Sluggish/Tired Mind
"At such times, monks, as the mind is sluggish, that is the wrong time to cultivate the enlightenment-factor[1] of tranquillity, the enlightenment-factor of concentration, the enlightenment-factor of equanimity. What is the reason? A sluggish mind is hard to arouse by these factors.
Aroused/Active/Agitated Mind"But, monks, when the mind is sluggish, that is the right time to cultivate the enlightenment-factor of investigation-of-states, the enlightenment-factor of energy, the enlightenment-factor of rapture.[2] What is the reason? A sluggish mind is easy to arouse by these factors.
"Monks, when the mind is agitated,[3] that is the wrong time to cultivate the enlightenment-factors of investigation-of-states, of energy, of rapture. Why? An agitated mind is hard to calm through these factors.
A really easy way to remember this is that the Mindfulness(Sati) is always useful and that leaves us with 6 remaining factors, we can remember that the first 3 of those(Dhamma Vicaya, Viriya & Piti) are to be developed when mind is Sluggish and the remaining 3 for the Active Mind."When the mind is agitated, that is the right time to cultivate the enlightenment-factors of tranquillity, concentration, equanimity. Why? Because an agitated mind is easy to calm[4] through these factors.
What are exactly the Factors of Enlightenment and How do we apply this in practice? will give you cliffs, i have not figured out all of it but it should give an idea, as always feel free to chip in some knowledge.
Factors of Enlightenment
i will list some common translations: Nyanasatta Thera further as (1), Piyadissa Thera (2), Burmese Pitaka (3), Thanissaro (4) Bhikkhu Bodhi (5)
Sati - Mindfulness (all)
Dhamma Vicaya - Investigation(1&2), Investigative Knowledge (3), Analysis (4), investigation-of-states (5)
Viriya - Energy (1,2), Effort (3), Persistence (4), Energy (5)
Piti - Joy (1), Happiness/Rapture (2), Delightful Satisfaction (3), Rapture (4,5)
Passadhi - Tranquility (1&5), Calm (2), Serenity (3&4),
Samadhi - Concentration (all)
Upekkha - Equanimity
Further there is a common formulae where Sila leads to non-regret and this is very important :
Further without exerted volition:AN10.2 Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi“Bhikkhus, for a virtuous person, one whose behavior is virtuous, no volition need be exerted: ‘Let non-regret arise in me.’ It is natural that non-regret arises in a virtuous person, one whose behavior is virtuous.
* “For one without regret no volition need be exerted: ‘Let joy arise in me.’ It is natural that joy arises in one without regret.
So in short:Thanissaros Translation SN55.40 In one who has joy, rapture arises. In one who has rapture, the body becomes serene. When the body is serene, one feels pleasure. Feeling pleasure, the mind becomes centered. When the mind is centered, phenomena become manifest.
Avoiding slightest danger => Piti => Passadhi => Samadhi => Jhana
Practical How - To (for more details: Commentary to Satipatthana Sutta)
Sati = This one is pretty straight forward, when seeing arises know it as seeing, when thinking arises know it as thinking, when knowing arises know it as knowing, when breathing in long know it as breathing in long, when a feeling arises know it as feeling, know mindstates as mindstates, without extrapolating on the particulars.
Dhamma Vicaya = Investigating the Aggregates & Learning about the Dhammas. Recommend reading the Sutta:
Learning and poundering the Dhamma, The Aggregates & Insight Meditation. Commentaries also mention importance of person hygiene as conducive to learning.SN 22.57 “And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu a triple investigator? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu investigates by way of the elements, by way of the sense bases, and by way of dependent origination. It is in such a way that a bhikkhu is a triple investigator...
Viriya= Reflection on Fearfulness on States of Woe, Introducing thoughts of Energy&Persistence into mind, thinking about virtues of Persistence, Endurance and Courage. Reflecting on the drawbacks of stagnation and being indolent. Associating with Energetic people, avoiding lazy ones.
Piti = Contemplating the Triple Gem, One's Virtue, Being inspired by the Dhamma, Delighting in the Dhamma to arouse the mind. Further entering the Jhana.
Passadhi = Calming of the Body & Mind. Settling one's quarrels, Harmony, Agreeable Weather, Fine healthy food, Avoiding restless people, seeking calm people and right reflection (3Cs)Piti SuttaSo you should train yourself, "Let's periodically enter & remain in seclusion & rapture." That's how you should train yourself.'
"Lord, when a disciple of the noble ones enters & remains in seclusion & rapture, there are five possibilities that do not exist at that time: The pain & distress dependent on sensuality do not exist at that time. The pleasure & joy dependent on sensuality do not exist at that time. The pain & distress dependent on what is unskillful do not exist at that time. The pleasure & joy dependent on what is unskillful do not exist at that time. The pain & distress dependent on what is skillful do not exist at that time. When a disciple of the noble ones enters & remains in seclusion & rapture, these five possibilities do not exist at that time."
Samadhi = Developing one-pointedness (non distraction), Training Jhanas, association with people collected in mind, Phenomena are known to the monk as they arise, known as they persist, known as they cease (non distraction leads to mindfulness & alertness) Read Sutta: Samādhibhāvanāsuttaṃ
Upekkha = Detached attitude conditioned by abundant Right Reflection on 3Cs and developement of the other factors of Enlightenment such as Concentration and Sati. Satipatthana Insight Meditation. Avoiding egoistical people, associating with people who impartial and equanimous towards things and people.
Mindfulness is Always useful and this is imo 90+% of what we should be focusing on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3huNh4Vi8Jc
Comment on the importance of Moderation in Food:
when eating the most healthy meals available, once or twice a day leads to:
* Less craving because there is no longer an indulgence factor present as much, so mind is not inclined to seek pleasure from food
* Makes it easier to reflect on modes on Matter(Mode of cohesion in lumps of food, elements extrernal becoming internal and the whole digestion process)
* Most effective counter measure to Sluggishness and leads to Non-Regret
* Easier to practise mindfulness of Eating
* Not eating enough is also going to cause sluggishness. To me foods with healthy fats are good for sustained energy for the day, more so than cards only.