A Small, Steady Flame

8/14/2019 A Small, Steady Flame

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ASmall,SteadyFlame

SevenDhammaTalksOntheBasicStepsofBreathMeditation

ThanissaroBhikkhu

(GeoffreyDeGraff)

forfreedistribution


2/33

CopyrightThanissaroBhikkhu2004

Thisbookmaybecopiedorreprintedforfreedistributionwithout

permission

from

the

publisher.

Otherwiseallrightsreserved.

PRINTEDINTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA


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Contents

Introduction

ASmall,SteadyFlame/1

StartOutSmall/4

KeepThingsSimple/8

AQuietSpot/11

TheSteadinessofYourGaze/14MaintainingtheObserver/18

NaturalInsight/22

Glossary/27


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Introduction

ThedailyscheduleatMettaForestMonasteryincludesagroupinterviewin

thelateafternoon,andachantingsessionfollowedbyagroupmeditationperiod

laterintheevening.TheDhammatalksincludedinthisvolumeweregiven

duringtheeveningmeditationsessions,andinmanycasescoveredissuesraised

attheinterviewseitherinthequestionsaskedorlurkingbehindthequestions.

Oftentheseissuestouchedonavarietyoftopicsonavarietyofdifferentlevelsinthepractice.Thisexplainstherangeoftopicscoveredinindividualtalks.

Ihaveeditedthetalkswithaneyetomakingthemreadablewhileatthesame

timetryingtopreservesomeoftheflavorofthespokenword.Inafewinstances

Ihaveaddedpassagesorrearrangedthetalkstomakethetreatmentofspecific

topicsmorecoherentandcomplete,butforthemostpartIhavekepttheediting

toaminimum.Dontexpectpolishedessays.

IwouldliketothankBokLimKimformakingtherecordingofthesetalks

possible.She,morethananyoneelse,isresponsibleforovercomingmyinitial

reluctanceto

have

the

talks

taped.

I

would

also

like

to

thank

the

following

people

fortranscribingthetapesand/orhelpingtoeditthetranscriptions:Pauland

DebraBreger,RichardHeiman,DhammatthoBhikkhu,GunaddhoBhikkhu,and

especiallyKhemattoBhikkhu.Maytheyallbehappy.

ThanissaroBhikkhuMettaForestMonastery

July,2004


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- 1 -

ASmall,SteadyFlame

July2002

Thebreathiswherethemindandthebodymeet.Weoftenhaveasensethat

thesolidpartofourbodiesisthepartweknowbest,andthebreathissomething

thatjustcomesinandgoesoutthroughthesolidpart.Butwhenyoucloseyour

eyes,whatdoyouactuallysenseofthebody?Theresashapedefinedbythe

areawheretheresenergyflowingbackandforth.Andthatenergyisactually

ourmostdirectperceptionofthebody.Wetendtooverlookitandfocusonother

things,butourprimarysensationisrighthere.

So,aswemeditatewerelearningtogetbackintouchwiththatprimary

sensationsothateventuallywecanuseitasamirrorforthemind.Because,asI

said,itswherethemindandthebodymeet:thepartofthebodythemindis

mostsensitiveto,andthepartmostimmediatelysensitivetothemind.Theway

youbreatheisverymuchaffectedbythestatesofyourmind.Whenyoure

worriedabout

things,

you

breathe

in

a

certain

way.

When

youre

happy

about

things,youbreatheinanotherway.Whentheresanger,stillanotherwayof

breathing.Ifyoukeepatcertainwaysofbreathing,itsgoingtohaveaneffecton

otheraspectsofthebodyaswell.Certainwaysyouholdyourbodyarereally

shapedbythebreath.Anditsthroughthebreaththatsomanymentalstatescan

causephysicaldisease,particularlystressdiseases.

Sooneofthefirstthingswehavetodoaswemeditateistoworkthroughthe

breathenergyinthebody.Findsomespotwherethebreathingfeelscomfortable.

Itmightbeatthetipofthenose,themiddleofthechest,aroundtheabdomen,

thebaseofthethroat.Actuallyitcanbeanywhereinthebodywhereyoufeel

thatthesensationofinbreathingfeelsgoodandthesensationofoutbreathing

feelsgood.Thenyoutrainyourselftostaywiththatsensation.

Inthebeginningthesensationmaynotbeallthatimpressive,justasimple,

comfortablefeeling,aneutralfeelingsometimes,butyoufindthatifyoustick

withit,itgetsmoreandmorerelaxing,moreandmorecomfortable.

Likeafire.Inthebeginningafirestartsasjustatinylittlespark,whichyou

havetoshelteragainstthewind.Ittakesalongtimeforthefueltocatchfire,but


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onceitdoesthenthefirebeginstospreadtothedifferentpartsofthefuel.Itsthe

samewiththebodyandthebreath.Youfindonespotthatseemssmallandnot

allthatimpressive,butitfeelsokay.Butyoustaywithit,andtheconsistencyof

yourattentioniswhatgivesitstrength.Onceitfeelsmoresolidlyestablished,

thenyoucanstartallowingittospreadtodifferentpartsofthebody.

Thewordjhana,orconcentratedmentalabsorption,isrelatedtoaverb,jhayati,thatmeanstoburn.Palihaslotsofdifferentwordsfortheword

burning,andjhayatiisusedtodescribeasteadyflame,liketheflameofanoil

lamp.Thewordforburningusedforothertypesoffirelikearagingbonfire,a

woodfire,oraforestfireissomethingelseentirely.Thewordforasteady,

constantflame:Thatsjhayati,whichrelatestojhana.Andaswepractice

concentration,thatsthekindofconsistencyandsteadinessweretryingto

develop.

Ourfocusstartsasasmall,steadyflame,andthenyoutrytoallowthat

steadinesstoflowthroughthebody.Butfirstyouhavetoestablishthatcomfortablespot.Ifyougoaroundthebodyadjustingthebreathhere,adjusting

thebreaththere,withoutarealsenseofcomfort,thensometimesyoumake

thingsworse.Yourejustmessingthingsup.So,itsimportantthatyougetthis

senseofeasefirst,andthenallowthingstospreadsothatyourawarenessfills

thewholebody,andyoursenseofcomfortablebreathenergyfillsthewhole

bodyaswell.

Thinkofitasahealingprocess.Manytimes,assoonasthemindgetsalittle

bitstillandthebreathgetscomfortable,youthink,Well,whatsnext?But

beforeyoucanmovetothenextstage,alotofhealinghastobedoneinthebody

alltheareasoftensionandtightnessanddiscomfortthatyouveallowedtoget

establishedwithinthebody.Thebreathhastoverygentlymassagethem,very

gentlyhealthem,andsometimesthistakestime.

Justlikeawound.Youcantjustsay,Poof,anditsgone.Youhavetoput

themedicineonandletitstaythereforhours.Thehealingprocesstakestime,so

bepatientwiththebreath.Whenthingsgetstill,staywithit.Andeventhough

thingsmaynotseemtobehappening,theresaslow,steadyprocessofhealing

goingoninthebody.

Thisiswhypatienceissuchanimportantpartofthisskill.Whentheytalk

aboutputtinganeffortintothemeditation,thewordforeffortreallymeanspersistence.Itsthissticktoitivenessthatsgoingtomakeallthedifference.The

continuityofyourfocus,thesteadinessofyourpersistence:Thosearethe

qualitiesthatmakethebreathasolidfoundationforthemind.

OneoftheproblemsinteachingmeditationtopeopleinAmericaisthatvery

fewofushavelearnedanyskillsrequiringthatkindofsteadiness,thatkindof

patience.Ifyousharpenaknife,youjustrunitthroughtheknifesharpenerzip,


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zipanditsdone.OverinThailand,though,whenIhadtosharpenaknifeI

wasgivenabigstoneandaknifeandtold,Okay,beverycarefulthatyoudont

trytobeintoogreatofahurry,becauseifyougetimpatientyoumayruinthe

blade.So,youhavetobeveryconsistent,verysteady,andverypatientasyou

workthebladeoverthewhetstone.Andyoulearnallthementalskillsthatgo

alongwithbeingpatient:hownottogetbored,hownottogiveup,thekindof

conversationthatgoesoninthemindtokeepitgoing.Ifyouhaveanyskillslike

that,thinkbackonhowyouvetalkedyourselfintobeingpatient,consistent,

persistent,andthenapplythoseskillstothebreath.

