Important points of the previous two weeks

Two key points to remember about the establishment of mindfulness. 

(1) The right effort is essential – Right effort (four fold) is a factor of eight fold path that leads to development of wholesome states in the mind.  With the right effort the disciple suppresses defilement(s) of the mind.
(2) The mindfulness is brought to the mind – mindfulness becomes the object of the mind in this practice.  Through the mindfulness the seeker becomes aware  of the aspects of the body or feelings (Pali verse given at the end of each section – “Atti kayoti va panassa sati paccupattitha hoti” & “Atti vedanati va panass sati paccupattitha hoti”) 

The basis for insight or “vipassana” is laid through the establishment of mindfulness.  As given at the end of last week’s discussion, mindfulness of body ? suppression of defilement(s), ? … ? lightness of body ? joy ? concentration ? insight (vipassana) (a reference to this: vedana samyutta – appamadha vihari sutta).

Nature of the mind

Mind is intangible; there is no tangible body to it. It always takes objects, mental or psychological objects, from moment to moment.  The objects taken are dependent on the states of the mind.  Mind can be in states related to senses, states gone beyond the sense sphere (in what is termed as high concentrations or ‘rupavacara jhana’) or states gone beyond these previous states into formless states (‘arupavacara jhana’).

Causes for suffering arises within the mind.  It always creates volitional formations leading to existence and death, sorrow etc. (suffering or dhukka).  Ignorance or avijja conditions the creation of the formations. Therefore, through development of mindfulness of the mind a person can understand the true nature of mind.

Objective of development of mindfulness of mind

Through development of this mindfulness a disciple becomes aware of the behavior of the mind, its existence, arising of mental sates and disappearance of mental states.  Due to this awareness or proper mindfulness of the nature of the mind mental states are not grasped with craving.

Development of mindfulness of mind

The first mindfulness, mindfulness of body, is easiest due to the gross nature of the bodily functions.  The second one, mindfulness of feeling, becomes little difficult to the untrained mind due to the subtleness of feelings.  The mental states may become even less ‘comprehensible’ compared to the feeling. 

Similar to the previous two (body and feelings) mindfulness of mind is also developed through bringing awareness or mindfulness to the mind.  Establishment of mindfulness is important.  When a person takes mind to the mindfulness, the mind is not afflicted by attachments or aversion (or anger/hatred) and development of wisdom becomes easy.

With mindfulness established (mind established in mindfulness) a person (disciple) becomes aware of the states of the mind – states associated with lust, anger, and delusion or devoid of these conditions, sluggish mind, agitated mind …

(1) Becomes aware that mind is associated with greed (lust or ‘raga’) when it is in such a state.
(2) Becomes aware that mind is not associated with greed (lust or ‘raga’) when it is in such a state.

Similarly states associated with (2) anger, (3) delusion, (4) sluggishness (with sloth and torpor), (5) dispersed (with confusion and agitation), (6) higher concentrations (form and formless), (7) senses – sensual, and (8) focused mind (with concentration), (9) a liberated mind 

With (2), (3), (6), (7), (8) and (9) states both occurrence and non-occurrences can be observed. 

Some meditation teachers refer to keeping mindfulness as making a mental note.  The idea is to become of mindful (or aware) of the state.  Pali original word for mindfulness is ‘sati’, which has the characteristic of reminding. 

This section of the sutta is short since the attempt here is to be mindful of the states without getting confused about the states.  Hence, a concise list of states that covers the mental states arising in a person is given in the sutta.  The objective is not further analyzing the thoughts but to be mindful of them. (For example, there are several consciousness states that could arise with anger, but here a mental note (or remind oneself) of any state associated with anger as such – rather than analyzing the thoughts in details)

Benefits

When a person becomes mindful she/he becomes aware of the arising, and passing away of different mental states.  The unwholesome states (greed and hatred) are not entertained in a mind trained in mindfulness.  Such a mind can easily realizes arising and (after staying alive) passing away (just like the mental states) is the true nature of conditioned things.

Other points of discussion

(i) what watches the mind – non-existence of ‘you’ or ‘I’
(ii) what would it be like when a person is mindful always
(iii) difference between to know and mindfulness
(iv) as a person becomes mindful of the mental states unwholesome states are not entertained in the mind