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 restlessness is internally present, one is aware: "Restlessness is present for me." When restlessness is not present, one is aware: "Restlessness is not present for me." When the arising of unarisen restlessness occurs, one is aware of that. And when the abandoning of arisen restlessness 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 As we move into practicing with the fourth foundation of mindfulness, mindfulness of mental objects, the instructions become somewhat more detailed. The first section goes through each of the five hindrances and invites us to notice not only whether they are present or not but also how they arise in the mind. The teaching also points out that each hindrance can be abandoned once it has arisen. Observing this is important. Daily Practice Sometimes when you are sitting in meditation you will notice that the mind is restless. That’s okay; just notice it. And other times the mind will be calm and without restlessness. Notice this as well. Once familiar with these two modes, you can look more closely at the transition from one state to the other—watching the arising and passing away of restlessness. It is just a mental factor that comes and goes. Looking carefully, you’ll see that. 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) When one sees oneself purified of all these unhealthy states and thus liberated from them, gladness is born. When one is glad, joy is born; in one who is joyful, the body becomes tranquil; one whose body is tranquil feels pleasure; in one who feels pleasure, the mind becomes concentrated. (MN 40) Reflection Concentration is not something we do to the mind, but is something we allow the mind to do. The mind would naturally be far more concentrated than it usually is if we could just stop interfering with it. The states of restlessness, sluggishness, sense desire, ill will, and doubt act as obstacles or hindrances preventing the mind from reaching a natural state of great tranquility, clarity, unity, and strength. Daily Practice Once you are able to experience this particular kind of pleasure, the pleasure born of freedom, gladness, and joy, it is only a small step to develop a deep and stable concentration. The pleasure morphs into equanimity and allows for a profound seeing of things as they actually are, without distortion. Approach concentration in your practice in this way, as uncovering a natural state of mind. 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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Via Daily Dharma: Care Underpins All

 

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Care Underpins All  We can’t live ethically without caring about ourselves as well as others. And we can’t be mindful without caring about what is happening here and now. Care underpins the radical attention that dharma practice accentuates. Winton Higgins, “Treading the Path with Care” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

The Lost Robe By Michael O'Keefe A journey from losing a robe to reevaluating priesthood and how to best embody spiritual status.  Read now »

Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation \\ Words of Wisdom - March 17, 2024 💌

 

In most of our human relationships, we spend much of our time reassuring one another that our costumes of identity are on straight.

 - Ram Dass -

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 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 joy-awakening factor. (MN 141)

Reflection Last week we looked at abandoning unhealthy states that have arisen in the mind, and this week we are doing the opposite: practicing to maintain the good states of mind that have come up. If we are feeling generous or kind, or are being truthful, that is a good thing and should be supported. The word translated here as “maintain” also has the sense of guarding or protecting healthy emotions and healthy thoughts. Daily Practice All kinds of positive states arise and pass away naturally in the mind. The practice here is to notice that and to support, reinforce, and sustain positive states. If you say something nice to someone, say it again or say it to another person. If you give something to someone in an act of generosity, acknowledge that giving to others is good for you and look for opportunities to give again and again in different ways. Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Mental Objects and Abiding in 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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Via Daily Dharma: The Zero State

 

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The Zero State  There is no need to be afraid of having faults, because knowing we have them can help us to improve. If you considered yourself perfect, would you still want to meditate and cultivate your practice? Master Sheng Yen, “How to Be Faultless” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Buddhist Film Festival Presented by Tricycle March 15-24, 2024 We invite you to join us today at 12:00 P.M. ET for a live screening of The Departure and Q&A with director Lana Wilson as a part of our first-ever Buddhist Film Festival. When you buy your ticket you will have access to today's live screening and Q&A along with five feature-length films and five short films.  Get your ticket » The Eight Awarenesses of the Awakened Being With Laura Burges Ryuko Laura Burges, a lay entrusted dharma teacher in the Soto Zen tradition, discusses “The Eight Awarenesses of the Awakened Being,” realizations that are available to us all and especially helpful in our practice of recovery from addiction. Watch now » Follow Us Forward today's wisdom to a friend »

Via Be Here Now Network // John Fugelsang

 

Chris Grosso – The Indie Spiritualist – Ep. 126 – Humor, Religion, and Politics with John Fugelsang
March 15, 2024

In this episode, Chris Grosso and John Fugelsang converse about:  “People who’ve had such oppression have rebelled against so much never-ending shittiness with humor....

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Via [GBF] "Can Our Life Be Ethical AND Joyous?" with Steven Tierney

Steven Tierney shares that we begin to truly embody the Bodhisattva vow when our decisions are based on their impact on "we" rather than "I." We pause and consider others before we think or act. It doesn't mean we forget ourselves, but that others are considered in our actions. 

Taking this vow we commit to not being instigators of any further chaos or misery in the world. Just meditating quietly is a moral act because, during that time, we refrain from creating any conflict. 

He shares that ethical living (known as Śīla in Buddhist practice) goes beyond refraining from harm - we become liberators. The foundations of Śīla are three components of the Eightfold Path: 

• Wise speech
• Wise action
• Wise livelihood

Pausing to consider these three can become our code of conduct that embraces self-restraint, primarily motivated by freedom from causing harm.
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Listen to the talk on your favorite podcast player or our website: 

https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/can-our-life-be-ethical-and-joyous-steven-tierney/

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Enjoy 800+ free recorded dharma talks at www.gaybuddhist.org/podcast/