Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Effort: Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States

 

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RIGHT EFFORT Restraining Unarisen 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 restrain the arising of unarisen unhealthy mental states. One restrains the arising of the unarisen hindrance of sense desire. (MN 141)

Reflection There are two popular conceptions that may well be wrong. One is that we have free will to do whatever we want, and the other is that we have no control over what our unconscious minds throw up into consciousness. This text speaks to the ability to use our powers of conscious intention to influence what rises into awareness from preconscious or subconscious realms. There are ways to guard against unhealthy states. Daily Practice When sense desire arises, it has the effect of hijacking the mind and driving it in unhealthy directions. See what you can do to guard against certain kinds of content arising. One example is learning not to follow the "clickbait" that keeps popping up on your computer, urging you to go to specific websites. An internal example is to stay mindful of thoughts arising and passing away, seeing them as impersonal events, without following the content down the rabbit hole.  Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Body and Abiding in the First Jhāna One week from today: Abandoning Arisen Unhealthy States Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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