So,workwithasenseofcomfortablebreath.Allowthebreathtoget

comfortable,allowittobeeaseful,andthenallowittospreadthroughthebody.

Whenitbeginstospreadthroughthebodyanditstartsworkingthrough

patternsoftension,youcometoamoreintensesenseofabsorption.Staywith

that.Learntheskillsrequiredtostayrightatthatpointofbalancewhereyoure

notpushingittoohardandnotbeingtoolazyorlax justtherightamountofinterest,therightamountofattentionandintentiontokeepthingsgoing sothat

thebreathcanhaveachancetohealthewoundsinthebody,soothethemind,

andbringboththebodyandthemindtothestagesofpracticewherethe

concentrationgetsstrongerandyourinsightsgrowsharper,moresubtle.

Andagain,itsimportantthatthegroundworkbedone.Asforthequestionof

howsoonyoucanmoveontothenextstep:dontask.Justkeepondoingthe

work.Thingswilldevelop.

Justlikewaitingforaplanttogrow:Youcantsitthereandpullitup,up,up

tomakeitgrowfaster.Ifyoudothat,youuprootit,andthatstheendofthe

plant.Whatyouhavetodoisjustkeepwateringit,applyingfertilizer,removing

theweedsastheycome,andyourpatienteffortwillpayoffaslongasyoufocus

thateffortintherightspot,whichisthepersistence,theattention,andthe

intentionyourebringingtothepractice.Aslongastheseareconsistent,youcan

expectresults.Whethertheyrefastorslowdoesntmatter.Whatmattersisthat

theyresolid.

So,stickwithit.Wevegotawholehourrightnowtobewiththebreath,and

dontstopwiththeendofthehour.Trytomaintainthatsenseofeaseand

comfort,thatsenseofbeingcenteredinsideasyoubowdown,getupandleave,

gobacktoyourmeditationspotandcontinuemeditatinguntilitstimetogotobed.Whenyouwakeuptomorrowmorning,trytoberighthereagain,righthere

atthebreath.

Itsthisconsistencythatmakesallthedifference.


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StartOutSmall

September22,2003

Focusonyourbreath.Asforwhatsgoingtohappenasyoufocusonthe

breath putthatquestionaside.Asforwherethemeditationisgoingtotakeyou

andhowitsgoingtotakeyouthere,putthosethoughtsasideaswell.Becareful

thatyoudontknowtoomuch,becausewhatyouknowtoomuchofisnotreally

knowing.Alotofitsguesswork.

Alotofourpreconceivednotionscomeoutofignorance.Thatsprecisely

whatweretryingtogetridof,butourignoranceshapesthewaywepractice.

Soitsimportantthatyoutrytoclearawayasmanyofthoseexpectationsas

possiblewhenyoucomeintomeditate.Justbewiththebreath.Whenthebreath

comesin,knowitscomingin.Whenthebreathgoesout,knowitsgoingout.

Thatsallyoureallyhavetoknowrightnow.Asforwhatsgoingtohappenwith

thenextbreath,ortheoneafterthat,well,waituntilthosebreathscome.

AjaanFuang

once

noted

that

nowadays

we

have

lots

of

books

on

meditation,

lotsofexplanations,andinsomewaysitsahelp.Butinotherwaysitsa

hindrance,ahindranceinthatwetakealotofourperceptions,ourmemories

thatwevepickedupfrombooksandDharmatalks,andbringthemintoclutter

upthepresentmoment.Thatactuallygetsinthewayofseeingwhatsgoingon.

Theclutterthengetscompoundedwithourgeneralimpatience.Wewanttosee

resultsfast,andsoinordertomakethemhappenfastwesqueezethemtoo

muchinthedirectionwethinktheyshouldgo.Alotoftheresultsthatcomein

meditation,however,havetocomefromsimplyallowingthecausestodotheir

work,todevelopontheirown,withoutyourhavingtopushthemtoomuchin

thedirectionyouthinktheyshouldgo.

So,ifyouseeyourthoughtsleaningintothenextmoment,orwhatsgoingto

happenfurtheroninthefuture,justpullbackuntilyourerighthere,rightnow.

AsAjaanLeeadvisesmanytimesinhistalks, Startoutsmall. Noticewhereyou

feelthebreath,andwatchit.Ifitdoesntfeelcomfortable,youcannudgeitinto

whatseemstobeamorecomfortabledirection.Dontbeintoogreatofahurry

togoontothenextstep.


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Wevegottocomefromapositionofstrengthwhenwemeditate.Theresa

passageintheCanonwheretheBuddhasaysthatapersonwhodoesnthavea

basiclevelofhappinessandgoodnessinsidesimplycannotdogoodness.It

soundslikeacatch22,butthatsnotthepoint.Thepointisthatweallhavea

certainamountofgoodnessinourminds,sotapintothatfirst.Thegoodness

heremeansnotonlygoodintentions,butalsohavingagoodnaturedattitude

towardwhatyouredoing,agoodnaturedattitudetowardthepeoplearound

you.Thatswhywechantthepassagesongoodwilleverynight,everynight.

Andbringsomehumortothepractice,thehumorthatallowsyoutolaughat

yourownmistakes.Withoutthat,thingsstartgettingbitter,andwhenthings

startgettingbitterinsidethenyoustartlashingoutatthepeoplearoundyou

outside.Youstartcriticizingthetechnique thereareallkindsofthingsyoucancriticize.Butifyoucansitbackforabitandtapintoyourowngoodnatured

attitudeanditsthereinsideallofustrytobringthattothefore.Thenwork

fromthat.Itmaybeasmallthing,butyouvegottostartsmall.Startwithwhatyouknow.Thebreathisgoingin.Doyouknowthat?Yes,

youknowthat.Itsgoingout.Doyouknowthat?Well,yes,youknowthat,too.

Okay,knowjustthatmuch.Dontforgetthat.Isitcomfortable?Youmaynotbe

sure.Coulditbemorecomfortable?Well,experimentandsee.Trytosensitize

yourselftohowthebreathingfeels.Withoutsensitivity,itallbecomes

mechanical,andwhenitbecomesmechanicalitbecomesachore.Andwhenit

becomesachorethemindisgoingtostarttorebel.

So,askyourself, Whatreallyfeelsgoodwhenyourebreathingrightnow? If

youcantfigureoutwhatreallyfeelsgood,justholdyourbreathforawhileuntil

themindisscreamingatyouthatyouvegottobreathe,youvegottobreathe.

Thenwhenyoubreathein,noticewhereitfeelsreallygood.Takethatasyour

guide.

WeintheWestseemtobeespeciallycutofffromourownbodies.Wereso

muchinourheads.Theareaofthebodybecomesunexploredterritory,likethose

oldmapsfromthefifteenthandsixteenthcenturies.Theywouldshowthe

coastlinesofcontinentswithhugeblankareasintheinterior.HereBeTigers,

theydsay.Whoknewwhatwasinthere!Itsthesamewiththebody.Weknowa

littlebitaboutit,buttherearehugeunexploredareasinside.

Sowetakeasourbeachheadthisonepointwhereweknowthebreathiscomingin,weknowthebreathisgoingout.Weknowwhetherthebreathis

comfortableornot,andwebegintogetasenseofwhatadjustmentscanbemade

tomakeitmorecomfortablesothatitfeelsreallygoodjustbreathinginright

here,breathingoutrighthere.

Asfortheotherstepsinthemeditation,putthemasideforthetimebeing.

Makesureyouvegotthisstepwellundercontrol.Thepeoplewhotrytotakeon


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yourewiththebreathmayseemtobeasmallthing,butasyougetdownintoit

youfindthattheresalotthere.Infact,theBuddhasteachingsoncausalityhave

onebig,consistentpoint:thatwhatevershappeningintheuniverse,thebasic

patternissomethingyoucandiscernrighthereinthepresentmoment.Itswhat

inchaostheorytheycallscaleinvariance.Thepatternsonthemacroscaleare

thesamethingasonthemicroscale.Well,youvegotthemicroscalerighthere.

Onthemacroscale,youseethatscientifictheorieskeepchanging,sometimes

veryfast.Manytimestheyrenotanythingyoucandirectlyobserve,because

theyrebasedonsomanyassumptions.Butonthemicroscalerighthereinthe

presentmoment,yourmindwiththebreathallthebasicprocessesthatyoure

goingtoneedtoknowforAwakeningareoccurring.Itssimplyamatterof

gettingmoreandmoresensitiverighthere.So,eventhoughitmayseemlikea

smallspot,itsgotalotofpotential.

