“A Free Mind in the Presence of Concepts” with Benjamin Hohl this Sunday

Dear Community,

Sunday 10am Community Practice & Discussion

Last week we explored the inherent limitations of the mind’s attempt to conceptualize reality — something Ajahn Amaro describes as “Pour[ing] three-dimensional tea into a two-dimensional drawing of a tea cup” (see referenced passage here in last week’s newsletter). This week Benjamin will expand on this theme, exploring “A Free Mind in the Presence of Concepts,” drawing from Venerable Analayo’s writings in Satipatthana Meditation: A Practice Guide (freely available here):

Mindfulness can coexist with the employment of concepts. In fact the instructions in the Satipaṭṭhāna-sutta [The Discourse on the Establishing of Mindfulness], whose function is precisely to foster the establishing of mindfulness, clearly encourage the wise use of concepts…

The forward thrust of satipaṭṭhāna towards liberation does not require keeping the mind free from concepts. The main task is to cultivate a free mind even in the presence of concepts. The path to such freedom is based on the skilful use of certain concepts, namely those that trigger insight. In other words, our attitude towards concepts and thoughts is best informed by the distinction between unwholesome and wholesome types. Although we need to beware of confusing actual practice with just thinking about the practice, wholesome thoughts and concepts can serve as a tool for progress, and in the form of clearly knowing are an integral dimension of satipaṭṭhāna meditation.

The input provided by sampajañña, clearly knowing, could be illustrated with the example of yeast, due to which the dough of mindfulness practice can grow into the bread of liberating insight. Without yeast, the dough will result only in flatbread. Yeast on its own, however, will not be nourishing at all. It is when the cultivation of mindfulness comes in combination with the right amount of the yeast of clearly knowing that the tasty and nourishing bread of insight will result…

In the case of contemplation of the body as the first satipaṭṭhāna, for example, the task is not to break through to an ultimately true experience of the body that leaves behind all concepts. Instead, the task is to see through deluding concepts with the help of wise concepts. This takes place by cultivating clearly knowing in conjunction with mindfulness. In short, not only can early Buddhist mindfulness coexist with the use of concepts, satipaṭṭhāna meditation even has to employ concepts in order to lead to liberation. — Analayo. Satipatthana Meditation (enhanced and non enhanced): A Practice Guide (pp. 28-30). Windhorse Publications Ltd. Kindle Edition.

All are welcome! Registration and Zoom information available here.

With metta (loving-kindness),
Minneapolis Insight