Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Mindfulness and Concentration: Establishing Mindfulness of Mental Objects and the Fourth Jhāna

 

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RIGHT MINDFULNESS Establishing Mindfulness of Mental Objects 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 awakening factor of tranquility is internally present, one is aware: “Tranquility is present for me.” When tranquility is not present, one is aware: “Tranquility is not present for me.” When the arising of unarisen tranquility occurs, one is aware of that. And when the development and fulfillment of the arisen awakening factor of tranquility occurs, one is aware of that . . . One is just aware, just mindful: “There is a mental object.” And one abides not clinging to anything in the world. (MN 10)

Reflection Sometimes the mind is tranquil, and sometimes it is not. One way to practice mindfulness of mental objects is simply to notice when the mental factor of tranquility is present and when it is not. It is okay to be aware of the times the mind is restless or bored or confused. These states are transient, like all others, and they will pass, to be replaced by moments of tranquility from time to time. Simply take note of all this. Daily Practice The next time you feel tranquil, attend carefully to what it feels like. This way you will know what to contrast it to when the mental factor of tranquility is gone, which will happen often enough. Observe the interplay of tranquility and lack of tranquility as they come and go. Eventually you will learn how to encourage tranquility to arise and how to sustain it when it has arisen. This is how your mindfulness skills develop.  RIGHT CONCENTRATION Approaching and Abiding in the Fourth Phase of Absorption (4th Jhāna) With the abandoning of pleasure and pain, and with the previous disappearance of joy and grief, one enters upon and abides in the fourth phase of absorption, which has neither-pain-nor-pleasure and purity of mindfulness due to equanimity. The concentrated mind is thus purified, bright, unblemished, rid of imperfection, malleable, wieldy, steady, and attained to imperturbability. (MN 4) One practices: “I shall breathe in contemplating relinquishment.” One practices: “I shall breathe out contemplating relinquishment.” 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 Suffering One week from today: Establishing Mindfulness of Body and Abiding in the First Jhāna Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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