ItslikeakindofseedtheyhaveinThailand.Theresaparticularplantwhose

seedhasadiameteraboutthatofaquarter.Ifyoubreaktheshell,stickitintoaboutthreegallonsofwaterandcomebackacoupleofhourslater,youfindthat

yourthreegalloncontainerisfilledwithwhatlooklikelittlevermicellinoodles.

Whatwasintheshellwasjustsittingtherewaitingtosoakupwater.Thissmall

spotinthepresentmomentislikethat.Theresalottoteaseoutinhere,sodont

bedisdainfulofitspotential.Learntostartoutsmall,andthosesmallthingsare

goingtorewardyou.

Likethatoldfableofthemouseandthelion.Thelionsavedthemouseslife

andlateronthemousewasabletosavethelionslife eventhoughthelionwas

originallyprettydisdainfulofwhatthemouseclaimeditwasgoingtobeableto

do.Butitcould.Itcouldeatthroughthatnet.

Sothislittlepresentmomentthatyouvegotrighthere:Dontsteponit

hopingthatyouregoingtogetsomeplacehigher.Focusrighthereandreally

giveitthespacetoopenup.Whetheritopensupslowlyorquickly,thatsnotthe

issue.Theissueisthatyougiveitthespace,yougiveitthetime,yourepatient

andwatchfulenoughtoallowittoopen.

Whenwesaythatbigthingsgrowfromsmallthings,itsnotthattheyre

goingtogrowinsuchawaythatotherpeoplemightnotice.Itsjustamatterof

whateversthereinthepresentmomentbecomingalotclearer.Theintricaciesof

whatsgoingonbecomeplayedoutinamuchlargerperspectiveifyougivethemthetimetodevelop.

So.Startoutsmall.Ifyouhavetobesmallforalongtime,thatdoesntmatter.

Whatmattersisthatwhentheprogressdoescome,itssolid.


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KeepThingsSimple

September2001

WhenyoumeditatewhilelisteningtoaDhammatalk,dontlistentothetalk.

Focusonthemeditationasmuchasyoucan.Giveitninetyninepercentofyour

attention.

Leave

only

a

sliver

of

attention

for

the

talk.

Thewholepurposeofthetalkhereisnottodistractyoufromthemeditation

buttoactasafencesothatwhenthemindleavesthebreathitrunsintothetalk

andturnsbacktothebreath.Ifanythinginthetalkisrelevanttowhatyoure

doinginyourmeditation,itwillcomerightin,echoingthroughyourmind,

withoutyourhavingtotrytopayattentiontoit.Andifitsnotrelevanttowhat

youredoing,youdontwantit,anyhow.Itmayberelevantforsomebodyelse.If

itsnotrelevantforanybodyintheroom,itsprobablyforthespeaker.

Soleavethetalkaloneandfocusasmuchasyoucanonthebreathgoingin

andgoingout.Andputoutofyourmindallthoughtsabouthowthelast

meditationwentoryesterdaysmeditationwentorhowitwaslastweek.Justfocusonwhatyouvegotrighthere,rightnow.Thisisanimportantelementin

thepractice:thatyoudropanyconcernsabouthowgoodorbadthingshave

beeninthepast.Thoseconcernsgetinthewayofthepresentmoment.Thesame

holdstrueforanyanticipationabouthowyouhopetodaysmeditationwillbe.It

getsinthewayofwhatyouredoingrightnow.

Meditationisadoing,youknow.Alltoooftenwerelookingforan

experience.Wewanttoexperiencethissenseofease,thatsenseofpleasure.But

theBuddhasfocusinthepracticeisonbeingskillfulindoing keepingmindful,

keeping

alert,

being

ardent

in

the

practice,

finding

a

sense

of

just

right.

When

theytalkabouttheMiddleWay,themiddlenessliesintheamountofeffort

thatsjustrightforwhereyouarerightnow,whichsometimesmayrequirealot

ofeffort,sometimesjustalittlebit.Yousupplywhateverkindofeffortis

required:Thatsthekindofmentalattitudeyouwanttohave.Youreupfor

whateverisneeded.


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Andyouneedtohaveasenseofwhatcanbedonerightnow.Sometimesyou

realize,okay,justabareamountofconcentration,abareamountofmindfulness

isallyoucanmanage,soyoustickwiththat.Dontthrowitawaysimplybecause

itsnotuptoyourstandards.AsAjaanLeesays, Bigthingscomefromlittle

things, andsometimesverytinyvictoriescanaddup.Youstaywiththisbreath

andthenwiththenextbreathandthenthenext.Andeventhoughyoumaynot

feelallthatsettledorsecure,itsbetterthangettingupsetandsaying,Well,gee,

thisisntamountingtoanything;thisishorrible,andthenspinningoutof

control.

Takethingsonestepatatime,whateverthestepthatsrequired.Ifitrequires

youtostepuphigh,okay,youstepuphigh.Ifitssimplyastepalongsmooth

ground,okay,youcanstepalongsmoothground.Butyoutakewhateverstepis

needed,andwhetheritmatchesyourideaofwhereyoudliketoberightnow,

thatsnottheissue.Theissueisthatyourehere,youredoingwhatsrequired,

youredoingthebestthatcanbedoneinthissituation.Andasyoustaywiththeselittle,tinysteps,theybegintotakeonmoredepth,

morestrength,moresolidity.Ifyoumeasurethemagainstyourideaofhow

youdlikethingstobe,youtendtothrowthemaway.Ifyoukeepthrowing

thingsaway,whatdoyouhaveleft?Nothingatall.Concentrationstartsoutin

little,tinybitsandpieces,whichmaynotseemlikemuch,buttheyrebetterthan

nothingatall.Alotoftheskillliesinlearninghowtostaywiththosebitsand

pieces.Thatsallyouhavetodo,juststaywiththem.Theymaynotbe

impressive,theymaynothavelotsofflashinglightsorwhateveryouve

experiencedinthepast,buttheyrethebeginning,theyretheseeds.Ifyoustay

withthem,ifyounourishthem,theygrow.

Thatsthesignofadiscerningperson:Youmakethemostofwhatyouvegot.

Itmaybealotoritmaybealittle,butitswhatyouvegot.Itmaychangefrom

daytoday,sobealerttothat,besensitivetothat.Acceptwhateverdifficulties

theremaybeinthesituationanddothebestyoucan.

Sotakewhateverconcentrationyouhave.Ifitseemslikealittle,dontberate

itforbeingalittle.Justworkwithit.Whateversenseofeaseyoucangetoutof

thebreathing,juststickwiththat.Evenifitdoesntseemtobethemost

wonderfulbreathyouveeverhad,well,okay,workwithwhatyouvegot

becausethesethingsdodevelop.Ifyougivethemtime,theydevelop.Ifyouvegotafruitonthetreeevenifitsjustalittle,tiny,hard,greenfruityoukeep

wateringtheroots,fertilizingthesoil,lookingafterthecauses,andtheresults

willtakecareofthemselves.

Trytokeepyoureffortsrighthere.Inotherwords,dontthinkaboutthepast,

dontanticipatethefuture.Whatyouvegotwillthenhaveachancetogrow.Its


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averysimpleprinciplebutwetendtoforgetit.Butitsbykeepingthingssimple

thatthemeditationworks.

LookatthequestionstheBuddhahasusask.Theyreverysimplequestions.

Wheresthestressrightnow?Andbeforeyougettothestress,askWherecan

themindsettledown?Ifthemindhasntsettleddown,ifithasnosenseofease,

youcantseeanythingclearly.Sosometimestheonlyplaceitcansettledownis

withanordinaryfeelingofokaynesssomeplaceinthebody.Stickwiththatand

thenasthingsbegintogrow,astheybegintogetmoresolidandstill,stickwith

thesimplequestions:Whereisthestresshere?

Itsaquestionasevenyearoldcananswer.Atleast,asevenyearoldcanget

hisorhermindaroundit.Soworkwiththat.Therearestoriesofarahantsatthe

timeoftheBuddhawhoweresevenyearsold.Theywerentdealingwithany

abstrusephilosophicalissues;theywerejustdealingveryclearlywithwhatwas

goingonintheirminds.Thequestionsweresimpleenoughforthemto

comprehend,andtheywerehappytostickwiththosesimplequestions.Whereistherestress?Whatareyoudoingthatsunnecessaryandcontributingtothat

stress?Whenyoucansee,justdropit.Thatwayyourpowersofperceptionget

moreandmoreprecise,moreandmoresubtle.Buttheessentialquestionstays

thesameoneachlevelofsubtlety.

