Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Mindfulness and Concentration: Establishing Mindfulness of Mind and the Third Jhāna

 

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RIGHT MINDFULNESS Establishing Mindfulness of Mind 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 mind is uplifted, one is aware: “The mind is uplifted”. . . One is just aware, just mindful: “There is mind.” And one abides not clinging to anything in the world. (MN 10)

Reflection An uplifted mind is one made more noble by the presence of an ennobling mental factor or combination of factors. Buddhist psychology measures the mind in moments that quickly come and go, so a mind that is uplifted in one moment by kindness, for example, might be the opposite the very next moment if ill will or selfishness shows up. Among other things, mindfulness involves noticing the quality of the mind moment by moment.  Daily Practice Closely examine your mind—not the content of your mind but the quality of your mind. By quality we mean whether it has healthy mental factors like kindness, generosity, and wisdom. Many mind moments do not have such uplifting factors, but many of them do, and it is important to recognize your own good qualities when they are present. This allows you to not only appreciate your good qualities but also encourage their arising in the future. RIGHT CONCENTRATION Approaching and Abiding in the Third Phase of Absorption (3rd Jhāna) With the fading away of joy, one abides in equanimity; mindful and fully aware, still feeling pleasure with the body, one enters upon and abides in the third phase of absorption, on account of which noble ones announce: “One has a pleasant abiding who has equanimity and is mindful.” (MN 4) One practices: “I shall breathe in experiencing mental formations;” one practices: “I shall breathe out experiencing mental formations.” 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 the Way to the Cessation of Suffering One week from today: Establishing Mindfulness of Mental Objects and the Fourth 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: Living in the Body

 

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Living in the Body The body is our house—and how we live in it and where we occupy it are uniquely ours, as well as being part of the common human experience. The body is a treasure trove and an exquisite vehicle for our practice of waking up and being with what is. Jill Satterfield, “Meditation in Motion” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Breaking Self-Addiction Vimalasara in conversation with James Shaheen A senior teacher in the Triratna Buddhist Community speaks with Tricycle’s editor-in-chief about how the Buddha’s teachings have supported their path to recovery and what we can all learn from Buddhist wisdom on addiction. Read more »

Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation \\ Words of Wisdom - June 29, 2025 💠

 

Grace is something that an individual can see about their own suffering and then use to their advantage. It is not something that can be a rationalization for allowing another human being to suffer. You have to listen to the level at which another person is suffering. When somebody is hungry, you give them food. As my guru said, "God comes to the hungry person in the form of food." You give them food, and then, when they've had their belly filled, they may be interested in questions about God. Even though you know from, say, Buddhist training, or whatever spiritual training you have had, that the root cause of suffering is ignorance about the nature of dharma. Giving somebody a dharma lecture when they are hungry is just an inappropriate methodology in ending suffering.

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Via Daily Dharma: Confronting Crises

 

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Confronting Crises The fact that human beings have the capacity to recognize themselves as a manifestation of the entire cosmos opens up a possibility that, if embraced, may help us through the crises that now confront us. David Loy, “In Search of the Sacred” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

The Refuge of Mara By Kate Tsuruharatani Amid a shifting sense of home, a practitioner finds grounding in an unexpected ally. Read more » Daily Dharma App Explore New Tools for Stillness, Insight, and Daily Wisdom  The Daily Dharma app is more than a meditation app. Offering our beloved Daily Dharma quotes, a variety of Dharma Talks, insightful written guides, thought-provoking podcasts, and more, the app is designed to enrich and support your spiritual journey, no matter where you are. Download today » Follow Us Forward today's wisdom to a friend »

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Effort: Developing Unarisen Healthy States

 

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RIGHT EFFORT Developing Unarisen 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 healthy states. (MN 19) Here a person rouses the will, makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts the mind, and strives to develop the arising of unarisen healthy mental states. One develops the unarisen investigation-of-states awakening factor. (MN 141)

Reflection The second of the seven factors of awakening is called the investigation of states, and this refers to a quality of curiosity and interest that naturally arises when we become mindful, or fully aware, of our own mental and emotional states. Anything looked at closely enough becomes interesting, even fascinating. Like any mental factor though, this quality of investigation usually requires some effort to arouse and sustain.  Daily Practice Make a point of taking an interest in things, even subtle aspects of your own experience. If your ear is itching, zoom in on that sensation and investigate it carefully: What does the itch feel like exactly? If you feel hurt by something said to you, take the time to see how that hurt actually manifests in your mind and body. By cultivating the quality of this awakening factor, the investigation of states, you build self-understanding. Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Mind and Abiding in the Third Jhāna One week from today: Maintaining Arisen Healthy States Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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