Bring your mind to the present

“Bring your mind to the present”

Question :  Than Ajahn, instead of using ‘Buddho’ can we be mindful of our breath?

Than Ajahn:  Yes. There are some 40 subjects of meditation. You just choose one that is suitable for you, which you are switch to and from while you are doing your daily activities. If you are using the breath as a subject, when you are performing your daily activities you might find it difficult to focus on your breathing. You might have to focus on your physical activities instead, such as your body movement. It all depends on your ability to focus. Some people like to use mantra as a subject, so they just keep using the mantra. Some like to focus on the body, watch the body, so they keep on watching the body. Every movement of the body is being watched to keep your mind from wandering to other things. The method that find useful that will bring your mind to the present, to be here and now, and not to think about other things, is one that is suitable for you.

Question (F):  When we recite the mantra ‘Buddho’, do I focus on the sound of it?

Than Ajahn:  Just concentrate on the reciting itself because the reciting is a form of thinking. If you concentrate on this thinking then you cannot think of any other thing. It is just like when you are singing, what do you do? You just concentrate on the song you are singing, right? It is the same.

Just like chanting, you concentrate on the chanting. If you find concentrating on the mantra is too difficult because it is repetitious and if you want something with more variety, then you can use something else. You can go Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā sambuddhassa. Keep repeating that. This is to keep the mind occupied, so that the mind cannot think about anything else.

When you sit down, you can either continue on with your chanting or mantra, or if you feel tired and want to stop, you can just watch your breath instead. Be aware of your in and out breath. Don’t try to control your breath. Leave the breath alone. You just want to use the breath as an anchor to keep the mind from wandering and thinking aimlessly. You want to focus on just one thing at a time.

Question :  Does this mean that we can switch from one thing to another as long as it has something to do with our body?

Than Ajahn:  Yes. Something that is here and now. Be in the present. Don’t wander to the past or to the future. Don’t think about the past, don’t think about the future because when you do, you tend to have kilesa arise. If you just look at your body, just be aware of it to prevent you from the mind from thinking. When you sit, you cannot look at the body anymore because the body is not doing anything then you watch the breath, or you can use the mantra instead.

Sometimes you cannot watch your breath, you cannot use the mantra, you might use chanting first to calm your mind. It depends on how your mind behaves at that particular time. You have to find the right kind of meditation object to calm the mind.

Question :  When we watch the mental state like aversion, do we watch the cause of the aversion?

Than Ajahn:  Yes. The cause of your aversion is desire. You want something, and when you don’t get it, aversion arises. You feel angry. If you can cut down your desire then your anger will be lessened.

By Ajaan Suchart Abhijāto
www.phrasuchart.com

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