Wise attention (Buddhism)

In Hinayana Buddhism, wise attention is much emphasized in developing skill in absorption. By means of wise attention the necessary wisdom or enlightenment-factors arise and are grown, fulfilled and developed to exert, restrain and encourage the mind as these become necessary; it acts as food or fuel for such factors. It occurs in penetration of intrinsic or individual essences and general characteristics. If the mind is slack, wise attention produces elements of initiative, launching, and persistence in factors to exert it; finally it produces the happiness or rapturous enlightenment factor which is happiness itself. Similarly, if the mind is agitated, wise attention acts as food for growth, fulfilment, development and perfection for the factors of tranquillity, concentration and equanimity to restrain it.