This is the fifth session from a One-day Meditation Program for Children and Teenagers with guidance from Ven. Olande Ananda #OlandeAnanda via @TheHappyRajSaga @MindcultureGuru
Category: Dhammapada
Mind Control? Why Not, as Long as it is by You, Yourself?
Control Your Mind
The mind is very hard to check
and swift, it falls on what it wants.
The training of the mind is good,
a mind so tamed brings happiness.
The mind is very hard to perceive, extremely subtle, flits wherever it listeth. Let the wise person guard it; a guarded mind is conducive to happiness.
The Story
A devout woman, receiving instruction from the monks, attained Anàgàmi, the third stage of Sainthood, with supernormal powers such as reading others’ thoughts, even before the monks had gained their Deliverance. Understanding the physical needs of the monks, she ministered to them well. Before long they too attained Arahantship.
An avaricious monk, hearing of her powers, visited the place. She did everything he desired. The monk, fearing that evil thoughts might arise in him, went to the Buddha and reported the matter. The Buddha advised him to subdue his uncontrollable mind.
So what if you don’t?
- Controlling the mind is difficult. However, if you don’t you will not be able to be fully in control of your life.
- An unguarded mind leads to unhappiness.
- You would be always at the mercy of things that are happening in your environment and forces and be subject to them rather than be in control.
Is that what you want for yourself in life?
A restrained mind leads to happiness. Learn to check your mind, your feelings, your emotions, your inclinations, your passions. Such a check would ensure you only think, say and do exactly what you want to. Meditation can help you get there.
You can read other posts in this Dhammapada series here and here.
Sources: Dhammapada: Chapter 3 - Mind (Citta Vagga); verse 35 Treasury of Truth and Metta.lk
Still Your Fluttering Mind
Your Fluttering Mind
As fish from watery home
is drawn and cast upon the land,
even so flounders this mind
while Mara’s Realm abandoning.
Like a fish that is drawn from its watery abode and thrown upon land, even so does this mind flutter. Hence should the realm of the passions be shunned.
The Story
A monk was overcome by evil thoughts. The Buddha admonished him to subdue his mind. The first part of the advice is here: Get a Grip.
So what if you don’t?
- You don’t want to be seen as a fish out of water, do you?
- For one thing, that state is not a pleasant one to be in.
- You would be unable to focus on studies, work or on your goals and realizing your dreams.
- You wouldn’t be able to work to a plan or to do anything on time.
- You’d be always late, always behind and as a result, always stressed.
- Without controlling the mind, you’d lose control of your life and existence too because it is your mind that controls your thoughts, word and actions.
- And you wouldn’t be able to relish in any success, achievement or feel the satisfaction of having seen something through.
Is that what you want for yourself in life?
If you don’t want to flutter around like a fish out of water, and become a victim of your own passions, you must learn to control your mind. To make it still. To learn how to be still, in thoughts, words and without any action. Meditation can help you get there.
Sources: Dhammapada: Chapter 3 - Mind (Citta Vagga); verse 34 Treasury of Truth and Metta.lk
Get a Grip! Straighten Your Fickle Mind
The Wise Person Straightens The Mind
Mind agitated, wavering,
hard to guard and hard to check,
one of wisdom renders straight
as arrow-maker a shaft.
The flickering, fickle mind, difficult to guard, difficult to control – the wise person straightens it as a fletcher straightens an arrow.
The Story
A monk was overcome by evil thoughts. The Buddha admonished him to subdue his mind.
So what if you don’t?
- Obviously you wouldn’t be seen as wise!
- You would be unable to focus on studies, work or on your goals and realizing your dreams.
- You wouldn’t be able to work to a plan or to do anything on time.
- You’d be always late, always behind and as a result, always stressed.
- Without controlling the mind, you’d lose control of your life and existence too because it is your mind that controls your thoughts, word and actions.
- And you wouldn’t be able to relish in any success, achievement or feel the satisfaction of having seen something through.
Is that what you want for yourself in life?
If not, learn to control your fickle mind. Meditation can help you get there.
Sources: Dhammapada: Chapter 3 - Mind (Citta Vagga); verse 33 Treasury of Truth and Metta.lk
Be Alone and Still
via Be Alone and Still — Eddie Two Hawks @TheHappyRajSaga @MindcultureGuru
Be alone and still within yourself, Have no selfish desires, and the ego disappears. This is true joy. The Dhammapada
Time to Clear Your Mind
via Time to Clear Your Mind — Eddie Two Hawks @TheHappyRajSaga @MindcultureGuru
There are those who are ashamed of things they shouldn’t be ashamed of, and those people who are not ashamed of those things they should be ashamed of. Such people are following the wrong path. The Dhammapada Orchid, Eddie’s Garden Photos A gift from a very kind neighbor
The evil-doer suffers here and hereafter…
He mourns here, he mourns hereafter;
in both world the evil-doer mourns seeing his own evil deeds.~Dhammapada 1-10, Yamaka Vagga
From Dharmmarthadeepanee, A Commentary on the Dhammapada, 1936
Photo by Rene Asmussen from Pexels
Lust pierces the hearts of the undeveloped…
As rain finds into an ill-thatched house, so passion finds access into an untrained mind.
As rain does not find access into a well-thatched house, so passion does not find access into a well-trained mind.
~Dhammapada 1-9, Yamaka Vagga
From Dharmmarthadeepanee, A Commentary on the Dhammapada, 1936
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
It is difficult to realise the truth…
Those who mistake fruitless for fruitful, and fruitful for fruitless, and who abide with wrong-mindedness, shall not realize the Truth.
Those who know fruitful as fruitful, and fruitless as fruitless, and who abide with right-mindedness, shall realise the Truth.
~Dhammapada 1-8 , Yamaka Vagga
From Dharmmarthadeepanee, A Commentary on the Dhammapada, 1936
Meditating into Happiness 