Categories: Other Meditation Teachings
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Welcome. In our spiritual explorations, we often discuss a particular path of practice: the path of calmness meditation, or what is known in the Buddhist tradition as Samatha bhavana. This is the practice of developing mental concentration. As we engage in this, we work towards bringing our minds to a state of one-pointedness. In the beginning, we strive continuously to maintain this focus. However, you may find that this effort can sometimes become tiresome and challenging.
To achieve mental concentration, we must first gain some understanding of the mind itself. The teachings clearly state that a fundamental characteristic of our mind is its tendency to scatter. It constantly wanders. All kinds of thoughts arise, one after another. We might find ourselves remembering things from the past we thought we had forgotten. Things we tried to let go of, or are still trying to let go of, surface again and again. Often, these thoughts are not even useful. The past is over and done, yet when we try to cultivate mental concentration, our minds are flooded with this stream of thinking.
The Paradox of Past, Present, and Future Thoughts
We might divide these thoughts into categories of time: past, present, and future. Past thoughts are not the only distraction. Present events can also disrupt our focus. As you try to achieve mental concentration, sounds from your environment can break your focus. These are things that actively work against your effort. Likewise, the mind jumps to the future. You might be trying to focus, but your mind is already planning what you need to do tomorrow, or even in the next minute. This fragmentation becomes a significant obstacle.
This experience of a mind divided by past, present, and future is universal for anyone who begins to meditate. It's a natural part of the process. This isn't a phenomenon unique to any specific meditation technique, whether it's a practice taught here, such as our 'Third Eye' or 'Path to Brahma Worlds' practical programs, or one you learned from a teacher or a book.
The Beginner's First Taste of Stillness
Imagine a beginner starting meditation today. It’s possible for them to experience a profound state of deep concentration on the very first day. The first day can feel wonderfully focused. Perhaps they go to a temple, sit near a sacred Bodhi tree, or inside the shrine room. Maybe they find a quiet spot in a monastery, a secluded corner of their own home, or even a beautiful forest. Wherever they find a place conducive to stillness, they close their eyes and begin their practice.
On this first day, many people experience good results. This initial success acts as a powerful encouragement, a kind of stimulus that makes you want to meditate again the next day. You might sit for twenty minutes, thirty minutes, or even an hour in a meditation posture like the half-lotus or full-lotus, which is called Padmasana. Even if you only sit for fifteen or twenty minutes, you might experience an intense mental concentration, with few or no thoughts, almost like a taste of a deep meditative state, known as a jhana. Many people have shared these experiences, telling us how well their meditation went in the early days.
However, a question soon arises. After that initial motivation, after a few days, the mind often reverts to its old, scattered state. The thoughts begin to flow in again from all directions: past, present, and future. Your initial progress seems to vanish.
The Universal Nature of a Restless Mind
Please understand, this is not a flaw in your practice or the technique you are using. This is a universal experience. Whether you go to the Himalayas, India, Burma, Myanmar, or Thailand, whether you practice Theravada or Mahayana Buddhism, or even a non-Buddhist yogic tradition, this pattern emerges. It is normal. The mind is like an inexhaustible spring; thoughts constantly well up from it. There is no end to it.
We have spoken about this before in our teachings on how to concentrate the mind. We've explained that the mind is like nature itself, always changing. To progress, we need to bring some awareness to this reality. When you try to tame the mind, it often does the exact opposite of what you want. Think about it: from the day you were born until the moment you started meditating, you likely never thought, 'I need to investigate myself, I need to focus my mind, I need to live a spiritual life.' You might not have even been aware of the 'mind' as a separate process; you simply thought, 'I am doing this, I am thinking this.'
Your entire life, your attention has been directed towards the external world. You have never explored your inner world. This inner exploration is the true meaning of spirituality, or adhyathmikathvaya. It is the study of oneself, a self-investigation. To do this, we create a supportive environment. In the Buddhist tradition, we perform rituals and offerings. This is like clearing the small bushes and debris around a large tree before you cut it down, so you have a clear space to work and move safely. Similarly, these initial practices prepare the ground for the deep work of practice.
The Secret: Understanding, Not Force
So, whatever meditation method you practice, you must first recognize that the nature of the mind is to be scattered. We must remain constantly aware of this quality. If you look deeply and wisely at this fact, you will see it clearly. When I say 'deeply', I mean to investigate it with profound attention.
The mind rebels when we try to look inward because for so long it has only looked outward. To put it simply, it becomes agitated. This agitation might not appear on the first day, when the initial attempt can bring a surprising calm. But for many, even the first day is a struggle. This could be due to a lack of practice in recent past lives. The journey of rebirth is endless, so while you may have meditated in distant lives, you may not have in recent ones. If someone achieves quick mental concentration, it's often a sign of practice from recent lives resurfacing, a signal that this is a path you can and should continue. But do not be discouraged if it doesn't come easily. Thinking, 'I haven't meditated in past lives, so I am not fit for this,' is like digging a pit for yourself to fall into. Whether you have a habit from the past or not, everyone must practice. The training itself is what matters.
Let me share a simple analogy to help you understand. Imagine you start a new job, and there is a person there who constantly scolds you, no matter what you do. You feel angry, you want to shout back, maybe even hit them. Then, after a few days, someone tells you, 'That person is mentally unwell, they have a psychological disorder.' From that day on, would you still get angry when they scold you? No. Why not? Because you now have an understanding of their nature. Your anger and irritation disappear. Before you understood, you reacted. Once you understood, you found peace. This is exactly how you must approach your mind.
