I understand what you are saying, but I do the same thing, or at least attempt to do it. In my experience, Payutto's definition and exposition of Mindfulness and satipatthana practice comes very close to my own, so I see no problem with the way he speaks and I don't cling dogmatically, loyally, & uncritically to any gurus whether they write long books or no books.DooDoot wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2017 3:20 amI like the style & particularly the content of this link: https://www.mahidol.ac.th/budsir/Contents.html by Payutto. Its not about me not liking his style. Its that I don't pretend to be open-minded & devoid of views whilst at the same time clinging dogmatically, loyally & uncritically to gurus who write long books & give long sermons. I try to critically evaluate what I read according to what seems real. In my experience of meditation, mindfulness is not observation nor is mindfulness able to choose any of the four objects in satipatthana. Lots is going in meditation or 'Satipatthana' and not everything occurring in Satipatthana is 'mindfulness'.Saengnapha wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2017 2:06 amSo, you don't like his style, and you have your own views on this. What else is new?
Payutto: 'There is the matter of linguistics here that needs to be addressed. Some people misconstrue the common definition of sati as 'recollection' and the definition of sampajanna as 'self awareness', leading to misguided practice. They establish mindfulness on the sense of self and then have the impression that they are the agents for various actions, thinking, 'I am doing this,' 'I am doing that.'; as a result they create or reinforce the concept of self. They become preoccupied with this self image and develop a rigidity of mind. At the very least, their minds are not truly focused on the activity and their efforts thus do not come to fruition.
Someone prone to such misunderstanding should recall the definition of sati as 'bearing in mind,' 'sustaining attention on the object or task at hand,' and 'sustaining attention on the flow of events.' Similarly, one should recall the definition of sampajanna as 'clear comprehension of an object of attention' or 'clear comprehension of one's current activity.' In other words, it is not a matter of focusing on the sense of self ('I am doing this'). Rather than focusing on the 'performer' of the task, one focuses on the task itself. One's attention is so present and focused that eventually there is no opportunity for a sense of self to interfere in the process.
The essential fiature of mindfulness is an accurate, undistorted perception of things. One sees and understands what the object of awareness is, how it manifests, and what effects it has in each moment. This entails a constant acknowledging, observing, contemplating, and understanding............
The constant application of mindfulness and clear comprehension implies living in the present moment. One is aware in each moment of what is arising, what is happening, or what one is doing; attention does not slip. One does not attach to or linger over past events, and one does not drift off into the future in search of things that do not yet exist.............By dwelling in the present moment, one is not enslaved, seduced, or driven by craving.........
Doo Doot, if the Pali suttas were so clear and efficient in their meaning, what do you think prompted others to write treatises and give talks about them? It would follow that one reading of a sutta would clarify all things and impart immediate awakening. Maybe there are some people who fit this description but it certainly ain't you or I or anyone else on this board.........Payutto is a very clear writer, carefully choosing his words. He is highly thought of here in Thailand. I know of no person that is not questioned, analyzed, or critiqued, by others. Even the Buddha was not immune to this, but I'm not equating Payutto or BB to the Buddha. Since there is no perfection in any of this, perfection being a mental object and having no ultimate reality, I am not looking for perfection in what he writes. One's life becomes the proof of wisdom, not the words. Cheers.