Mental Discipline: “… A disciplined mind brings happiness …” ~ Buddha

mental discipline buddha shukman

Having the {mental} discipline to infuse our everyday actions with {perennial} wisdom would bring a life of peace and harmony …

A brief reflection on this claim affirms it … even common sense would have us conclude that it is true …

So, it is not surprising that this claim happens to capture the essential elements of Buddha’s teaching to dissolve suffering: “… moral conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom …” which in turn are the three essential elements of Buddha’s Eightfold Path …

And the quote “… let us vow to …. not create, and/or add-to, ill-will … be an ongoing source of harmlessness … and live this vow to develop/deepen my humility … which serves me well under all circumstances …” seems to encapsulate the essence of at least the first element: moral conduct  … which we explored in two of our recent posts: Right Livelihood & Ethical Conduct and Right Action, Right Speech … & Patience

So, today let’s explore mental discipline … which is about Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration

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Mental Discipline: Right Effort – Cultivating Meditative Awareness

“… In our right effort we are developing the capacity to work on the unwholesome …” ~ Henry Shukman

mental discipline shukman

In his podcast episode (from Mountain Cloud Zen Center), Henry Shukman says Right Effort “… consists in working to diminish unwholesome states of mind or being. Likewise, the practitioner should work to cultivate states of mind that promote the arisal of wholesome speech and action. Once they get a taste of the true Dharma, and the delusion of “I am” has been seen through, the causes of suffering subside, giving way to the ever-arising causes of wellbeing …”  …

Clearing out unwholesome states or preventing these from arising … is yet another way to “… not create, and/or add-to, ill-will …” … plus consciously incorporating, embracing “new (not encountered before)” wholesome states while deepening those that are already within is being “…  an ongoing source of harmlessness …”

So with the mental discipline required to integrate this gem in our daily life we are naturally practicing Right Effort!

Mental Discipline: Right Mindfulness

“… bringing awareness back to the present moment whenever our minds wander …” ~ Henry Shukman

mental discipline shukman

In his podcast episode (from Mountain Cloud Zen Center), Henry Shukman says Right Mindfulness “… The original sanskrit word smrti, which often gets translated as “mindfulness,” also means “remembering to be aware.” Modern culture offers us many ways to distract ourselves when feelings of discomfort or unease arise. By ardently doing our best to stick to the practice, by bringing awareness back to the present moment whenever our minds wander, we can learn to remain at ease in a realm that is freer of judgment and allows space for distress, without needing to avoid it or push it away, and become more at peace with it …”

Indeed, “remembering to be aware” or “… bringing awareness back to the present moment whenever our minds wander …” – both requiring mental discipline – is what is constantly required when one wants to “… neither create nor add to ill-will …” … and the same “practice” is required to consciously ensure that one is being a “… source of harmlessness”

So, when we integrate this gem in our daily life we are naturally practicing Right Mindfulness!

To ensure that Right Mindfulness is appreciated in its fullness, Henry takes us on a deep dive through FIVE additional podcast episodes on this topic:

The Four Foundations of Mindfulness

“… Letting it be as it is, we have to drop the wish that it be otherwise …” ~ Henry Shukman

In his podcast episode (from Mountain Cloud Zen Center), Henry Shukman posits that “… To achieve concentration in practice, one must have established the four foundations of mindfulness. Having ardent alertness, clearly comprehending all that arises within and around the body, its feelings, the mind, and other phenomena, the practitioner overcomes the unwholesome states of mind that pose as hindrances to a fruitful practice …”

Dharmas within Dharmas

“… We observe the unfolding of our awareness like a butterfly … opening up its wings …” ~ Henry Shukman

In his podcast episode (from Mountain Cloud Zen Center), Henry Shukman posits that “… In our exploration of the Four Noble Truths, we have seen how the Buddha keeps re-slicing the pie, going into the nature of our human experience in yet more and more minute detail. By following his teaching, we learn to contextualize the imaginary scenes that it is the mind’s tendency to propel us into. We observe the unfolding of our awareness like a butterfly, sunning itself on a rock, opening up its wings …”

The Zone of Phenomena

“… The principle of zen is: body and mind fall away …” ~ Henry Shukman

mental discipline zone phenomena shukman

In his podcast episode (from Mountain Cloud Zen Center), Henry Shukman posits that “… Having reached the fourth aspect of mindfulness, which is the seventh fold of the Noble Eightfold Path, which is itself the fourth of the Four Noble Truths, we find that dharma gates are indeed countless. Buddha gave this, his first teaching upon having attained enlightenment, to those who required a gradualist guide to awakening. In zen, beneath the surface of myriad teachings, bare reality reveals itself to be uncompromisingly one …”

