Categories: Maintaining Mindfulness
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
For some time now, through our collection of spiritual teachings, we have shared insights from our direct experience, focusing on how to engage with spirituality in a practical way. Our approach has always been to move beyond just books and theories, simplifying complex ideas without diluting them.
We’ve aimed to explain the path of spiritual development, through both tranquility (Samatha) and insight (Vipassanā), in a way that is simple and easy to understand, without emphasizing difficult Pali words or academic language. We have received much feedback from many of you who have put these teachings into practice, and you can see these shared experiences in the comments. We also strive to answer any questions that our articles may not have addressed through our WhatsApp contact.
Across the hundreds of practical teachings we have shared, there is one word that appears again and again: the feeling of mental lightness that arises as we develop our practice. This mental ease is an incredibly precious state of being. It’s something we are all searching for, and to put it simply, it is something that cannot be bought with money. The peace that wealth can buy is temporary.
For instance, you might work hard for five or six days a week, exhausted by your job and home life, and then seek relief by going on a trip, eating, drinking, and singing to release your stress. This brings a certain lightness to the mind and body. But the inner peace we speak of goes far beyond that.
An Immediate Reward: Experiencing Peace in This Very Life
Furthermore, many people cannot afford a weekly getaway. The beauty of this path is that the method to quickly lighten one’s mind is available to everyone, both those who can and cannot take such trips. We have explained how to achieve this from the very first teaching to the most recent.
This experience of mental lightness knows no boundaries of race, religion, age, gender, or wealth; it is something many have already felt. From this, you can understand how powerful this spiritual path is in delivering results in this very life. In Buddhism, we call this diṭṭhadhammika kamma, which means an intentional action that bears fruit right here and now. You are able to enjoy this experience in the present moment.
As we’ve said, you cannot buy this freedom and happiness, no matter how hard you try. It is a liberation that exists within your own mind. This happiness can be attained through the series of mindfulness teachings we offer. Our foundational teachings, like the one titled ‘Watch Your Mind in Silence,’ are an excellent starting point for newcomers, followed by the others in the playlist.
Practices like the ‘Third Eye’ or the ‘Practical Meditation that Leads to the Brahma Worlds’ also allow you to experience this profound lightness. When you feel this ease, a natural quietness descends. The stream of thoughts slows down. Sometimes, you might only perceive one or two thoughts, or perhaps ten, but it’s a significant reduction. Reflect on how valuable this freedom is and what a pleasant, joyful feeling it brings.
Looking Inward: The True Source of Your Inner Freedom
Now, ask yourself: where does this feeling of mental lightness come from? Who gives it to you? Is it a god you worship? A celestial being, or Brahma? Are there other divine beings or spirits who granted it to you? Or did it come from a demon, a serpent-being (nāga), a kumbhāṇḍa, a shrine priest, or someone involved in astrology or the occult? No. The truth is, this is something that you yourself generate from within your own mind.
As spiritual guides, our role is simply to teach you how to do it and how to apply it practically. But the ability to create that state lies with you and you alone. No one else can bring it forth for you. Even a Buddha’s role is to perform this same function: to show the way.
Therefore, you must cultivate it with enthusiasm. For some, this freedom and happiness arise within the first few minutes of their very first meditation session. If you feel this freedom, even for a brief moment, it means you are making progress. It is a sign that you are capable of developing even further. This freedom is something you can continue to expand.
The Telltale Signs of a Liberated Mind
This is the crucial point to understand. As I mentioned earlier, when you develop spiritually through tranquility and insight, this experience of mental lightness is something everyone eventually encounters. Sometimes this freedom is felt in our physical body, in our head, at the crown of our head, and throughout our entire mind. In this state of lightness, observe your mind carefully.
Is there any lust or greed (in Pali, rāga)? Are there any hateful thoughts (dvesha)? Are there thoughts of delusion (moha)? You will find they are absent. In this context, we are not speaking of delusion in the complex Abhidhamma sense, but simply that at this moment, the unwholesome side of the mind is not active. Instead, what has arisen is wholesomeness (kusala). You can never attain this wholesome state of lightness while your mind is filled with defilements (kilesa).
