WHEN RIGHT ATTITUDE ARISES, AWARENESS FOLLOWS

| Shwe Oo Min Dhammasukha Tawya 2018 Vassa Q&A File: 02 - Monks 180902 (40:25-42:00)

Yogi: When any defilement arises, should we have the right attitude by saying it is only nature?

Sayadaw: Yes, when right attitude comes, then awareness follows. Right attitude is wisdom thinking; that’s why we call it right thought.

Because you hear about nature and have the knowledge of right attitude – the way to think – and you apply in your practice many, many times – over time, the mind understands the meaning of nature.

Later, you don’t need to intellectually apply too much right attitude because awareness and wisdom can arise together.

WHEN AWARENESS IS NOT ESTABLISHED, ITS STRENGTH FLUCTUATES

| Shwe Oo Min Dhammasukha Tawya 2018 Vassa Q&A File: 02 - Monks 07292018 (27:45-28:05))

Yogi: The awareness is weaker when the headache goes away (and the new object is more subtle).

Sayadaw: If your awareness is not strong enough, when the object is obvious the mind is also strong (more energy). If the object is subtle, the mind is also weak (less energy) because the awareness is not strong enough.

If you choose a subtle object, the mind has no energy because awareness is not strong enough. If the object is obvious, then the mind wakes up.

THE EYE DOOR AND THE MIND DOOR

| Shwe Oo Min Dhammasukha Tawya 2018 Vassa Q&A File: 02 - Monks 07292018 (06:20-8:11)

Yogi: When we close our eyes, it appears that there’s more thinking.

Sayadaw: When you close your eyes, the mind is freer to think. When we open our eyes, the mind is busy looking, and we think less. But actually thinking is already there.

Another reason is that when we close our eyes, we know the thinking mind better. 

When we open our eyes, the mind is also thinking but we’re looking and seeing, and we don’t notice the thinking mind. When we close our eyes, the mind door is more obvious.

When we open our eyes, both mind door and eye door are happening; but when we close our eyes, the mind door is more obvious.

Open our eyes, the mind also thinks – whatever the mind sees, it is thinking about what is seen.

DON’T BELIEVE YOU CANNOT MEDITATE IF THERE’S MUCH THINKING

| Shwe Oo Min Dhammasukha Tawya 2018 Vassa Q&A File: 02 - Monks 07292018 (14:32-17:16)

Yogi: As long as there’s much thinking, it’s hard to practice meditation smoothly.

Sayadaw: This is the samatha practice. We’re not trying to think all the time. We use right thinking and awareness together; not thinking all the time.

Whether we practice samatha or vipassana – whether we concentrate or are aware – the mind has already thought of how to do. The mind cannot do anything if it doesn’t already have an idea how to do.

At the subtle level, a lot of thinking is happening naturally in the mind. You cannot stop the thinking.

Whatever we do, we have an idea – if we have no idea, we cannot do anything. Even when we focus, we have an idea how to focus, the way to concentrate and onto which object. There’s already thinking in the mind.

When you don’t see that the mind is always thinking at the subtle level, you’ll say that it’s hard to practice meditation when there’s much thinking.

If you cannot think, you’re like a zombie.

INTENTION IS DIFFERENT FROM THINKING

| Shwe Oo Min Dhammasukha Tawya 2018 Vassa Q&A File: 02 - Monks 07292018 (34:10-35:30)

Yogi: Is intention a kind of thinking?

Sayadaw: No. Thinking is thinking; intention is intention. Intention is the mental energy that wants to make something happen.

When there is intention, thinking also arises – thinking comes together with intention, both happen together, but intention is not thinking.

EXTERNAL OBJECTS SEEM LESS CLEAR FROM THE MIND DOOR

| Shwe Oo Min Dhammasukha Tawya 2018 Vassa Q&A File: 02 - Monks 0825018 (1:00:44-1:01:01)

Yogi: When objects at the 5 sense doors are observed through the mind (awareness), they become blur, not as clear as observing the objects at the 5 sense doors.

Sayadaw: Because of concepts, the 5 sense doors become clear.

[Yogi’s note: When the mind targets being aware of seeing, seeing happens together with seeing outside things (concepts), for example; but when the mind targets observing the awareness of physical objects, concepts fade.]

GETTING TO KNOW THE ELUSIVE MIND

| Shwe Oo Min Dhammasukha Tawya 2018 Vassa Q&A File: 02 - Monks 0825018 (23:15-24:49)

Knowing is mind, thinking is mind, feeling is mind, intention is mind. If you know these, you know the mind.

You can also know paying attention; paying attention is the mind. If you know looking and listening, they are also the mind.

You can experience these minds; you need to check for yourself.

You need to remind yourself ‘How do you feel? Are you aware? Are you thinking or aware?’ Slowly, you can be more familiar with the mind.

HOW TO BEGIN MEDITATING

| SBS Retreat 2013 Guided Meditation Part 2 (14:32-16:17)

We’re trying to notice what we think, say or do. In the beginning, we’re trying to know, just know what is happening – this is happening and that is happening.

Even when you blink, know that you’re blinking. Whatever is happening, step back and acknowledge it.

Your duty is to recognize whatever is happening – try to recognize moment by moment (as much as you can). Whatever happens is happening moment by moment.

