“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 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. This is the same with the different object of kammaṭṭhāna, such as maranānusati (contemplation on death).

The Teachings of Ajahn Suchart.

10 May 2023

“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 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. This is the same with the different object of kammaṭṭhāna, such as maranānusati (contemplation on death). 

The Buddha 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 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 can 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. But when you face with a certain 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 different kinds of kammaṭṭhāna, different kinds of medicines.   

There are four basic medicines that we should maintain: 

(1) 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; 

(2) Next, when we have lust, we have to contemplate on asubha; 

(3) When we have laziness, we have to contemplate on death; and 

(4) When we have anger, we have to contemplate on loving-kindness. Each medicine will cure our specific problem. Then we come back to the 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, Aug 15, 2018.”

By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto

www.phrasuchart.com

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