Kammatthana: The Place of Work
Kammatthana is a place of work, and here it means where one works on one's
mind. In virtually everyone the mind is forever thinking and concocting, leading
to the arising of lust (raga) and greed (lobha), hatred and aversion (dosa)
and to the birth of delusion (moha). The mind is then enveloped in the contrivings
of issues and affairs and habitually smothered in defilements. Such a disquieted
and unstill mind can find no peace, just as there is no rest for the waves of
the sea.
The mind infiltrated with such defilements is so biased and unbalanced that
it can't recognize the truth, can't see conditions for what they really are.
For instance, the mind bound up with lust or greed must incline towards the
pleasant, attractive side of things, creating a predilection for a certain thing.
Liking it, one becomes biased and it will then appear 'perfect,' 'good' or 'quite
nice' --depending on how much one favours it. Even if something is really not
at all good, one assumes it to be so because one is attracted to it through
the prejudice of lust and greed.
When the mind is warped by hatred, it will then take the negative side and turn
away from things. Whatever is hated the most will then appear 'totally bad'
or --according to the level of one's aversion-- 'plainly bad' or 'not so good,'
etc.
The mind imbued with delusion finds it even harder to see the truth. It's as
if one is half-blind, seeing things only dimly. Even one's conjectures probably
do not accord with the truth because the mind is already obscured with delusion.
Lust, greed, hatred and delusion not only unbalance and agitate the mind but
also block the development of wisdom (pannya) which would be able to penetrate
to the actual state of things. The Lord Buddha therefore taught about the two
places which can be established for working on the mind, the two kammatthana:
Samatha kammatthana is the mind's working place to develop calm (samatha).
Vipassana kammatthana is where the mind can attain insight (vipassana) into
the truth.
Working for calm is the first step because the mind needs relief from the defilements
which bind and envelop it. One can then practise for insight as the tranquil
mind is balanced and free from the bias of the defilements. Whatever is then
investigated can be seen clearly for what it really is, and this is where insight
begins to develop.
The Refuges (Sarana)
Just as the earth receives and supports our footsteps, so it is necessary,
right from the beginning in developing these work places, to have a shelter
and solid foundation for the mind. The mind's true refuge is the Triple Gem
(Ti-Ratana): the Buddha, the Dhamma , and the Sangha.
One must first determine the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha as one's true refuge,
and recollect and contemplate their special virtues and qualities. Thus, the
Lord Buddha is truly the Awakened One; the Dhamma is truly the Way of practice
to the end of all defilements and suffering; and the Sangha are those who are
truly following the Dhamma Way to its fruition. The cultivating of a profound
appreciation for the qualities of the Triple Gem requires a deep understanding
of what the Buddha taught: that it indubitably leads to the ending of all suffering.
The more one can perceive the profundity of Dhamma the more one can appreciate
the achievement of the Lord Buddha. One's mind will then go for refuge to the
Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha without hesitation or wavering.
Establishing one's mind in the Refuge of the Triple Gem is the preliminary step
in the development of the kammatthana working places. So will you all please
resolve to accept this refuge for your minds, securing a trust and faith in
Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha --and also a trust and confidence in your own ability
to practise. This especially applies to the kammatthana work which you have
determined to practise. Know that it leads to calmness and tranquillity, to
wisdom and insight. It is the true and certain support for your mind.
Precepts and Moral Virtue (Sila)
Now the ground or foundation for the mind's support can be laid. This is
moral virtue (sila) which is actually the natural (pakati) state of the mind
undisturbed by the defilements. These defilements will incite and force the
mind into intending (cetana) and setting into motion wrong actions through body
and mind. Sometimes you may find yourself unable to maintain this natural state
of mind because of business or work affairs, etc. However, once you enter the
place of Dhamma practice, you must firmly resolve to refrain from wrong, unskilful
behaviour. In other words, do not break the five precepts(1).
