Dhamma Letter No. 140

Satipatthana 57: Cittānupassanā (Observation of mind) 마음관찰 11: Five spiritual faculties 6: Viriya(Effort or Energy: 위리야, 정진) 1

Jun 27, 2023

Viriya (Effort) in the vipassana meditation does not mean trying hard, but 'continuously leading to Sati (mindfulness or awareness)'. If Momentum started, Wisdom must be used, and Viriya (Effort) will be weakened, if Wisdom is not used. The reason why the mind is confused is because Viriya has become weak.

How do we make ‘Sati‘ continuously?

Every moment, when you ask, ‘What do I know?’, Viriya is also present in the ‘inquiring mind (vīmaṁsa)’ that asks.

The yogi (meditator)'s job is to learn how to improve Sati (mindfulness), Samādhi (calmness), and paññā (wisdom). The result obtained later comes naturally by doing so.

The mind investigates as ‘What is happening to your body and mind?‘ is ‘Right thought’ (Samma-sankappa) in Eight noble path. ‘Right thinking’ is to incline the mind to the right object. When you have an investigative mind, you know more, you see more, and it plays an important role in sustaining Sati (awareness). When you investigate and observe anything that happens, sustained Sati (awareness) can be the result of effort (Viriya). **The investigation (vīmaṁsa or dhammavijaya) method will be introduced in the future. The important thing is that you should never get lost in the content, the story.

To achieve the goal of enlightenment (liberation from samsara), the mind must continue Sati (awareness), and Sati (awareness) inspires observation and investigation of the Dhamma. Dhamma is the phenomenon that occurs in the body and mind. When greed arises, observe the cause why it arises, and when anger or foolishness arises, investigate why it arises. No matter what afflictions arise, recognizing the cause of their occurrence, and developing wisdom is the mind that investigates, and it corresponds to the function to achieve the Path (Magga, 道) and the Fruition (Phala, 果).

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,

Bhikkuni Kosalla Vipassini
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!