Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Effort: Maintaining Arisen Healthy States

 

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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 the healthy state, and then one’s mind inclines to the 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 investigation of states-awakening factor. (MN 141)

Reflection Because the mind is inclined in the direction of whatever you frequently think about and ponder, influencing your own mind becomes the way of changing yourself for better or worse. When healthy states arise, such as kindness or insight or mindfulness, or when the factor of awakening called the investigation of states is present, this is beneficial and needs to be maintained through the deliberate and skillful application of effort. Daily Practice When mindfulness is present enough to give rise to the awakening factor of the investigation of mental and emotional states, do what you can to strengthen and maintain this quality of mind. Investigating your own experience is the primary way of gaining wisdom, but like so many other habits of value in our lives, it does not just happen by itself and requires the application of effort. This is worthwhile to do, so do it. Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Mental Objects and the Fourth Jhāna One week from today: Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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