Making Daily Determinations
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MINDFULNESS IN PRACTICE
Making Daily Determinations Ajahn Amaro 1 Accepted: 16 October 2020 # Amaravati Publications 2020
Bring attention to this moment. How do you feel? What is the texture of this present reality? There is no right or wrong, good or bad in what we experience. Whatever the patterns of feeling and perception might be, they are brought into balance by our attitude towards them. The attitude of wise attention is the integrating, balancing agent. This is how the moment is held skillfully. If there is a grasping at or a pushing away of it, we are out of balance. The practice of attending, receiving, and fully participating in this moment brings a quality of balance and integration. However we might happen to feel, comfortable or uncomfortable, sleepy or wakeful, when mindfulness and wisdom recognize the qualities of this moment as simply patterns of nature, attributes of Dhamma, the effect is peace, ease and clarity.
“Where do I think I am going? Is there anybody going anywhere?” Consider the reflection of Ajahn Sumedho’s: “In actual fact there is no one going anywhere, there are just conditions of mind which are changing.” Take a simple theme like that to set as an intention at the beginning of the day. Notice whenever there is walking going on, and then hold that experience of walking within the context of wisdom. Notice the perception of the body walking, but ask: “Is there anybody going anywhere, or is there experiencing the conditions of mind coming and going and changing?” We take that simple, unremarkable, everyday act of walking, and we turn it into an occasion to awaken to Dhamma, to the fundamental reality that is the very fabric of this moment, of our lives and all things, the universal ordering principle of the mental, the spiritual and the physical.
Mindfulness of the Posture Developing the Perception of Anicca As we go through the day, there are many different themes we can give to our practice, many different directions we can take in the efforts we are making. One helpful direction is to take this simple theme: notice what posture you are in at any one time, walking, sitting, standing, lying down. Simply notice the change from one posture to another. When you are walking, what is the intention as you walk across the room, down the hall, or along the path? Whenever there is walking, bring the attention to the feet. Throughout the day, develop that as a habit, as a skillful training. And as you bring attention to the feeling in the feet and the action of walking, reflect on this:
Excerpted from The Breakthrough by Ajahn Amaro, Amaravati Publications, 2016. * Ajahn Amaro [email protected] 1
Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, Great Gaddesden, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP1 3BZ, UK
If we wish to take a different theme, there is the reflection on anicca, conscious development of the anicca-saññā, and the perception of anicca. We can use the day to cultivate that perception, that habit of seeing all things as uncertain. Meet every perception, every judgement with a question: “Is this
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