Experience is always happening – seeing, hearing, body sensations and mental processes – they are always happening. Just try to recognize them.

Something known by the mind (being known) and knowing (object and mind). Be careful of what we’re trying to do – we’re just trying to acknowledge the experience. 

Object is nature, and the knowing mind is also nature – there’s nobody there.

WHEN THE MIND TRIES TO CONTROL THE EXPERIENCE, WISDOM CANNOT ARISE

| Singapore Q&A 15 March 2019 Part A (2:00-4:57)

If the mind is drowsy, the quality of mind is not good; just recognize that the quality of mind is not good. That’s it.

But if you don’t accept, if you want the mind quality to be better, then the mind becomes more angry about this experience. Because of craving, the mind wants the situation to be very good, very peaceful, very clear; but what actually happens is the opposite.

The mind is changing all the time; it can’t be clear all the time. Our mind is full of defilement; awareness and samadhi is not good all the time.

Can you maintain the awareness all the time? That’s why. When the quality of mind is not good, it means that awareness, samadhi and wisdom are not strong enough. That’s why drowsiness happens. It’s very clear that it’s cause and effect.

Sometimes when right view arises, the quality of mind will change immediately. But when you don’t have right view, the mind is still drowsy.

If you accept the situation and continue to be aware, awareness becomes stronger and the quality of mind changes.

If you can practice when the mind quality is bad, wisdom can also arise. Don’t complain when the quality of mind is bad; it’s not important, experience is just experience.

If the attitude is right, wisdom can arise.

That’s why the vipassana idea is ‘As it is.’ (Watch neutrally, without interfering.) We try to be aware as it is; we’re not trying to change, not trying to control.

YOGIS REGARD DOSA AN ENEMY AND CRAVING A BEST FRIEND

| Shwe Oo Min Dhammasukha Tawya 2018 Vassa Q&A File: 02 - Monks 07292018 (48:23-49:44)

Yogis think that dosa is suffering, very obviously suffering, right? Like an enemy.

On the other hand, yogis treat craving like a best friend; it stays with us for a long time like a best friend. We don’t want to kick him out.

That is why yogis want to practice, but they don’t want to meditate all the time. It is because of craving; they want to stay with the craving.

ANATTA IS NOT ONLY ‘NO ME, NO I’ BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING CAUSE & EFFECT

| Shwe Oo Min Dhammasukha Tawya 2018 Vassa Q&A File: 02 - Monks 0825018 (30:19-32:08)

Yogi: When I’m sad, the face is tense; when the sadness goes away, the face becomes soft again.

Sayadaw: Yes, this is because you see the mind conditioning the body – when the mind changes, rupa also changes.

If you see the body and mind happening together many times, it is easier to understand that there is only cause and effect – there’s nobody there.

Anatta is not only ‘no me, no I’, but also understanding cause and effect.

THINKING ABOUT ANICCA, DUKKHA, ANATTA DOESN’T HELP

| Shwe Oo Min Dhammasukha Tawya 2018 Vassa Q&A File: 02 - Monks 0825018 (33:35-35:36)

Yogi: When a defilement becomes very strong, will thinking about anicca, dukkha and anatta help?

Sayadaw: No. You already know the meaning of anicca, dukkha and anatta, right? So, no need.

When you see changing and the mind understands, let the mind say it. You don’t have to think about it.

Even when you can see the object change or disappear, just recognize that it has disappeared. That’s enough.

Don’t say ‘Ah, it’s impermanent!’ If the mind really understands, it can say by it itself.

You don’t have to contemplate it – just say ‘Disappear, okay, disappear.’

Your duty is to acknowledge that something is happening when something arises, and something has disappeared when something disappears.

When you see this experience many times, if the mind has matured, it can see by itself. This is true understanding.

BUILDING THE MOMENTUM OF AWARENESS TO FACE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

| Singapore Q&A 15 March 2019 Part A (6:38-7:15)

Awareness needs to be strong; otherwise, the mind cannot be calm. You need to build up your strength all the time. Only then, the mind can be ready when you meet a difficult situation.

Practice moment to moment. If you want to grow your quality of mind, it is important to build up the momentum of awareness.

Moment to moment, try to build up your strength all the time – then only are you ready when some difficult situation arises; otherwise, it’s very difficult.

THE TENDENCY TO LOOK OUTSIDE

| Shwe Oo Min Dhammasukha Tawya 2018 Vassa Q&A File: 02 - Monks 180902 (56:00-57:00)

That’s what normal people – non meditators, do.

Meditators should not pay attention to outside things all the time; you should be more aware of yourself (whatever is happening in the mind and body, in the 6 senses).

HOW TO BE AWARE OF THE MIND FOR BEGINNERS

| Shwe Oo Min Dhammasukha Tawya 2018 Vassa Q&A English Interviews 20180925 (1:11:15-1:12:15)

For the beginner, it is easier to be aware of thoughts and feelings.

Paying attention is a different function of the mind – you know that you’re looking; you know you’re listening – that’s the mind paying attention. Knowing (consciousness) and awareness are also different functions of the mind.

Intention or volition is also a different function, a mind activity – the mind wants to move or do something.

The most obvious are feelings and thoughts. Other mental activities are more subtle because the mind does not have the habit of being aware of them.