Overcoming Attachments: The Direct Path to Mental Lightness
Consider this: as long as you are bound by attachments, to your child, grandchild, parents, spouse, property, job, or vehicles, your mind is not truly free. You are weighed down. Now, try to step away from these attachments for just a few minutes. Even as you read these words, close your eyes and feel the mental lightness and freedom that arises. Experience it for yourself.
The lesson here is clear: as long as we are attached to something, we cannot find mental peace. The ease we seek remains distant. It’s the same with anger. If you are holding onto anger right now, do you feel mental freedom? Not at all. Similarly, if you harbor vengeful thoughts toward someone, every time you recall them, this lightness will disappear.
However, if you practice mindfulness as taught by the Buddha, maintaining awareness and clear comprehension (Sati-Sampajañña) according to the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Satipaṭṭhāna), you will find a freedom emerge. In that freedom, look again. Is there craving, sexual desire, or what we call love? You will find they are not there. You experience this profound mental lightness precisely in the place where these things are absent.
A Taste of Freedom: From Mental Lightness to Ultimate Liberation
From this, you can begin to imagine the ultimate peace. If letting go of these things for just a short while brings so much comfort and happiness, what must the liberation of Nibbāna (Nirvana) be like? For many, this is an inconceivable state. But by comparing it to the peace you experience in meditation, you get a small glimpse.
Many people believe that happiness is found in worldly attachments. They think that to be happy, we need possessions, relationships, and wealth. A person without wealth thinks, ‘If only I were rich, I would be happy.’
But when you look at the wealthy, you see they are not truly happy either; they are searching for happiness in other things. This is a game we play, always looking at someone else’s situation relative to our own, striving to get to where they are. Instead, look at your own mind.
If you have experienced this mental lightness, that is true progress. It means you have developed through a calming practice (Samatha) or an insight practice (Vipassanā). This proves you can develop your meditation and spiritual life even further, potentially reaching the stages of awakening known as Stream-enterer (Sotāpanna), Once-returner (Sakadāgāmī), Non-returner (Anāgāmī), and the fully enlightened being (Arahant).
Your Commitment: A Call to Consistent, Courageous Practice
Therefore, for those of you reading this, start today. Make an effort and cultivate diligence (vīriya). Meditate every day without fail. Try not to miss even one day. You may be a busy layperson with work and family responsibilities, but no matter what, make a firm determination (adhiṭṭhāna) to practice daily.
Set aside a time, perhaps early in the morning, for a calming meditation. As for insight meditation based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, we have taught how you can practice it throughout the entire 24-hour day, in complete alignment with the Buddha’s method. Try this approach. None of this effort is wasted. The happiness and freedom in your mind will only continue to grow.
If you have felt this mental lightness, as I have mentioned repeatedly, it means you can develop your spiritual life further. Therefore, do not listen to those who lack experience or have not developed spiritually. Do not be fooled by their words and stop your practice. I have seen many people, even those considered ‘educated,’ express such opinions without any direct experience. They listen to what others say and then discourage you: ‘Don’t meditate, it will make you crazy,’ or ‘You will get sick.’
They become an obstacle, a tempter (Māra), preventing your progress and creating unwholesome kamma for themselves. Those who do this will never find an environment to develop their own practice. Do not fall into such a state. In our teachings, we explain from the very beginning what experiences to expect and how to face them without fear.
We even provide a WhatsApp number for practical questions that our articles don’t cover, because we are committed to helping you develop your spiritual path.
Please keep this understanding in mind. If you have experienced this inner freedom, this happiness, this mental lightness, even for a few seconds, and felt that wonderful sense of ease, know that you can increase it. Therefore, be sure to follow the methods we have shared. This was the point I wanted to clarify for you today, which is why we titled this teaching, ‘When the Mind Becomes Light, It Means You Are Progressing.’
As we will continue to offer teachings on various topics and from different angles, I will conclude this particular discussion here. May you all have the strength and blessings of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, the Triple Gem, to practice these points diligently, to realize your own happiness and freedom. May you be well.
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!.