Soifwekeepthingssimple,themeditationbecomesalotmoremanageable.

Anditsthissimplesortofquestioningthathelpsseethroughtheminds

subterfuges.Themindsometimeshasatendencytogetmoreandmoreabstract

andtowanttodealwithreallyfancysoundingthoughts.Itsliketheemperors

newclothes.Thepersonwhoswillingtosay,Idontunderstandthis;this

doesntmakeanysense,canusuallyriprightthroughalotofsubterfuge,alot

ofdenial.

Thethingswethinkweunderstand,thethingswethinkweknoworatleast

wewanttogivetheimpressionthatweknow:Wehavetolearntolookbehind

them.Askthosesimplequestions.Isthatreallyso?Doyoureallyknowthatfor

sure?Whatdoesthatreallymean?Isthatareallyhelpfulwaytothink?

Justkeepaskingthesereallysimple,directquestions,andtheyllhelpclear

upalotofconfusioninthemind.


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AQuietSpotJuly2001

Timetoletallyourthoughtsabouttheoutsideworldjustfallaway.Whatever

youvebeenthinkingabout,whateverplacesyourmindhasbeenscattered,just

letthem

drop,

and

bring

your

attention

right

in,

right

here,

right

at

the

breath.

Theresalotofunfinishedbusinessoutthereintheworld,butitsalways

goingtobeunfinished.Onejobgetsdoneandanotheronecomesrightonit.

Alotoftheproblemiswiththeminditself.Therearedayswhenthingsare

perfectlyfine,butthemindstartsgettingantsy.Itcanthelpbutthink,Whats

nextthereoutonthehorizon?Ifyoufollowthatparticulartendencyitnever

comestoanend.Theresalwaysgoingtobeworktodo.Whenpeoplesay

theyvefinishedthejobitsbecausetheyjustgettooweaktodoit,andso

whateverslefthastostayleftundone.

Soforthetimebeingjustleavethingsundone.Letscreatethislittlecornerof

quietnessinthemind.ThatswhatAjaanSuwatlikedtocallWatMetta:acorner

ofquietness.Buthealsotalkedaboutmeditationasacornerofquietness,this

placewherethemindcanreallybesolidandsettleddownandhaveafirm

foundation,eveninthemidstofallthethingsthatareinfirmandunsettledinthe

restoftheworld.Afterall,whenwetalkabouttheworlditsnotjusttheworld

outside.Theworldinsidethemindalsohasalotofunfinishedbusiness.Andthe

urgeistodecide,Okaywhatbusinessneedsdoing?

Todecide,askyourself: Whatarethetasksthat,whenyoudothem,they

reallydogetdone,sothatyoureallydohavesomethingaccomplishedinthe

mind?This

is

why

the

Buddha

was

so

particular

about

which

questions

he

wouldanswerandwhichoneshewouldnt,whichissueswereworthdealing

with,whichoneswereworthjustputtingaside.Youcanttakeoneverything,so

youhavetofocusonwhatsimportant.Haveasenseofpriorities,notonlyin

yourlifeatlargebutalsoinwhereyoufocusyourattention,whereyoufocus

yourenergy,righthere,rightnow.


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- 13 -

steadinessandbrightnessthroughoutthewholebody.Asthebreathenergygets

goodinonespot,youallowittoflowtootherspots.Sothelittlespotbeginsto

expand,expand,andyoufindthatthisstillawarenessfillsthewholebody.It

feelslikethebackgroundfromwhicheverythingelsecomesandtowhich

everythingreturns.Butyoudontcomeoutorreturnalongwithanything.

Yourerightthereatthestillness,thesenseofexpansiveawareness.

Soeventhoughinthebeginningofthemeditationitmayseemthattheresa

littlefencearoundthemind,therearerestrictionsonthemind,itsjustforthe

purposeofgettingthingsestablished.Itslikeyourhandscuppedaroundthe

flamethatyouretryingtolight.Oncetheflamehascaughtholdofthekindling,

thenitbeginstogrowonitsownanditgrowslargerandlarger.

Soitsnotalwaysgoingtoberestrictive.Infact,whenthesenseof

concentrationgetssolidandbeginstospreadoutthroughthebodyyoufindthat

itsmuchmoreexpansivethanyourordinarystatesofawareness.

Anditsallrighthere.Sowestartoutwiththislittlecorner,thislittlespot.Lookafterit.Makesure

itsstill.Makesureitsquiet.Makesureyourattentiondoesntwanderaway.Ifit

doeswanderaway,justbringitrightback,bringitrightback.Itswanderingoff

isasignthatitwasblownoffbyagustofwindhereorthere,soyoujustbringit

rightback.Anddoyourbesttoprotectthislittleflameofstillness,thislittle,still

flameyouvegotgoinghere.Onceitcatchesthenitcanexpand.Andthesenseof

opennessandthesenseofreliefthatcomewiththatlevelofconcentration:its

hardtofindanythingtocompare.

Buttheimportantpartinthebeginningliesindoingthegroundwork

properlybecausethatswheremostofthedangerslie.Oncethosedangersare

passed,thenthingsbegintoopenupinthemind.

Ofcourse,therewillbeotherdangers,butthemostdifficultpartinthe

beginningisjustgettingthemindtosettledown,tobecomeestablishedwitha

propersenseofbalance nottoolittleenergy,nottoomuchenergy,justright.

Anduntilyougetthatsenseofjustrighttheresgoingtobealotoftrialand

error.Sometimesitseemsliketryingtobalanceaballbearingontheendofa

needle:Itjustkeepsslippingoff,slippingoff.But,finally,onceitgetsestablished

yourealizethatitsalotmoresolidthanyouthought.Onceyourecognizeitthen

youcankeepcomingback,comingback.Youknowthatspot.Thisishowtheconcentrationbecomesmoreandmoreofaskill.


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- 14 -

TheSteadinessofYourGaze

March2001Getyourbodybackinplace,intopositiontomeditate:yourbackstraight,

facingforward,youreyesclosed,handsinyourlap.

Andthengetyourmindintoposition.Thatsthemoredifficultpart.Actually,

puttingitintopositionisnotaproblem.Justfocusitonthebreath.Thebreathis

rightthere.Youdonthavetosearcharoundtoomuchtofindthebreath.The

difficultpartliesinkeepingitinposition,tryingtomaintainasteadyawareness.

Thattakessomedoingbecausethemindisusedtonotbeingsteady.Itsusedto

jumpingaround.Ithasasenseoftherebeingsomeentertainmentvaluein

jumpingaround.Yougetboredwithonething,soyoucanjumptosomething

else.

Andforalotofpeople,thatswheretheirfreedomlies:intheirabilitytothink

aboutanythingtheywantto.Butwhenyoucomerightdowntoit,howmuch

happinesscomesfromjumpingaroundlikethat?Onceyoujumpfromonething,

youknow

youre

going

to

have

to

jump

to

another

thing

and

then

to

another.

So

nomatterwhereyouland,youstartfindingyourselfimmediatelytensingup,

readytojumpagain,whichleavesthemindconstantlyinastateoftension.

Sowhenwemeditate,wegiveitagood,solidplacetostay,andthenwe

remindit:Youcanstaythere.Youdonthavetojump.Andsothemindcan

begintorelaxalotofitstensionandcanactuallydissolveintotheobjectofthe

meditation.Whenyoufocusonthebreathyouwanttobecomeonewiththe

breath.Whenyoufocusonthebody,letyourawarenessbecomeonewiththe

bodynotanawarenessreadytojumpsomeplaceelse,butanawarenessthat

seepsintothebody.

Thesteadinessofyourgazeiswhatsgoingtohelpthingsseepintoone

another,tocometogetherhereinthepresentmoment.Soasyoustaywiththe

breath,trytokeepyourgaze yourfocusonthebreath assteadyasyoucan,as

continuousasyoucan.Themorecontinuousyourfocus,themoreyouseehow

thingsareactuallyconnected,actuallyrelatedtooneanother.Ifyourgazeisnt

steady,youhavetoconnectthingsinyourimagination.