The Futility of Forcing Stillness
Our difficulty in achieving mental concentration is caused by this very lack of understanding. Imagine I give you a ball and tell you to hold it underwater by force. You can do it for a while, but the moment you let go, doesn't the ball shoot back up to the surface? Trying to forcibly suppress thoughts is just like that. The moment your effort wavers, the thoughts will surge back, perhaps even more forcefully.
You cannot simply block a flow of water indefinitely. Even a large dam must have a spillway to release pressure. Water will always find a way out. The mind is the same. We must understand it, not just try to dam it up. As you practice calmness meditation, constantly remember this: the nature of the mind is to scatter with thoughts of the past, present, or future. This scattering comes in many forms.
Recognizing the Roots of Wandering Thoughts
We can also classify these wandering thoughts as defilements, or kilesa. Thoughts from the past can arise from attachment, anger, or delusion. In fact, all thoughts, whether past, present, or future, are fueled by the three unwholesome roots, or akusala mula: lobha (greed or attachment), dosa (hatred or aversion), and moha (delusion or ignorance).
If we look deeper, aversion can manifest as jealousy. Greed can manifest as craving for possessions or sensual pleasures. All these different kinds of thoughts come to the surface. But for your practice, you only need to hold the general understanding: it is the nature of the mind to wander. That is simply how it is.
So, if your mental concentration is weak, tell yourself, 'It is because I have not properly understood the nature of my mind. I will start my practice again today with this new understanding.' This applies to everyone: those who have practiced for a long time and gained results, those who have gained some results, and those who feel they have gained none at all. If you are new, you too can start today. Realize that any problem with mental concentration comes from not truly understanding the mind.
A Practical Guide to Effortless Focus
The moment you truly understand this, you will not have to struggle to concentrate your mind. The effort becomes lighter, and the practice becomes easy. The mind will begin to settle on its own. Its scattering will gradually, systematically decrease. But you must practice continuously. If you practice for one day and then stop for a week, you will not get results. Your daily duties may cause you to miss a day here and there, and that is not a problem. But you should make a firm determination to practice consistently.
This understanding is not just an intellectual idea. When I say, 'this is the nature of the mind,' the words travel through your ears and form an idea in your head. That is not true understanding. True understanding, true realization, grows over time with practice. Once it dawns, you will be like the person who is no longer angered by the unwell man. No matter how many thoughts arise, you will not be disturbed, you will not get angry, you will not be scattered. You will simply settle into a state of balance and focus. This is the nature of the mind when it is skillfully handled. From there, your spiritual journey can proceed with ease and freedom, without any obstacles.
Let's take a practical example. Say you choose to meditate on a word, like 'Empty' or the traditional mantra 'Buddho.' With this new understanding in place, place your attention, perhaps at the point between your eyebrows, and mindfully repeat your chosen word. 'Empty...' 'Empty...' The mind may wander. Recognize this: 'Ah, that is the nature of the mind.' Then gently bring your focus back. 'Empty...' Again. 'Empty...' Or, if you use 'Buddho,' you can visualize an image of the Buddha in your mind and repeat with awareness, 'Buddho...'
The most important thing in Samatha meditation is to do this mindfully. Don't rush the word, but don't be lazy or slow either. Simply repeat it with a simple, free, and relaxed attention. When you do this correctly each day, perhaps after your morning or evening chanting, the mind will begin to find its own balance. If you practice at 5 AM, try to do it at 5 AM every day. If you practice at 9 PM, do it at 9 PM every day. By practicing with this understanding of the mind, you will surely develop calm and mental concentration.
The Fruits of Practice and a Call to Begin Anew
With this foundation, the various results of practice can manifest. For those practicing certain techniques, signs like inner lights may or may not appear; that is a separate topic. For those on other paths, the fruits of that practice will arise. Whatever you expect, the core benefits of samadhi, or concentration, and one-pointedness will develop. This provides the entry point to deeper states, whether they be the jhanas (meditative absorptions), psychic abilities, or profound insights.
You must make the effort. There is no barrier of race, caste, religion, or age. Practice without fear, and you can achieve these results. There are many who have followed these instructions and now experience states of deep calm and mental concentration. From this point, you can progress even further.
The purpose of this teaching is to show you how to achieve mental concentration without exhausting yourself. I feel for those who struggle, feeling helpless or confused because they put in so much effort with no result. As we've discussed before, you must question your mind: 'Why am I not becoming concentrated?' Your own mind will give you the answer: 'Is it because I have a lack of understanding about the nature of the mind?' When you receive that answer, begin your practice with this new wisdom. This is the motivation I wanted to offer today, to help anyone who has felt their practice become stale, or has given up and only listens to teachings. Let this renew your effort and your energy.
As you engage in this practice, remember to maintain your other supportive activities, like chanting. Prepare your environment to remove obstacles to stillness. Understand these points and act accordingly. This teaching was given today to rekindle your effort, to break through any laziness, listlessness, or discouragement. From today, move forward with your meditation, grounded in this understanding, to achieve true mental concentration.
For those who wish to explore these teachings further, our articles are available for you to read. You can find them on our websites, and the links are available in the description and on our social media pages. We will continue to offer more teachings from different perspectives in the future.
May the power of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, the Triple Gem, bless you with the ability to understand these matters well and to act upon them. I conclude today’s teaching.
We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.
Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.
May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
