“Four basic medicines.”

The Teachings of Ajahn Suchart

8 July 2024

“Four basic medicines.”

Question from Brisbane, Australia: "If we only rely on maranānusati (contemplation on death), how far can we develop the practice, in both samadhi and wisdom aspects?"  

Than Ajahn:  "Contemplation of the various kammaṭṭhāna are like medicines that you have to take from time to time. Like when you have a stomach ache, you have to take medicine for the stomach ache. If you have a headache, you have to take medicine for the headache. There are different kinds of medicines. It is the same with the different object of kammaṭṭhāna, such as maranānusati (contemplation on death). 

The Buddha has said that we need different kammaṭṭhāna to cure our hindrances. Like when we have sexual desire, we have to contemplate on asubha, the repulsive aspect of the body. When we have anger, we have to contemplate on mettā (loving-kindness). 

When we are lazy, we should contemplate on death because when we think of death, we’ll know that we’re running out of time. So, we’d better become energetic and start to practice. These are the different kinds of medicines you use from time to time, depending on the situation. 

What you normally use as your main focus or point of development of your mindfulness is your body or a mantra. 

When you face with other situation such as anger, lust/sexual desire, or laziness/sloth or torpor, then you’ll have to switch the object of your mindfulness to handle the situation. You need these different kinds of kammaṭṭhāna, different kinds of medicines.   

There are four basic medicines that we should maintain. 

First, recollection of the qualities of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṅgha. This is to cure our problem when we lose faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṅgha. This will give us the energy and it will regenerate our faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṅgha. 

Next, when we have lust, we’ll have to contemplate on asubha. When we have laziness, we’ll have to contemplate on death. 

When we have anger, we’ll have to contemplate on loving-kindness. These medicines will cure our specific problems. 

Then, we come back to our main object of mindfulness which can be the recitation of a mantra, watching our body or observing the breath (ānāpānasati) when we’re sitting down."

“Dhamma in English, Q&A session, Aug 15, 2018.”

By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto

www.phrasuchart.com

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