19/33

- 15 -

Itslikeconnectingdots.Youplayconnectthedotswithyourmind.Theresa

littlebitofawarenesshere,andanotherlittlebitofawareness,andthen

someplaceelse,andasforwhatwashappeninginbetween,yourenotreally

sure.Butyoucanguess,soyoudrawlinesonyourown.Andwhetherthoselines

actuallycorrespondtorealityornot,youdontreallyknowbecauseyouwerent

there.Youwereoffsomeplaceelse.Andthisisthewaymostpeoplesknowledge

oftheworldgetsbuiltup:Itsagameofconnectthedots,withareveryfewdots

andalotoflines.

Sowhenwemeditatewetrytoerasealltheimaginarylinesandmakethe

awarenessitselfthelinethatconnectsthings.TheBuddhagainedAwakening

becausehesawcauseandeffectandhowtheyareconnected.Whenthisis,thatis.Fromthearisingofthiscomesthearisingofthat.ThatshowhedescribedoneoftheinsightsinhisAwakening.Hedirectlysawthesethingsastheywereconnected,

andthatwasbecausehisawarenesswasconnected.

Sowestaywiththebreathasawayofdevelopingthiscontinuous,connected,steadyawareness.Ifyoufindyourselflettingupinyourfocus,justcomeright

back.

Inthebeginning,ourawarenessislikethephrasesinmusic:Theresalittlebit

ofaphraseandthenapause,andthenlittlebitmoreandthenapause.Butwhat

youwanttodoasyoumeditateistodevelopanawarenessthatdoesntpause,

thatjustkeepsgoing,andgoing,andgoing,becausethebreathkeepsgoing.

Theremaybearhythmtothebreathing,butunderneaththelevelofbreath

energywiththeintheinandoutbreath,theresanotherkindofenergythats

continuallythere.Itslikeabackgroundnoiseinthebody.Andtomakeyour

awarenesscontinuous,thatswhatyouwanttofocuson:thisbackground

energy.Sometimesyounoticeitastheenergyinthebodyduringthepauses

betweentheinbreathandtheoutbreathandbetweentheoutbreathandthein

breath.Theresaslightpause,andyettheresstillenergyinthebodythatlets

youknowthatthebodyssittinghere.Itdoesnttotallydissolveaway.

Youwanttobeintouchwiththatlevelofenergy,too.Infact,themoreyou

tuneintothatlevelofenergy,thelessyouneedtheinandoutbreathasyour

focus.Theinandoutbreathbecomesjustoneaspectofthebreathenergythat

beginstogrowmoreandmorecalm,moreandmorecalm,becauseyouredown

onanotherlevel.Youvetunedintoanotherlevelthatsmorecontinuous,thatcanbeusedasabasisforinsight.Whenyourawarenessiscontinuous,thebreath

iscontinuous,youjuststaytheretogether.Thatswhatwereworkingtoward.

Sotrytobesensitivetoeventheslightestlapseinyourawareness.Dontwait

untilthemindhasalreadyleftthebreathbeforeyouregisterwhathashappened.

Sometimesyoufeelastirringinyourawareness.Youwanttomove.Things

arentasinterestingastheywere,orforsomereasonoranotherthemindbegins


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- 16 -

toletupalittlebitbeforeitactuallymovesontosomethingelse.Well,learnhow

todetectthat.Thenworkwiththebreath,workwithyourfocusinawaythatcan

getaroundthattendencytostiralittlebitandmoveon.

Thisiswhyitssoimportantthatthebreathbecomfortable.Themore

comfortableitis,theeasieritistostaywithit.Onceitscomfortable,thenyou

havetowatchoutforthemindstendencytoloseitsfocus,loseitssharpness.

Thatswhyweworkwithspreadingthebreathenergythroughthebody,being

awareofthedifferentpartsofthebodyasawayofkeepingourselvesawakeand

alerteventhoughthingsaregettingcomfortable,becausewhenwemeditate

wereheretodowork,notjusttozoneoutorhavealittlestressreduction.

Wevereducedthestresssothemindcanbemorecomfortableinthepresent

momentbecauseitsgotworktodointhepresentmoment.Therearethingsits

gottofigureout.Itsgottofigureoutwhyitscausingitselfsuffering,exactly

whereitscausingitselfsuffering.TheBuddhaemphasizedthewholeissueof

karmaandintention,sowelooktosee:Whatintentionsarethereinthemindthatmakeussuffer?Whydontweseethem?Whydowefeelthatthosechoices

aresonecessarythatweevenforgettheyrechoices?

Thosearesomeofthebigquestionswevegottofigureout.Andtheonly

waywecanfigurethemoutisifwestayrightherecontinually,becauseusually

thosechoicesaremadeinthegaps,intheseamsinourawarenesswhenwereoff

someplaceelse.Infact,whentheresaseamoragapinyourawareness,its

usuallyasignthatachoiceisgoingtobemadeinthemind.Itsthemindsway

offoolingitself,ofhidingallofitschoicesbehindthecurtains.

Sowhenyousensethattendencytowanttoleave,remember:Something

importantscomingupandifyourenotheretoseeit,youregoingtomissit.

Dontfollowthesameoldpatternthatyouvebeenthroughwhoknowsforhow

long,lettingthemindhideimportantthingsfromitself.Whyisithiding?Well,

lookintoit.Whatisitembarrassedabout?Whatisitashamedtoshowitself?

Whatisittryingtodeny?Whenyoureoperatingfromasenseofsteadycomfort

thenitseasiertolookintothoseissuesandnotrunaway.

Sothisissueofsteadinessisveryimportant.Itallowsyoutoseethingsthat

youotherwisewouldntsee.Itplowsrightthroughthegapsinyourawareness

inwhichthemindishidingthingsfromitself,anditzerosinonthebigissuesin

themind:Whyisthemindcausingitselfsuffering?Whyisitcausingitselfstressinwaysthatdonthavetobethere?

IntheThreeCharacteristics,theBuddhadoespointoutthatanything

fabricatedisstressful,butintheFourNobleTruthshefocusesinmoreonthe

issueofthestressofclingingandcraving.Thecravingcausestheclinging,and

theclingingtotheFiveAggregatesishisbasicdefinitionofstressandsuffering.

Thatswhatwevegotoworkon,becausethatsthepartofstressandsuffering


21/33

- 17 -

thatsnotnecessary.Onceitstakencareof,thentheotherstressesintheworld

arenotanissueatall.

Sowhatisthisclinging?Whatisthiscraving?Howdowehideitfrom

ourselves?Howcanwelearntoseethroughit?Itsbecauseofignorancethat

thesethingscanhappeninthemind,andtheonlywaytocombatignoranceisto

beassteadyandconsistentinyourawarenessaspossible.

Sotheissueofbeingsteadyinyourawarenessisnotjustamatterof

concentrationpractice.Itsthebasisforallowingdiscernmenttoarise.Because

yourerightthere,andwhenyourerighttherewatchingwhatshappening,you

canthelpbutsee.Theproblemiswerealltoooftennothere.Ourgazehasbeen

diverted.Ourattentionhasslippedoffsomeplaceelse.

Sokeepzeroinginonthebreath,zeroinginonthebreath.Dontletanything

elsepullyourattentionaway.


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- 18 -

MaintainingtheObserver

May2003

InThaitheyoftensaytherearetwostepstogettingstartedinthemeditation.

Oneistogetyourbodyintoposition:rightlegontopoftheleftlegorleftontop

oftherightdependingonwhatyoufindmorecomfortable,yourbackstraight,

facingforward,youreyesclosed,yourhandsinyourlap.

Thenextstepistogetyourmindinposition.Andthatsmoredifficult

becausetheminddoesntusuallywanttostayinanyoneparticularposition.Its

alwaysrunningaroundhere,runningaroundthere,alwaysquicklikeacatto

jumpatanythingthatcomesalong.AjaanMunoncetalkedabout theminds

song.Therearerhythmsthatgothroughthebody,rhythmsthatseemtogo

throughourawareness.Andwestartsingingalongwiththemwithoutreally

realizingit,andthenwereoffsomeplaceelse.Whenweputthemindinposition

westopsingingalong.Wejustwatchwhatsgoingon.

Soyou

bring

it

to

the

breath.

