BEING AWARENESS
When meditating, if you come across interesting experiences do not try to make them happen again. You don’t want to re- experience second hand experiences. That will cause unnecessary agitation.
What you can experience is only what is happening in the present, now.
Samadhi on its own, is not worth achieving unless it helps in getting greater sati*.
When there is ‘hearing’ of something, keep your mind at the ear. You will know what it hears – no need to turn your attention out towards the object. Keep the mind at the ear and note what sensations arise at the ear.
No mind-state can last while you look at it. As soon as you look at it, it disappears.
Most important, the mind has to be in the present moment. Only then it can see paramattha. Truth. Ultimate reality.
A person with sati chooses simply what has better quality, whether it is his actions, words, speech or thoughts, and so the quality of his life improves.
If you do not do what you have to do with quality, it can destroy your whole life.
With sati you are aware, the moment you get excited, angry, upset, so it doesn’t grow to extreme limits. So you regain calmness and control more quickly.
At this point in time it is good to have a teacher to guide you.
Don’t try to get higher and higher in the practice but first try to maintain what you got.
When some memory (good or bad) comes what’s important is that you don’t let it affect you anymore. Just stay with the present moment.
*Sati: - Pali; Sanskrit smṛti. Smṛti originally meant "to remember," "to recollect," "to bear in mind, mindfulness."
mindfulness of the body (kaya);
mindfulness of feelings or sensations (vedanā);
mindfulness of mind or consciousness (citta);
mindfulness of dhammās.
- Cittanupassana
- Shwe O Min Sayadaw as a young monk
