This week we continue the exploration of the Factors of
Awakening with the factor of Concentration, which develops out a mind that is
calm and tranquil. In Pali, the word for concentration is Samadhi; a clear and focused settled back abiding, an undistractedness
of mind that leads to deeper and deeper meditative states of absorption, and
the ability to see things as they are with greater and greater clarity, insight,
and wisdom.
In Buddhist traditions, developing concentration through
meditation is commonly approached in two ways: 1) through single object concentration
or “one-pointedness,” and 2) through momentary or “moment-to-moment”
concentration. One-pointedness focuses the
attention on a fixed object like the breath, a mantra, a prayer or
visualization for the purpose of steadying, quieting, and stilling the mind, much
like a high powered zoom lens. Moment-to-moment concentration broadens the view.
It cultivates a keen awareness of changing phenomena as they occur without getting caught by any single thought, feeling
or sensation. Momentary concentration develops the capacity to take it all in,
moment by moment with calm, clarity, and steadiness, like that of a wide angle
lens.
Last week we discussed the Buddha’s basic teaching on
mindfulness of breathing and its function for developing calm in the mind and
body. What follows is an explicit teaching of how this one-pointed practice
leads to a widening out into momentary concentration practice. It is from
Upasika Kee Nanayon, an extraordinary 20th century Thai Buddhist
laywoman who grew to be one of the most famous teachers in Thailand. From her
book Pure and Simple:
“The texts say to breathe in long
and out long, heavy or light, and then to breathe in short and out short,
again, heavy or light. Those are the first steps of the training. After that we
don’t have to focus on the length of the in-breath or out-breath. Instead, we simply
gather our awareness at any one point of the breath and keep this up until the
mind settles down and is still. When the mind is still, you then focus on the
stillness of the mind at the same time you’re aware of the breath. You focus
continuously on the normalcy of the mind at the same time that you’re aware of
the breath coming in and out, without actually focusing on the breath. You
simply stay with the mind.”
Normalcy is the mind as
it is; the ordinary awareness of what’s already right here, right now. It’s
home base.[1] As
the mind stabilizes and concentration deepens, we begin to see our thoughts in
a more transitory way. Thoughts come and go, but we do not get caught in their
stories. We become much more skilled at seeing them for what they are, naturally
occurring formations of the mind. The
contemporary Burmese Buddhist teacher Sayadaw U Tejaniya offers this
instruction:
“When the mind is thinking or
wandering, just be aware of it. Thinking is a natural activity of the mind. You
are doing well if you are aware that the mind is thinking, but if you feel
disturbed by thoughts, or if you have a reaction or judgment of them, there is
a problem with your attitude. The wandering mind is not the problem. Your
attitude that they should not be around is the problem. So understand that you
have just become aware of some functions of the mind. These, too, are just
objects for your attention. When you feel disturbed by the thinking mind,
remind yourself that you are not practicing to prevent thinking, but rather to
recognize and acknowledge thinking whenever it arises. If you are not aware,
you cannot know that you are thinking. The fact that you recognize that you are
thinking means that you are already aware. Remember, it does not matter how
many times the mind thinks, wanders off or gets annoyed about something, as
long as you become aware of it.”
Whether practicing single object or momentary concentration,
a practical steady mindful awareness develops as the mind strengthens and learns
to settle back. This opens the door to samadhi,
deep levels of meditative absorption, inquiry and insight.
“This freedom from distraction
further induces a softness and serenity… Like a lake unruffled by any breeze,
the concentrated mind is a faithful reflector that mirrors whatever is placed
before it exactly as it is.”
-Bhikku
Bodhi, The Noble Eightfold Path, 1994.
The possibility of developing an unruffled mind is very motivating
to me. Experiencing moments of that kind of steadiness, peace and clarity is
the purpose of practice.
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