Its

a

good

place

to

get

out

of

your

head

and

downintothebody.Giveyourselfagoodcomfortableplacetostayandbeaware

ofthebreathcomingin,awareofthebreathgoingout.Noticehowthebreathing

feelsindifferentpartsofthebody,becausethebreathingisawholebody

process.Ifitsnotawholebodyprocess,itsasignthattheresablockage

someplacethatyouvegottoworkwith.

Butfirstgetagoodrhythmgoinginanyonespotwhereitseasytowatchthe

breath.Itmightbeatthenose,thechest,theabdomen,theneck,themiddleof

thehead anyplacewhereallthedifferentpressuresofthebreathcominginand

goingoutandthepressuresofyourbloodcirculationfeelrighttogether.Focus

thereandallowthebreathtofindwhateverrhythmfeelsgoodrightthere.Ifthe

mindwandersoff,bringitrightback.Ifitwandersoffagain,bringitbackagain.

Youretryingtoputitinposition.Thatmeansfindingagood,comfortable

postureforthemind,andthentryingtostaythere.Itsthestayingthatmakesall

thedifference.Ifyoujustgetintopositionandthenquicklyjumpaway,you

dontgetthebenefitsofbeinginposition.


23/33

- 19 -

Andtherearelotsofbenefits.One,youregivingthemindaplacetorest,so

thatitcanrecoveritsstrengthfromallthatrunningaround.And,secondly,

whenitsinpositionitcanwatch,becauseifyoueverwanttowatchsomething

carefullyyouhavetobeverystill.Ifyourerunningaroundallthetime

everythingisablur.Yousnatchalittlesightofsomethinghere,snatchasightof

somethingthere,butyoudontseeanythingcontinuouslywhichmeansyou

dontreallyunderstandit.

Soweretryingtoputthemindinapositionwhereitcanstayandwatch.

Thispositionoftheobserverisaveryimportantpartofthemeditationthe

observerthatdoesntgosingingalongwiththedifferentrhythmsorthoughts

thatcomethroughthemind,butwatchesthemasevents.Whenyourewatching

thingsasevents,youcandecidewhichthingsareworthfollowingthroughwith

andwhichonesarenot.Ofcourse,yousometimesfindyourselfslippingoffinto

youroldhabitsofsingingalongwiththemind,butyoucancatchyourself,stop,

andcomebacktothebreath,comebacktothispositionoftheobserver.Getmoreandmoreusedtobeinghere.Thisiswherethemindcanhavea

senseofbeingathome,whereitcanrest,andwhereitcanwatchthemovements

ofthemind.Wherearetheyrunningto?Aretheygoingtoaplaceyouwantto

go?Ifnot,thenyoujustdropthem,andwhateverrealitytheyseemedtohave

justwilldissolveaway.Itsbecauseyougivethemarealitythattheybecame

solidandimposingandcanhavepoweroveryou.Butifyoulearnsimplyto

watchthemasevents,thenyoucangaintheupperhand.

Sowhatyouredoinghereisdevelopingbothaplaceforthemindtorestand

aplacewhere,inresting,ithealsitself.Andinthewatchingitlearnsnottobuild

upnewdiseases.Asanydoctorcantellyou,therearetwopartstohavingagood

healthylife:Oneistakingthemedicinewhenyouneedit,andtheotherishaving

ahealthylifestyle.Ifyouwanttobehealthy,itsnotgoodtoeatunhealthyfood,

goaroundsmoking,eatingjunkfoodandthencomingtothedoctorandasking

formedicine.Themedicinewillhelpbutitsnotnearlyasgoodasmaintaininga

healthylifestylewhereyourenotputtingthejunkintoyoursystemtobegin

with.

Andthesameholdstrueofthemind.Wecomeheretomeditatetohelpheal

themind,allthedamageitdoestoitself.Wetendtothinkmoreofthestress

cominginfromoutside,butactuallywereplayingalongwiththeoutsidestress,weresingingalongwiththeoutsidestress,whichiswhyitgetsintothemind.

Sowecomehere,closeoureyes,sitinastillpositionandgivetheminda

chancetowashoutalltheunhealthyenergiesitspickedup.Thisisagoodthing

tobedoing,butitwouldbeevenbetterifwecouldmaintainthispositionofthe

observerallthetime.Thisiswhatyouwanttotrytodoasthemindgetsmore

andmoreusedtobeingsettledatthebreath.Notonlywhenyouresittinghere,


24/33

- 20 -

butalsowhenyougetupandstartmovingaround,trytomaintainthissame

innerposition,thissameinnerpostureofbeingtheobserver.

Andtrytonoticewhenyouloseit.Thatsasignyouverunacrosssomething

important:oneofthosetricksthemindplaysonitselftomovesomeplaceelse

veryquickly;oritsimplyforgetsitselfandjuststartssingingalongwith

whateverthoughtcomesalong,whatevermoodcomesalong.

Thesethingshavesomuchrealitysimplybecausewesingalongwiththem.

Butifyoucanmaintainthepositionoftheobserver,youwatchthesethingsas

theycome,andyoubegintoseethedamagetheycandoifyoutakethemin.And

yourealizethatyouhavethechoice.Youdonthavetoplayalongwiththem,

youdonthavetosingalongwiththem,youdonthavetotakethemin,because

youreinapositionwhereyoucanwatch,whereyoucanseethesethingssimply

aseventsratherthanastheworldsthattheycanbecomeonceyoustartgetting

intothem.

Andinthiswayyoufindthatthemedicineofsittingmeditationcangodeeperanddeeperandshowevenmoreeffectsthanyoumighthaveimagined

before.Uptonowitssimplybeenaholdingaction:Whenthingsarebadyousit

down,youwashthingsoutofyoursystem,youfeelbetter,andthenyougoback

toyouroldhabits.Andasaresult,themeditationdoesntgetachancetoreally

seepindeeply,toshowitselfasanythingmorethansimplestressreductionor

relieffromallthesufferingyourecarryingaround.

Butwhenyoucanmaintainthepositionoftheobserver,itbecomesalifestyle,

awayoflivinginwhichyourenotbringinginallthoseotherthingstoburden

themind.Nomatterhowthebodymoves,nomatterhowthemindmoves,you

maintainthisposition.Ifyoucankeepthatup,thenwhenyoucometositand

meditateyoufindthemeditationgoesdeeper,anddeeper,anddeeper,andyou

seethatitcandomorethingsthanyoumighthaveimagined.Itcanaddressthe

moresubtlediseasesinthemind,themoresubtleharmthemindisdoingto

itself.

Itslikemaintainingayogapositionorastretch:Thefirstcoupleofseconds

arehard,andthenyourelaxintothestretchandyoufindyoucangofurther

becauseyougiveitmoretime,morecontinuoustime,toworkitseffects.

Meditationisnotheresimplyforcopingwiththestressesandstrainsoflife.

Itsforshowinghowwecanultimatelygobeyondcausinganysufferingorstressforourselvesatall,notonlyforourselves,butalsoforthepeoplearoundus.We

learntoopenuptoadifferentdimensioninthemindthatliesoutsideoftime,

andoutsideofspace,outsideofalltheworldswecancreateforourselves.

Buttoseethatyouhavetogivethemeditationtime,andyouhavetomakeit

partofalifestyle,awayoflivinganinnerposture,aninnerpositionthatyou

maintainthisobserverwhowatchesthemoodscomeandgo,watchesthe


25/33

- 21 -

thoughtscomeandgo,doesntsingalongwiththem,doesntcauseitselfthe

damagethatitusedto.Andyoufindthatthepostureoftheobservergoesdeeper

anddeeperanddeeper.Theobservercanseemoreandmorebecauseyougiveit

thetimetodevelop,tobecomestrong,tobecomeyourrealhomewhereyou

settledown.

Soideally,ultimately,whenyoumeditate,itwontbeamatterofgettingin

position.Yougetthebodyinposition,butthemindisalreadyinposition.Thats

whatyouwant,becauseitbecomesyourhabitualposition.Insteadofrunning

outafterthis,runningoutafterthat,singingalongwiththistune,singingalong

withthattune,youresteppingbackabit.Youhaveaplacetostepbackand

simplywatchthesethings.Iftheresanyusetothem,youfollowthroughwith

them.Ifnot,youjustletthemgo.

Thisbecomesthebasicstanceofthemind.

