much as you
can.
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Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Mental Objects and the Fourth Jhāna
One week from today: Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States
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