At this present time you must be especially careful to guard the natural virtue
of the mind. Do not allow it to be pulled down into unskilful ways. When you
can sustain this natural state of mind, you will find the mind endowed with
moral virtue. Once this virtue is present, it forms the foundation on which
to rest and base the mind. When your mind has such a foundation, together with
a refuge safeguarding your Dhamma practice from any of the defilements' attacks,
then an opportunity opens up: an opportunity to follow the way of kammatthana
and establish a place to cultivate your own mind.
4th August 2504 B.E. (1961)
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TALK 2
The Foundations of Mindfulness: Satipatthana
The Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness (Satipatthana Sutta) directly
takes up and explains the training of the mind. In fact the Lord Buddha even
said that it is the only way to transcend sorrow, to see the Dhamma that needs
to be seen and to come to the end of suffering with the realization of Nibbana.
This, therefore, includes the perfection both of calm and insight. However,
one initially needs to know about the basis of practice, the kammatthana. This,
as I have mentioned previously, means a place of work --a work place for the
mind. It requires the determination to establish a foundation for one's practice.
But where can one find this base for one's concentration?
Endeavouring to establish the mind in the affairs of external objects --a visual
object, a sound, odour, taste, tangible or mental object(2)-- can only lead
the defilements to infiltrate the mind. The mind is then based in the defilements
rather than in the kammatthana. Thus the decision of exactly where to direct
and base one's practice becomes crucial.
The Lord Buddha taught that we should direct our attention back inside ourselves.
The foundation for the mind's development will be found right here inside ourselves
and not at all in external things. To be more specific, inside oneself refers
to the body (kaya), feeling (vedana), mind (citta) and mental objects (dhamma)
--all complete in each one of us.
Body (Kaya)
Turning one's attention back to oneself, looking from the outside in, one
first comes across this body. One notices that, whether awake or asleep, a basic
and essential function is breathing. There must also be one or another bodily
postures --walking, standing, sitting or lying down. There are then the secondary
positions such as, when walking, one bends the arms and legs or one turns and
glances around. Even as you are sitting here now there is always a certain natural
way for positioning your feet for sitting.
Then there are the other parts to this body (rupa-kaya) made up of the external
and internal organs, etc. Externally there is the hair on the head, body hair,
nails, teeth and skin, and internally such things as flesh, tendons, bones,
bone marrow, bile, kidneys, heart, etc.
These bodily constituents can all be reduced and considered in terms of elements
(dhatu). For example, the organs which tend to hardness come under the earth
element; those which are fluid, under the water element; those that are 'heating,'
under the fire element; and those that produce motion, under the wind element.
As long as all these elements are properly associated together, the whole body
appears normal; but should they disperse then what's left is a dead body. For
example, if the wind element fails then the breathing ceases. The body then
becomes bloated and decays until only bones remain, and eventually even those
skeletal bones will disintegrate. Before its formation this body did not exist,
and so in the final event it returns to nonexistence. This is the section on
the body.
Feeling (Vedana)
In a living body where the elements are in harmony together there is also feeling: Pleasant feeling (sukha-vedana), painful feeling (dukkha-vedana) or neutral feeling which is neither-painful-nor-pleasant (adukkha-m-asukha vedana)(3). For example, this body experiences feelings of cold and heat, of softness and hardness.
Mind (Citta)
An intact body with elements smoothly functioning together forms a support and resort for the mind. The state of everyone's mind varies. Sometimes lust is uppermost and sometimes it subsides; sometimes there is hatred or delusion and sometimes they subside.
Mental Objects (dhamma)
Examining the mind to a deeper level, one finds that it is always involved
and concerned with various affairs, some of these being good, some bad, and
some in between. These follow the principle of the Pali phrases:
Kusala dhamma all mind objects which are wholesome.
Akusala dhamma all mind objects which are unwholesome.
Abyakata dhamma all mind objects which are indeterminate or neutral.
These are all found in one's mind.
So we can now say that this body, these feelings, this mind and these mental
objects are together what make up myself, and right here is where the Discourse
advises us to base our attention and mindfulness. In actual practice though,
we first concentrate on just one of these bases.
