Thought

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

Thought in itself is not an enemy of meditation. It is a natural phenomenon. It becomes a problem when we are unaware of thought as simply thought, grasp onto it and give it an undeserved significance.

The body feels a cool draught and involuntarily shivers. The ear hears a sound and the thought ‘bird singing’ arises unbidden in the mind. Both the shiver and the perception are simple reactions to stimuli: one physical and one mental. In both cases, a mind unprotected by mindfulness and wisdom will tend to add something onto the initial reaction. In the case of shiver the add-on may be a wave of aversion at the discomfort. In the case of a mental perception, the add-on may be fuelled by discomfort or pleasure but will usually manifest as a train of thought. In meditation an initial reaction thought such as ‘bird singing’ is not an obstruction to meditation, but allowing the mind to proliferate on the basis of the thought certainly is. “Bird singing —> beautiful sound —> reminds me of that bird on our hotel balcony last summer —> what a great holiday that was —> there was that day that we ….” All within a short moment.

Letting go of distractions is an important skill to develop. Even more important is learning how to reduce the need to let go. Developing a clear, sharp awareness in the present moment allows initial reactive thoughts to pass away without trace.

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"Food for the Heart", a series of Dhamma teachings handwritten weekly is posted on the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives page with Ajahn's kind permission.

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For other teachings by Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro, please visit the Panyaprateep Foundation website.