Swiss Retreat 2019 Group Interviews 6 (00:12-2:50)
Yogi: Sometimes I’m aware, sometimes I’m not aware, and sometimes, I’m not sure. Other times, I don’t want to be aware. It takes an effort to go against this habit. Can I have another attitude that allows me to be aware, or is it a luxury to be aware?
Sayadaw: The mind doesn’t want to be aware because delusion doesn’t really want to be aware. It’s only when we use some wisdom like ‘we really should try to be aware’, but delusion will prefer us not to be aware so that it can do whatever it wants.
So both motivations – the motivation to be aware and the motivation to not be aware – will be present and competing.
We need more understanding about awareness so that the motivation to be aware will grow stronger; and it takes time.