Human Development
Skill in absorption
Description:
There are ten skills enumerated in Hinayana Buddhism which are recommended as aids for those in whom absorption does not arise swiftly:1. Clean physical basis: The body should be neat and clean (internal basis); the clothes and lodging should also be kept clean (external basis). Then the consciousness and its concomitants that arise are clean and purified and the subject of meditation grows and develops.
2. Maintenance of balanced faculties: Faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and understanding faculties should all be balanced. If one is too strong then the others cannot perform their specific functions. It is particularly necessary to balance faith with understanding and concentration with energy. But mindfulness should always be strong.
3. Being skilful in the sign: once the sign of the subject of meditation is produced and developed, it should be protected.
4. Exerting or upholding the mind when this should be done: If the mind is slack it should be exerted by developing enlightenment factors of investigation of states or doctrine, energy, and happiness or rapture, rather than those of tranquillity, serenity and equanimity. Wise attention to these factors acts as fuel to exerting the mind.
5. Restraining the mind when this should be done: If the mind is agitated it should be restrained by developing enlightenment factors of tranquillity, serenity and equanimity, rather than those of investigation of states or doctrine, energy, and happiness or rapture. Wise attention to these factors acts as fuel to restraining the mind.
6. Encouraging the mind when this should be done: If the mind is listless and dissatisfied it should be stimulated by reviewing the eight reasons for urgency - birth, ageing, sickness, death, suffering of the states of woe or loss; suffering through births in the past, suffering through births in the future, suffering in the present due to searching for food. Confidence or satisfaction arises on recalling the qualities of the Buddha, of dhamma (law) and of sangha (the order).
7. Viewing the mind with equanimity when this should be done: If the mind of one who practices is serene, if it is not slack or excited, if it rests evenly on its object, neither idle nor agitated, then it should be viewed with equanimity.
8. Avoiding persons who are not concentrated: People who have never followed the path of renunciation, who are busy with affairs and whose hearts are distracted should be avoided.
9. Cultivating persons who are concentrated: People who have followed the path of renunciation and obtained concentration should be sought out from time to time.
10. Resoluteness or intentness on that: Concentration should be given its importance, there should be tending, inclination and leaning towards it.