Thursday, October 30, 2014

Feeding the Concentration Link to Awakening!




The Blessed Buddha once said:

Bhikkhus, just as this body, is sustained by feeding, exists in dependence
on feeding & cannot survive without food, so are the 7 Links to Awakening
also sustained by feeding, they can also only exist in dependence on feeding
and they cannot remain without feeding... And what, bhikkhus, is the feeding
of the emergence of any yet unarisen concentration link to awakening and
also feeding of the completion  by condensation of any arisen concentration
link to awakening? There are two signs: The sign of calm, serenity &  silence
and the sign of non-distraction and non-scatter!
Frequently giving careful and rational attention to them, is feeding arising
of any yet unarisen concentration link to awakening & also feeding of the
gradual fulfillment of any already arisen concentration link to awakening...
And what, Bhikkhus, is the starving that obstructs all emergence of a yet
unarisen concentration link to awakening & which also hinders any already
arisen Concentration Link from reaching fulfillment by development?
The sign of calm serene silence & the sign of non-distraction & non-scatter!
Not giving frequent, careful and rational attention to them; not considering
them much and often; is the starving that prevents an unarisen concentration
link to awakening from arising & also blocks any already arisen concentration
link to awakening from reaching any complete fulfillment by mental training
and progressive development by meditation...
Comments from the classical commentaries:
Focus is the characteristic of the concentration link to awakening
(Samādhi-Sambojjhanga). Ceasing of all distraction, disturbance, diversion,
agitation, mental instability and wavering is the purpose of the quality of
Concentration (Samādhi). Penetration is the manifestation of concentration.
This stability produces breakthrough to understanding! Some Concentration
is present in all consciousness. This focus can be trained by fixing attention.
Further conditions helpful for the emergence of the concentration are:1: Keeping own body, behaviour, belongings and surroundings fully clean...
2: Routine in recognizing the sign of calm and the sign of non-distraction...
3: Ballancing the abilities of energetic striving vs. concentration evenly...
4: Controlling, confining and restraining the mind, whenever necessary...
5: Pushing, prodding and exerting the mind, whenever needed...
6: Gladdening, encouraging and easing the mind, whenever suitable...
7: Looking on, just overseeing the mind in equanimity, when appropriate...
8: Avoiding unconcentrated, agitated, diffuse and scatter-minded people...
9: Friendship with concentrated people with experience in absorption...
10: Frequent reviewing of the absorptions (jhānas) and the liberations...
11: Commitment to focus mind into one-pointed absorbed concentration!
There is concentration while thinking and concentration without thinking!
Mental absorption (Jhāna) is the higher being's exquisite state!
Sources (edited extracts):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikāya.
Book [V: 65-6+102-8] 46: Links. 2+51: Group & Nutriments....
Feeding the Concentration..
Have a nice & noble day!
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