The Mind Similar to Light

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

I was never an enthusiastic student of the hard sciences. One topic in physics did, however, capture my attention. I discovered that light could be understood as being composed of either particles or waves. I was fascinated that a single entity could be seen in two apparently mutually exclusive ways. The best explanation I found was this: if you ask light particle questions it will give particle answers. If you ask it wave questions it will give wave answers.

Later, I considered that the mind is somewhat similar to light in this regard. If you ask the mind content questions it gives content answers; if you ask process questions it gives process answers.

Content questions are important. We need to ask ourselves questions like ‘On what grounds do I take this to be true?’, ‘In this situation what is the right thing to do?’ Is this wholesome? Is thinking in this way on this topic taking me closer to liberation from suffering, or tying me more firmly to it?

But content questions can only take us a certain distance along the Buddhist path. We also need to know how to shift our focus away from content to process. We ask ‘What conditions the arising of this mental state? What conditions its disappearance?’ Can I observe this arising and passing away – the universal nature of all phenomena – in real time as a direct experience? It is in shifting emphasis from content to process that our Dhamma practice becomes profound.

- - ❖ - -

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

- - ❖ - -

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