Dhamma Letter No. 149
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Dhamma Letter No. 149
Satipatthana 66: Cittānupassanā (Observation of mind) 마음관찰: How to observe the mind on sitting meditation.
As I explained about the time of meditation, it should not attach much importance to a specific form of body posture. This is because the mind always works in any posture.
『Satipatthana-sutta: Foundation of the mindfulness』 includes not only the movements of going, standing, sitting, and lying down, but also when looking back and forth, bending and unfolding, dressing, eating, drinking, chewing, swallowing, and urinating. It is emphasized to be clearly aware of everything, whether talking or being silent, going to bed or getting up.
Therefore, the method of insight, vipassana does not matter which particular posture, just check-in to know if you’re mindful. Constantly ask yourself questions as:
Are you nervous?
how is your mind?
how your body feels?
what do you know over your body and mind?
In seated meditation, there’s no need to pay special attention to one’s posture. Of course, it’s important to maintain a correct posture, such as straightening the spine, but above all, try to practice in a comfortable posture without tension. The practitioner who sits in the most comfortable position may say, ‘I will sit for an hour. I will sit for two hours’. However, if you set a time length or an object of awareness, you will become intensively conscious, so your mind will not be calm (samādhi), so wisdom (paññā) cannot arise.
Since it is more important than anything else that Sati continues, it is acceptable to get up and walk if you cannot maintain Sati in sitting, but it is more important to have a proper understanding of the cause and effect of the current phenomenon and check yourself.
For beginners, it is helpful to observe the state of the body and mind with the main object on the breath during sitting meditation. When breathing, it does not matter whether the object of observation is placed on the abdomen, the tip of the nose, or the entire breath. This is because 'the knowing mind' of the object is more important than any specific object in this method of practice.
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,
Ayya Kosalla
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!