AsIsaid,whenyoureachthat,themeditationshowsthatitcandoalotmore

thanyoumighthaveimagined.Itcansolveproblemsyoudidntevenknowyouhad,eliminatelevelsofsufferingandstressyoudidntevenknowyouwere

causing,becausetheywerealwaysthereinthebackground.

Nowthatthemindisevenmoresubtleandstill,itcanseethesethings.And

itsonlywhenyouseethingsthatyoucanletthemgo.


26/33

- 22 -

NaturalInsight

November23,1995

Comingouttoaquietplacelikethisisveryimportantforthemind,because

themindneedstimetogetawayfromitsdaytodayissues.Theaffairsofdaily

life

are

like

wind

blowing

across

the

surface

of

water.

When

the

water

is

ruffled,

youcantseewhatliesbeneaththesurface.Soyouhavetocomeouttoaplace

likethiswheretherearenotthatmanyissuesgoingon,justtheverybasicissues

ofkeepingthebodyalive walkingwhenyouneedtowalk,sittingwhenyou

needtosit soyoucanstopthewindfromrufflingthewater,andtheaffairsof

themindcancomemoreandmoretothefore.Whenthesurfaceofthewater

growsclearandsmooth,youcanlookdowninside,intothemind.

Andwhatthemindhastoshow,itsgoingtoshowatitsownpace,initsown

way.Wemaycomewithanideathatwedliketodealwithaparticularproblem,

getsomethingstraightenedout,orweregoingtoforcethepracticetogoin

certainstagesandcertainstepslikewevereadaboutsomeplace.ButasAjaanFuangsaid,Themindhasitsownstages,itsownsteps.OrasAjaanLeesaid,

Thewaysofthemindaresocomplexyoucouldneverputthemintoabook.

Sotodealwiththesecomplexitieswehaveaverysimpletechnique:Focuson

thebreath.Bealertandmindful,andstaywiththebasictechnique.Andjustby

doingthatoverandoveragain,thethingsthataregoingtocomeupinthemind

willcomeup,attheirownpace.Theyllrevealthemselvesbitbybitbybit.Thisis

wherepatiencecomesintothepractice.Therearesomeissuesyoudliketohave

dealtwithrightaway,buttheydontcomeup.Themindisntreadytohandle

them.

So

you

just

chip

away

at

the

basic

technique

and

see

what

does

come

up

on

itsown.

Whenthingscomeintheirownway,itslikesandingwood:Youpolishthe

woodinordertobringoutthegrainthatsalreadythere.Ifyouhave

preconceivednotionsofwhatyoudlikethegraintolooklikeandtrytopaint

thosedesignsonofthewood,youendupwithsomethingunnatural,andyou

coverupthegrainthatsalreadythere.Butifyousimplypolishthewood


27/33

- 23 -

withoutanypreconceivednotionsbeyondtheactofpolishing,thenaturalgrain

ofthewoodcomesout.Andthesamewithmeditation:Intheprocessofkeeping

themindwiththebreathyoulearnalotofimportantthingsalreadythereinthe

bodyandmind,someofwhichyoudidntexpect.

Thisiswhywealwayshavetobeopentowhatevercomesupinthecourseof

themeditation whateverinsights,whateverrealizations,whateverissuesarise

becausemanytimesthethingsthatcomeuparemorevaluablethanwhatyou

thoughtyouwerelookingfor.Ifyouretoobusylookingforsomethingelse,you

missseeingwhatsactuallythere.Someditationisatraininginlearningtobe

verypatientwiththemind,andtobeopenwithitandsee asyousubjectthe

mindtothetraining whattraits,whatcharacteristicsitshowstoyou.And

youvegotthebasictechniquetodealwithwhatevercomesup.

Weweretalkinglastnightaboutthedifferentwaysofbringingyourmind

backtothebreath,backtothepresent,andtherearealotofimportantlessons

rightthereintheprocessofbringingthemindback.Manytimeswegetfrustratedwithit:Whenisthisproblemgoingtostop?Well,ifitkeepscoming

back,itsanimportantissue.Wevegottolearnhowtomasterbringingthemind

back,becauseindoingsoyoulearnanawfullotaboutthemind,alotof

unexpectedthingsabouthowthemindslipsoffthebreath,howitavoidscertain

issues,howitcooksupotherissuestogetinthewayofseeingthingsitjust

doesntwanttosee.Andinthesimpleprocessofbringingthemindback,trying

tobemindful,tryingtobealert,youcatchsightofthingsyoudidntseebefore,

thatusedtobeintheblindspots,butnowyoubegintocatchoutofthecornerof

youreye.

AstheBuddhasaid,learninghowtodealwiththeprocessofdistraction

whenyouvereallymasteredit,whenyourereallygoodatitcantakeyouall

thewaytoarahantship.AlotoftheBuddhasteachingsarelikethis:justvery

simpletechniques,verysimplethingstodowiththemind,andtheunexpected

realizationsthatcomeupinthecourseofdoingthetechnique.

Thisisoneofthereasonswhyyoucantmapoutthewaysofthemind.Atthe

sametime,though,youcantthinkthatsimplyfollowingtheinstructionsinthe

meditationisgoingtobeenough.Youvegottobeasobservantaspossible,all

around.Thatswhywesaysometimes,Youvegottoplaywiththemeditation.

Youneedasenseofexperimentation, becauseoftentimesthethingsyoucatchoutofthecornerofyoureyeasyoureworkingwithatechniquearethe

importantrealizations.Thosearethethingsthatmakearealdifference.

Sowhenyousitdownandmeditate eventhoughyouveseenthestepsof

thepathlaidout,youmayhaveageneralideaofwhatitsallaboutandwhere

itsgoingstill,youvegottoputthatknowledgeaside.Wereheretrainingthe

mind,andyetthemindisbothtrainerandtrainee.Themapisforthetrainer,just


28/33

- 24 -

soyouknowwhereyoureheaded,whereyouregoing,butwhentheminditself

isbeingtrainedyouhavetoputthemapasideandjustseewhatsrighttherein

thepresentasitcomesup.Andinthecourseofdealingwiththepractice,alotof

unexpectedthingsdocomeup,andyouhavetobereadyforthem,tonotice

themastheycome.

Sostickwithyourbasictechnique,butkeepyourrangeofvisionbroad.

Anddonttrytodefinethingstooheavilyinadvance.Thepurposeofthe

meditationtobecomemoreandmorefamiliarwiththewaysofthemind,and

thekindofknowledgethatcomeswithfamiliarity,thoughitgoesverydeep,

comesinlittleincrements.Itslikegettingtoknowaperson.Youcantjustwalk

uptosomeoneandsmileandshakehandsandbecomefriends.Youcanbe

friendlyatthebeginning,butactuallybecomingfriendstakestimetogetto

knowthepersonsstrengthsandweaknesses,hissenseofhumor,thethingsyou

cantrusthimon,thethingsyoucanttrusthimon.Alltheseformsofknowledge

comeinaveryindirectway.Whenunexpectedeventsariseandyoubegintoseethatpersoninadifferentlighthowhebehavesinanemergency,howhe

behaveswhenyoureintrouble:Thisishowyougettoknowtheotherperson.It

takestime.

Thesamewiththemind.Youfocusonthebasictechniqueofkeepingwith

thebreath,andeventuallyyoustumbleoversomereallyimportantveinsinthe

mind.Theymaybeveinsofgold,veinsofdiamond,oranoldlayerofgarbage

thatgotlaiddownsometimeinthepast.Butthebasictechniqueisjustbeing

here,beingobservant,watchingwhathappens,andthethingswillcomeout

layerbylayerbylayerastheywerelaiddown.

Sowhenyoumeditateyoucantsitdownandsay,Okay,thisparticular

sessionImgoingtounderstandthisdefiilementorImgoingtoattainthatlevel

ofjhana.Imgoingtounderstanddependentcoarising.Imgoingtounderstand

mychildhoodhangups.Thatdoesntgetyouanywhere.Justtellyourself,For

thisbreathImgoingtoberighthere.Imgoingtobemindful.Alert.Imgoingto

trytosettledownwiththebreathasmuchasIcan.

Therearepartsofthemeditationyoucanwill,whichiswhytheBuddha

talksaboutthem.Forexample,therangeofyourawareness:Youcanwilltobe

awareofthewholebodyasyoubreathein;youcanwilltobeawareofthewhole

bodyasyoubreatheout.Youcanwilltofocusexclusivelyonaparticularpartofthebody.Youcanwilltoletthebreathgrowcalm.Youcanwilltofocuson

pleasureorraptureorwhereveryouwanttofocusitinregardtothebreath.