Concerning the Breath
The first point is that to use the in-and-out breathing as the base for
establishing mindfulness. A living body must always have breath but we never
pay any attention to it. So our practice is now to bring mindfulness to bear
on this natural breathing pattern.
The Lord Buddha explains (in the Discourse) that one holds the body erect(4)
and firmly establishes mindfulness. Mindfully one breathes in, mindfully one
breathes out. Instead of sending the mind off elsewhere, one concentrates it
wholly on the breath. This will lead to a more subtle awareness. Breathing in
a long breath, be aware of it. Breathing out a long breath, be aware of it.
Be aware of a short in-breath and a short out-breath, but do not tense or force
the breathing. Just let go and breathe naturally --but be aware.
The Discourse then continues with instruction to note the whole body. Experience
and know your whole body as the breath goes in and out. Expand your awareness
to cover the whole body including both the mental group (nama-kaya) and the
corporeal group (rupa-kaya).
Considering the mental group, be aware of the state of the mind, of the present
condition of your mindfulness and concentration. How are they at this moment?
Note the body through awareness of its posture and position. How are you sitting?
From the soles of your feet upwards, and from the crown of your head downwards:
Be completely aware of your body.
After we fully accomplish this awareness of both groups, the Discourse then
goes on to teach about calming the in-and-out breathing. This does not involve
any forcing or holding of the breath, but is a natural calming down. When the
mind becomes refined, so in turn does the breath. The Lord Buddha taught that
if the mind is unquiet then the breathing will be rough and gross. However,
should the mind become calm, then the breathing also becomes more refined and
subtle. Sometimes the breathing may even seem to have stopped, but there is
no need to panic. You have simply calmed down while the breathing still remains.
The Four Fundamentals of Practice
You must have energy and determination (atapa) in your practice, and this
includes conscientiousness . For example, you determine to practice for a specified
time period and so must therefore fulfill that aim without any slackness or
cutting short. Even though you may feel frustrated and want to give up, you
must carry on to accomplish your objective. With such conscientiousness everything
develops smoothly and well. Thus atapa is the first essential in the practice.
The second principle is awareness and clear-comprehension (sampajannya) of oneself
at all times. Don't be absent-minded or negligent by falling asleep or losing
mindfulness. Permitting sleep and allowing your attention to fade indicates
a lapse of clear-comprehension in your kammatthana practice. This is like straying
from the path and falling into a chasm or pit. Therefore, awareness and clear-comprehension
must be well guarded and supported. They thus form the second fundamental in
the practice.
The next principle, mindfulness (sati), is awareness fixed and firmly established
without any drifting from the chosen object(5). Should another mental object
suddenly interrupt leading to rapture (piti) or excitement, then don't lose
yourself in it but quickly return to your base. For example, reject all distractions
and turn your full attention back to the in-and-out breathing.
Once mindfulness is well established, your practice can develop without the
harm that may arise from absent-mindedly drifting away with the thoughts and
moods that have arisen. The harm comes when you too readily abandon mindfulness
and become a heedless daydreamer. Therefore, steadfastly establish your mindfulness.
Don't allow it to drift away. This is the third principle.
The fourth principle is to overcome hankering and dejection concerning the world(6).
This is an important point, for whenever one encounters a pleasant mental object
in one's practice, one must consider it as a deceit and a false perception.
Likewise, if an unpleasant experience arises --such as a mental image (nimitta)
which provokes fear-- then one must again be mindfully aware that none of it
is real. Being neither-glad-nor-dejected with anything that arises, one continually
brings mindfulness back to the established object and anchors it there. In this
way concentration (samadhi)(7), and eventually wisdom (pannya), will arise and
one's practice will progress well.
These four fundamentals are essential for everyone who practises. If they are
dispensed with, the practice is thereby abandoned --with possibly harmful results.
But with these principles well established, one's practice can only be beneficial
and develop well.
5th August 2504 B.E. (1961)