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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Effort: Abandoning Arisen Unhealthy States

 

RIGHT EFFORT
Abandoning Arisen Unhealthy States

Whatever a person frequently thinks about and ponders, that will become the inclination of their mind. If one frequently thinks about and ponders unhealthy states, one has abandoned healthy states to cultivate unhealthy states, and then one’s mind inclines to unhealthy states. (MN 19) Here a person rouses the will, makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts the mind, and strives to abandon arisen unhealthy mental states. One abandons the arisen hindrance of restlessness. (MN 141)

Reflection

One of the key strategies of Buddhist practice is to abandon unhealthy states that have arisen in the mind. This word abandon is used in a particular way—as an alternative to either accepting or rejecting the experience. If you act out an unhealthy state of mind, you are only strengthening it, and if you repress it, you are only postponing its impact. The middle way is to be aware of the unhealthy state of mind, understand it is harmful, and gently release your hold on it.

Daily Practice

Restlessness comes up a lot, particularly in a busy daily life. It wants something different from what is happening in order to either get something desired or escape something undesired. It is important to recognize the unhelpfulness of this mental state. Restlessness is not bad or wrong, but it does hinder the mind’s ability to act skillfully. Develop the ability to recognize when you feel restless and then shake off its hold on you. Instead, just be with what is.

Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Feeling and Abiding in the Second Jhāna
One week from today: Developing Unarisen Healthy States

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Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

Via Daily Dharma: A Process of Discovery

 Sometimes as Buddhists, we can develop an orientation that somehow we need to go beyond our sense of self or get rid of it. But I’d say the process is more about discovering through inquiry how the sense of self arises.

Laura Bridgman, “Seeing the Emptiness of Self”

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Via Discover the Art of ‘Micro-Meditation’ with Loch Kelly

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March 5, 2022

Small Glimpses, Many Times

 
The state of calm, loving awareness that we seek to cultivate through meditation practice isn’t something outside of ourselves to achieve—it’s already always present within us.
 
We may catch glimpses of it while sitting on the cushion—or seemingly out of nowhere while going about our daily lives. Meditation teacher Loch Kelly refers to these tiny shifts of awareness as “mindful glimpses” or “micro-meditations” and says that they can help us to live from a place of greater ease, clarity, and joy.
 
Discover the art of micro-meditation with Loch Kelly, author of The Way of Effortless Mindfulness, in Tricycle’s upcoming virtual workshop Small Glimpses, Many Times. In this 90-minute Zoom workshop, Kelly will offer simple, powerful practices for unlocking access to the “nature of mind” as spoken of across Buddhist traditions.
 
This event is offered by donation. Register now to join us on Zoom March 9, 4:30-6 p.m. ET.