In the last pieces I spoke of how Buddha’s teachings can be summed up in three parts: Sila, morality; Samadhi, concentration; and panna, intuitive wisdom.
In the last pieces I spoke of how Buddha’s teachings can be summed up in three parts: Sila, morality; Samadhi, concentration; and panna, intuitive wisdom.
Having examined morality and concentration, let us now examine panna, intuitive wisdom. Intuitive wisdom as per Buddha means the ability to see the true nature of things- peeping in to the heart of reality.
There are two key factors which help you develop wisdom. First is aiming accurately- directing the mind toward an object. The second is investigation or reflection- like rubbing the mind onto the object. Practicing in this stage makes your mind crystal clear and calm.
Imagine that you have a brass cup that is covered with dirt and stains. You take brass polish and put it on a rag. Holding the cup in one hand, you use the other hand to rub the rag against its surface. Working diligently and carefully, soon you will have a shiny cup.
This aiming and rubbing is central to wisdom.
It reads easy but is difficult to sustain. Why?
There are five specific ways in which the mind strays from its object.
Due to sensual desire. Sensual does not mean only sexual- so applies equally to both man and woman.
Sometimes there is unpleasantness in thought. And this creates greed or aversion or regret or remorse.
At other times the mind becomes drowsy and sluggish.
At even other times it becomes frivolous and dissipated, flirting with one object then another.
And sometimes it might be doubtful and skeptical.
One has to find antidotes to these hindrances. And Buddha comes to your rescue. The beauty of Buddha is that he has studied the psyche of man from all angles. He knows that often change in a man happens from the center to the periphery. But he also knows that change can initiated from the periphery to the center. You add colour to the wave at the shore. As it carries this colour back to the shore the sea will change too.
So he says If the mind is feeling restless, take a more comfortable posture. A relaxed posture might arouse in the mind a corresponding mental state.
When sensual desire arises put renewed effort on concentration.
When aversion arises refocus your effort on the object you are studying. Retuning with the object will give rise to joy which will edge aversion out.
If the mind is slothful take aim again and deepen your breathing.
The antidote for doubt is continuous rubbing. Continuous attention is the antidote to doubt as doubt is indecision- looking hither and thither. Immature wisdom also contributes to the spreading of doubt as without a certain depth and maturity of practice it is obvious that very profound Dhamma remains obscure to us. Doubt does not let the rubbing set in. You keep giving up before you are home because of doubt. Insights don’t come. This leads to frustration and thus more doubt and even criticism. To break this vicious cycle continuous attention is again the antidote.