WE
SHOULD MAKE AN EFFORT TO TRAIN OUR HEARTS AND MIND
– BY VENERABLE ACHARIYA MAHA BOOWA NANASAMPNANO
With the mind, there is no distinction drawn between
women and men, and thus both women and
men have the same capacity in the area of the Dhamma. Both are capable of
attaining the various levels of Dhamma all the way to release. There are no
restrictions which can be imposed in this area. All that is needed is that we
develop ability and potential, and then we can all go beyond.
For this reason, we should make an effort to train our
hearts and minds. At the very least, we should get the mind to attain stillness
and peace with any of the meditation themes which can lull it into a state of
calm, giving rise to peace and well-being within it. For example, mindfulness
of breathing, which is one of the primary themes in meditation circles, seems
to suit the temperaments of more people than any other theme. But whatever the
theme, take it as a ruling principle, a refuge, a mainstay for the mind,
putting it into practice within your own mind so as to attain rest and peace.
When the mind begins to settle down, we will begin to
see its essential nature and worth. We will begin to see what the heart is and
how it is. In other words, when the mind gathers all of its currents into a
single point, as simple awareness within itself, this is what is called the
“mind” (citta).
The gathering of the
mind occurs on different levels, corresponding to the mind’s ability and to the
different stages of refinement. Even if the mind is still on a crude level, we
can nevertheless know it when it gathers inwardly. When the mind becomes more and more refined, we will know its refinement
-- ‘ This mind is refined--his mind is radiant--This mind is extremely
still--This mind is extremely amazing’--more and more, step by step, this very
same mind.
In cleansing and training the mind for the sake of
stillness; in investigating, probing and solving the problems of the mind with
discernment (pannna), which is the way of making the mind progress, or of
enabling us to reach the truth of the mind, step by step, through the means
already mentioned, no matter how crude the mind may be, don’t worry about it.
If we get down to making the effort and preserve continually with what
diligence and persistence we have, that crudeness will gradually fade away and
vanish. Refinement will gradually appear through our own actions or own
striving until we are able to go beyond and gain release by slashing the
defilements to bits. This holds true for all of us, men and women alike.
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