Why the Monkeys Washed out Their Ears
Photo: Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives C00900
“Does ānāpānasati explore the subconscious mind in any way?”
~ Response by Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu ~
If we have practiced ānāpānasati correctly, deeply, and successfully until reaching the level where we are well-versed or expert in ānāpānasati, then the understanding that has been developed through this expert practice of ānāpānasati will remain as merely subconscious understanding or experience, so that whenever a situation arises in life, the understanding that has come from the practice of ānāpānasati will be available for dealing with the problem.
You should know that the subconscious has two aspects – the wholesome and the unwholesome, or the beneficial and the harmful. One can experience how the subconscious can help us and harm us. Through really practicing ānāpānasati, one will have the deep experience of impermanence, of dukkha-ness, and not-self. This understanding will then be subconscious so that whatever we meet in life, we will know it as impermanent, being inherently dukkha and not-self. In this way this subconscious understanding or experience will be solely beneficial. And all the harmful unwholesome aspects of the subconsciousness will be calmed away; they will disappear. There will remain only a subconscious which is able to understand impermanence, dukkha-ness, and not-self. So it will be a beneficial subconscious.
The unwholesome or harmful aspect of the subconscious, every time it activates or functions, will do something harmful or dangerous to life. It leads to life experiencing dukkha and stress and all kinds of problems. But that aspect of the subconscious which is correct, which is wholesome and beneficial, leads to dealing with life correctly and brings about a perfection of everything we need in life – not what we desire but what we need. This correct or beneficial aspect of the subconscious is called ‘pāramī’ (that which leads to perfection). Pāramīs are often translated as ‘perfections’ but they mean ‘that which brings perfection.’ The unwholesome harmful aspects of the subconscious are called the anusayas (defiled tendencies). You can call them ‘a collection of evil and harmfulness.’ The other is a collection of that which is useful and healthy and beneficial. If we understand the subconscious in this way, it will make it easier for our study and practice. There is the pāramī aspect which leads to perfection of what we need and the defiled collection of unwholesome tendencies which just makes more problems.
Ordinary people have a subconscious which is just these defiled tendencies. If people are one hundred percent ordinary, then they have one hundred percent anusaya subconsciousness. If they’re totally worldly then that’s all their subconscious will be. They’re always ready to love, get angry, hate, fear, be envious, be jealous, and worry even in their dreams.
(From the retreat “Why the Monkeys Washed out Their Ears,” as translated from the Thai by Santikaro)
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Dhamma Questions & Responses sessions were offered by Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu in 1990-1991 to foreign meditators attending Suan Mokkh International Dharma Hermitage courses.
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