Thosearethingsyoucanwill.

Thatsthedifferencebetweenconcentrationandinsight.Concentrationisa

matterofusingyourwill.Itsfabricated,astheBuddhasays.Butinsightis

somethingyoucantwill.EventhoughyoutellyourselfImgoingtobevery


29/33

- 25 -

carefullynotingthisandnotingthat,thatsaverypreciseformofconcentration.

Itsnotvipassana;itsnotinsight.

Theinsightconsistsoftheunderstandingthatcomeswhenyousuddenlysee

thingsrightinfrontofyou,andmanytimesitsnotwhatyouweretoldyouwere

goingtosee.Andtherealtestisiftheunderstandingorthevisionyouhave

bringsthemindtopeace.Yetevenifitistrueinsight,youhavetoletitgowhen

itsdoneitsworkandjustgobacktothetechnique.Ifitssomethingthatreally

makesabigdifferenceinthemind,itcanthelpbutmakeadifferenceinthe

mind.Youdonthavetomemorizeit.Youdonthavetojotitdownortryto

makeyourselfseethingsinthatlightfromthenonin.Thatsafalsekindof

insight,inwhichyourperceptionscoverupthepossibilityofanynewinsights

arisingrightafterthem.

Sowhatevercomesupinthepractice,youtakenoteofitandletitpass.Ifits

important,itllshiftthegroundunderyourfeet.Ifitsnot,thenwhybotherwith

it?Justletitgo.Youronejobistostickwiththebasicstepsofthepractice.ThisiswhytheBuddhasmeditationinstructionsaresoverysimple.He

focusesonhowyoubreathe,whereyoufocusyourattention,whatrangeof

awarenessyoudevelop.Thatsprettymuchalltheinstructionhegives.Hegives

afewwarningsaboutsomeoftheissuesthatmaycomeupandhowyoushould

contemplatethem.Whensomethingscomeup,youhavetoimmediately

contemplatethemasbeinginconstant,stressful,notself,soyoucanletthemgo.

Atothertimes,someverydelightful,exquisitesensationscancomeupand

youvegottostaywiththem,letthemdevelop,untilyouseewhereeventheyare

stressful,eventheycanbeaburden,andyoucanletthemgo.

Ifparticularproblemscomeupthingslikelust,anger,delusion;sleepiness,

restlessness,uncertaintytheBuddhahasparticulartechniquesfordealingwith

them.Butthenhehasyougetbackheretothebreathwhentheissuehaspassed,

forthisisyourhome.

Thebreath,hesaid,isthemostrefreshingformofmeditation.Hecomparedit

tothefirstrainstormoftherainyseason.IfyouveeverbeeninIndiaorinAsia

duringthehotseason,youknowwhatitslikewhenthefirstrainscome.Theres

beendustintheairformonthsandmonths,alongwiththeoppressivenessofthe

drynessandheat,andallofasuddentheraincomesandcoolseverythingoff,

washesthedustallaway.Theairissuddenlyclearlikeithasntbeenformonths.Thatstheimagehegivesforbreathmeditation.Itsthetopicofmeditationthatll

clearawayallunskillfulstates,soyoukeepthisasyourhomebase.Itmayseem

alittlebittoosimple,butthatssimplytheverdictcomingfromthepartofthe

mindthatstryingtoplanthingsandarrangethingsandfigurethingsoutin

advance.


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Sojuststickwithit,stickwithit,stickwithit.Andwhatsgoingtocomeupis

goingtocomeup,anditllcomeupinlittlebitsandpieces.Butitcomesupas

yourowninsight.

Usingyourowninsightisalotbetterthanusingtheinsightyougetinbooks,

becausethoseinsightsareborrowed,prepackaged,liketheadviceinanastrology

column.Youcantbesureifitsrightforyoutouserightnow.Butwhenthe

mindgetstothepointwhereyouvepolisheditwiththebreath,theinsightsthat

arisearejustrightforthetimeandplace.Itsaverynaturalprocess.Itsaprocess

thatallowsthemindtoseeclearlyintoitself,whateveristhere.Justdonttryto

planthingsinadvance,becauseyouhavetorememberthatwerealloperating

fromignorance,andourplansandourdesignsonthepracticecomefrom

ignoranceaswell.

Sotrythetechniquewithaminimumofplanningandaminimumof

designing.Whenyoustickwiththat,thethingsthatcouldntcomeoutbefore,

thatdidnthavetheopening,canarisewithinthemind,attheirownpace,intheirowntime.Andyourerightheretocatchsightofthem.


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Glossary

Absorption:See Jhana,below.

Ajaan(Thai):Teacher;mentor.

AjaanFuang:

AjaanLee:

AjaanMun:

AjaanSuwat:

Arahant:Apersonwhohasabandonedalltenofthefettersthatbindthe

mindtothecycleofrebirth,whoseheartisfreeofmentaldefilement,andisthus

notdestinedforfuturerebirth.AnepithetfortheBuddhaandthehighestlevelof

hisNobleDisciples.Sanskritform:arhat.

Awakening:See Buddho and Nibbana,below.

Buddho(Buddha):Awake;enlightened.AnepithetfortheBuddha.

Canon:Tipitika theBuddhistCanon;literally,thethree baskets

disciplinaryrulesformonksandnuns,discourses,andabstractphilosophical

treatises.Sanskritform:tripitika.

Concentration: Samadhi thepracticeofcenteringthemindinasingle

sensationorpreoccupation.

Dhamma:(1)Event;action.(2)Aphenomenoninandofitself.(3)Mental

quality.(4)Doctrine,teaching.(5)Nibbana(althoughtherearepassagesinthe

PaliCanondescribingnibbanaastheabandoningofalldhammas).Sanskrit

form:dharma.

FiveAggregates:Khandha literally, aggregate, heap, pile. The

aggregatesarethebasicbuildingblocksofdescribableexperience,aswellasthe

buildingblocksfromwhichonessenseof self isconstructed.Therearefivein

all:physical

form,

feeling,

perception,

thought

constructs,

and

consciousness.

Sanskritform:skandha.

FourNobleTruths:Ariyasacca literally, nobletruth; specifically,the

FourNobleTruths:theNobleTruthofsufferingandstress;theNobleTruthof

theoriginofsufferingandstress;theNobleTruthofthecessationofsuffering

andstress;andtheNobleTruthoftheEightfoldPathleadingtothecessationof

sufferingandstress.


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Insight:See Vipassana,below.

Jhana:Mentalabsorption.Astateofstrongconcentrationfocusedonasingle

sensationormentalnotion.Sanskritform:dhyana.

Ignorance: Avijja unawareness,obscuredawareness,delusionaboutthe

natureofthemind.

Metta:Goodwill;kindness;benevolence;friendliness.

MiddleWay,The:

Mindfulness: Sati theabilitytokeepsomethinginmind;alertness;self

collectedness;powersofreferenceandretention.

Nibbana:Literally,the unbinding ofthemindfrompassion,aversion,and

delusion,andfromtheentireroundofdeathandrebirth.Asthetermalso

denotestheextinguishingofafire,itcarriesconnotationsofstilling,cooling,and

peace.(AccordingtothephysicstaughtatthetimeoftheBuddha,aburningfire

seizesoradherestoitsfuel;whenextinguished,itisunbound.Sanskritform:

nirvana.Pali:ThenameoftheearliestextantcanonoftheBuddhasteachingsand,by

extension,ofthelanguageinwhichitwascomposed.

Perception: Saa label;allusion;actofmemoryorrecognition;

interpretation.

Thoughtconstruct:Sankhara Thefashioningorformingofurges,

thoughts,etc.,withinthemind.Theforcesandfactorsthatfashionthings,the

processoffashioning,andthefashionedthingsthatresult;allthingsconditioned,

compounded,orconcoctedbynature,whetheronthephysicalorthemental

level.

ThreeCharacteristics:Tilakkhana Thethreecharacteristicsinherentinall

conditionedphenomena:beinginconstant,stressful,andnotself.

Vipassana:Insight,ofsuchatypeasisdeepandeffectiveincuringthe

habitualproductionofunwholesomestatesofmind.Itisinsightwhicharises

fromwisdomandisbasedonaclearandquietmind.

Wat(Thai):Monastery.


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A Small, Steady Flame