Dhamma Letter No. 130

Satipatthana 47: Cittānupassanā (Observation of the mind) 마음관찰 1

Apr 18, 2023

We are still discussing Satipatthana meditation (Four mindfulness meditations), which is the way to reach nirvana, the ultimate happiness suggested by the Buddha.
Dhammanupassana(Observing the Dhamma) is the ultimate way to see everything (literally) as it is through mindfulness. For Dhammanupassana, mind-seeing (Cittanupassana) is an essential practice. Having a perspective to see things as they are is because there is an indispensable relationship between the mind and the object.

An overview of the practice of Cittanupassana was introduced in Dhamma letters No. 40 ~ No. 48 by quoting from a thesis I wrote. Now, we will introduce how to perform Cittanupassana (Observing the mind) in earnest.

This method of practice is ‘watching the mind with the mind’, but it does not separate from the rest of the mindful meditation, ‘body, feeling, and dhamma’. If you practice observing the mind, you are doing all four things.

Cittanupassana practice, whether it is Kayanupassana (Observing the body) or Vedanaupassana (Observing the feeling) or any combination of it, must reach the 'knowing mind', because without the 'mind's intention' no movement or feeling can be known.

The basic practice is to be mindful with the mind as an object. Going further, it is watching with a mind that knows the 'awareness of knowing the object' again (Watching mind).
In other words, everything that enters through the six gates is the object, but 'the knowing mind’ eventually becomes the host object.

To be continued…

May you cultivate your Sati continuously (Samma-Viriya)!

May you achieve the Samma-Diṭṭhi (Right View) through Satipatthāna (vipassana meditation)!

May all practice well and reach to Magga (道, the path of enlightenment) and Phala (果, the fruit of enlightenment)!

with Metta,

Ayyā Kosallā
Edited by Euna Bonovich

If you have any questions related to dhamma & meditation, please feel free to ask. You can reach Ayya Kosalla directly at Bhikkhuni.Kosalla@gmail.com.

법에 대한 질문이 있으신 분은 위의 이메일 주소로 질문을 남겨주세요.

위빠사나명상의 마음관찰에 대한 논문을 한글 원본으로 읽고 싶으신 분은 클릭해서 다운로드 받을 수 있습니다. (네이버에 PDF 첨부)

The Korean Dhamma Letter is here 담마레터.

Buddha Sāsanaṁ Ciraṁ Tiṭṭhatu!
May the Buddha’s teachings last a long time!

Bhavatu Sabba Sotiṁ ca Maṅgalaṁ ca!!
May everyone be led on the path of peace and blessing!!

Sādhu Sādhu Sādhu!