The Process of Letting Go of Everything

“… You can only see it when you are it …” ~ Henry Shukman

In his podcast episode (from Mountain Cloud Zen Center), Henry Shukman posits that “… Human beings tend to get constantly captivated by their “default mode network,” which can generate a continuous stream of internal commentary. To really be able to be present without an outward task: that is the basic meaning of the kind of mindfulness we are cultivating. Zen is a process for humans to realize their capacity to awaken out of their ordinary selves and discover the all-engulfing fire that flames through the unfolding of reality …”

Bringing the Mind Home

“… mindfulness … is a practice of becoming okay with what we have …” ~ Henry Shukman

mental discipline shukman

In his podcast episode (from Mountain Cloud Zen Center), Henry Shukman posits that “… The practice of mindfulness is not about adding something into our already busy lives that’s going to pick us up and make us feel better — it’s more a matter of becoming okay with what we have, and learning to meet the present moment and appreciate it just as it is, rather than seeking to augment it in some way. We can then encounter the hindrances that arise in meditation with an open and accepting mind …”

Finally, we move on to the last fold of the Eightfold Path: Right Concentration

Mental Discipline: Right Concentration

“… start to experience the intrinsically fulfilling wellbeing of the lotus flower …” ~ Henry Shukman

In his podcast episode (from Mountain Cloud Zen Center), Henry Shukman posits that “… The final fold in the Noble Eightfold Path is samadhi. This word sometimes gets translated as concentration, but it really means something more like wholeness or completeness or unification of awareness. When we concentrate our attention through practice on a single point, such as a koan, we eventually start to experience the intrinsically fulfilling wellbeing of the lotus flower, to use a traditional image, permeated from its roots throughout the tips of its petals with the same cool water in which it thrives in perfect stillness …”  …

The focused concentration of attention (mental discipline) to “… neither creating nor adding to ill-will …” while also intentionally – or consciously – being a “… source of harmlessness”  allows us to live with, or naturally practice, Right Concentration!

So, we find that in  living or practicing the quote “… let us vow to …. not create, and/or add-to, ill-will … be an ongoing source of harmlessness … and live this vow to develop/deepen my humility … which serves me well under all circumstances …” we are effectively integrating or living the 2nd essential element of Buddha’s Eightfold Path (mental discipline or Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration).

The gift of this simple and profound quote keeps unfolding 🙂

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As we’ve done since the COVID crisis began … we want to honor and highlight the “heroes” that continue to ensure our health and safety in the midst of the pandemic: Go Fund Me has organized various campaigns targeted towards the COVID-19 relief efforts. All of these campaigns are worthy of our attention … but for now we want to highlight TWO critical ones that we are supporting personally and also as Stillness Speaks (through donations):

We are all facing financial challenges but IF your situation allows you to donate and help then …

… please visit  Frontline Responders Fund’s Go Fund Me page … and help deliver crucial supplies to these frontline responders …

… and/or visit  America’s Food Fund Go Fund Me page and help feed the neighbors in need.

And, we again, express our deepest gratitude to a) the COVID-19 Frontline Responders (all the healthcare professionals – doctors, nurses, hospital/medical-services staff – firefighters, law enforcement, volunteers, and any/all the people involved in keeping the “system-at-large” functioning for ALL of us) … and b) Go Fund Me for organizing America’s Food Fund to feed the needy.

THANK YOU.

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May you continue to live a life of neither creating nor adding-to any ill-will … and …

May you be a source of harmlessness in your life’s daily rhythm … and in all your interactions with others … and …

May you remain safe and healthy as you navigate these troubling times.

 

Opening Buddha quote from Real Buddha Quotes.
Quote re ill-will and harmlessness: a Zen paraphrased quote – source unknown.
The text re “… three essential elements of Buddhist practice—moral conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom…” 
is based on The Noble Eightfold Path by Walpola Sri Rahula (Tricycle)
Images: (edited and logo added): Featured and 1) White-tailed Hillstar, Urochroa bougueri, two hummingbirds by OndrejProsicky, 2) , 3, 4) , 5 ) , 6) , 7) , 8) Lotus flowers petals, waterlily flora by Imaginechina-Tuchong. All purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our website/social channels (these images are not permitted to be shared separate from this post).
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