The practice of vigilance
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:05 am
Hello friends,
After possessing the noble aggregate of virtues, sense restraint and moderation in eating, the Buddha taught us to train further on vigilance (being wakeful and watchful -- cleansing the mind of obstructive mental states) before the training of full awareness and clear comprehension in some suttas:
Vigilance
"As soon, brahman, as a monk is moderate in eating, the Tathagata disciplines him further, saying: 'Come you, monk, dwell intent on vigilance; during the day while pacing up and down, while sitting down, cleanse the mind of obstructive mental states; during the middle watch of the night, lie down on the right side in the lion posture, foot resting on foot, mindful, clearly conscious, reflecting on the thought of getting up again; during the last watch of the night, when you have arisen, while pacing up and down, while sitting down, cleanse the mind of obstructive mental states.' (MN 107 & MN 125)
However, it's strange that in some other suttas (e.g. MN27) such a training on vigilance is not mentioned, but rather the training went directly from sense restraint to full awareness and clear comprehension. In these suttas the four establishment of mindfulness is also not mentioned, but rather directly from full awareness and clear comprehension to samadhi training (abandoning 5 hindrances and jhana in formal sitting). So in these suttas the path factor of mindfulness only includes full awareness and clear comprehension of postures/activities. I suppose these suttas might be taught earlier than the suttas like MN107 and MN125, which includes more steps and probably more developed (?) path.
Well, for the lay practitioners I suppose the step of vigilance training is very useful, before we focus our mind on mindfulness of body (postures/activities or breath) or practice 4 establishments of mindfulness. It's a part of right effort. Your input would be appreciated.
Metta to all,
Starter
After possessing the noble aggregate of virtues, sense restraint and moderation in eating, the Buddha taught us to train further on vigilance (being wakeful and watchful -- cleansing the mind of obstructive mental states) before the training of full awareness and clear comprehension in some suttas:
Vigilance
"As soon, brahman, as a monk is moderate in eating, the Tathagata disciplines him further, saying: 'Come you, monk, dwell intent on vigilance; during the day while pacing up and down, while sitting down, cleanse the mind of obstructive mental states; during the middle watch of the night, lie down on the right side in the lion posture, foot resting on foot, mindful, clearly conscious, reflecting on the thought of getting up again; during the last watch of the night, when you have arisen, while pacing up and down, while sitting down, cleanse the mind of obstructive mental states.' (MN 107 & MN 125)
However, it's strange that in some other suttas (e.g. MN27) such a training on vigilance is not mentioned, but rather the training went directly from sense restraint to full awareness and clear comprehension. In these suttas the four establishment of mindfulness is also not mentioned, but rather directly from full awareness and clear comprehension to samadhi training (abandoning 5 hindrances and jhana in formal sitting). So in these suttas the path factor of mindfulness only includes full awareness and clear comprehension of postures/activities. I suppose these suttas might be taught earlier than the suttas like MN107 and MN125, which includes more steps and probably more developed (?) path.
Well, for the lay practitioners I suppose the step of vigilance training is very useful, before we focus our mind on mindfulness of body (postures/activities or breath) or practice 4 establishments of mindfulness. It's a part of right effort. Your input would be appreciated.
Metta to all,
Starter