The development of the mind So on the higher levels of Buddhist practice we talk about bhāvanā, cultivation, the training of the mind. This training also has various levels. Initially one may train th…

Qualities of Samādhi When the mind is one-pointed, it is said to be like a magnifying glass which is used to concentrate the sun’s rays. Using a magnifying glass, a concentration of energy occur…

Keeping awareness in the present Delight and aversion arise dependent on some particular sensation. For instance, if we see something we like, the mind proliferates around that liking. If aversion or …

Restraining the senses to see more clearly We must know how to function correctly in this world. If we know how to function properly, the disease won’t arise. To function properly in regard to t…

Dhamma practice: passive or active? In one sense, it’s almost as if we “lie in wait” for sensations to arise, and relate to them in such a way as to not give rise to defilement. It&#…

Becoming aware of sense contact We must find a way to treat these diseases by not allowing the defilements to arise. But how do we prevent the defilements from arising? First we must look on a broader…

Right Samādhi If you want to understand samādhi correctly in the Buddhist sense, you must see it as it is described in the scriptures, as the mind that is malleable, fit for work. The mind that is mal…

A medicine for treating the ills of life Dhamma, when well practiced, is like a medicine for treating the ills of life, enabling us to live our lives well. The Buddha, as the proclaimer of the Dhamma,…

Sati and Vipassanā The practice of vipassanā meditation emphasizes the use of sati. If there is no sati, paññā cannot function. Sati itself has many different functions. First, sati allows us to be aw…

The Four Foundations of Mindfulness Now there is another technique which is often stressed, and that is called sati. Sati is a very important factor of Dhamma practice. We often hear of the Four Found…