SELF-EXAMINATION (Anguttara Nikaya 10:51) If, O monks, a monk is not skilled in knowing the ways of others’ minds, he should resolve, “I must become skilled in knowing the ways of my own mind.” Thus, monks, should you train yourselves. And how is a monk skilled in knowing the ways of his own mind? It is just as if a woman or a man, young, youthful and fond of ornaments, would look at their face in a clean, bright mirror or in a bowl of clear water. If they then see any dust or dirt, they will make all effort to remove it. But if no dust or dirt is seen, they will be glad about it, and their wish satisfied, they will think, “How good! I am clean!” Similarly, monks, for a monk self-examination is very helpful for the growth of wholesome qualities: “Am I often covetous or often not covetous? Do I often have ill will in my heart or am I often free of it? Am I often immersed in sloth and torpor or am I often free of it? Am I excited or often free of excitement? Am I often in doubt or often free of doubt? Am I often angry or often free of anger? Is my mind often defiled by unwholesome thoughts or often free of defilements? Is my body often restless or often free of restlessness? Am I often lazy or often energetic? Am I often unconcentrated or often concentrated?” When, by such self-examination, a monk finds that he is often covetous, full of ill will, slothful, excited, doubtful, angry, mentally defiled, bodily restless, lazy and unconcentrated, then he should apply his utmost zeal and energy, effort and exertion, as well as unremitting mindfulness and clear comprehension, to the abandoning of all those evil, unwholesome qualities. Just as a man whose clothes or turban are on fire would apply his utmost zeal and energy, effort and exertion, as well as mindfulness and clear comprehension, so that he may extinguish the fire; even so, the monk should apply his utmost zeal and energy ... for the abandoning of those evil, unwholesome qualities. But if, on examining himself, that monk finds that he is more often without covetousness and ill will, more often free from sloth and torpor, free from excitement and doubt; more often free from anger; and finds that his mind is more often undefiled and his body free of restlessness; that he is more often energetic and well concentrated—then grounding himself firmly in all these wholesome qualities, he should make a further effort for the destruction of the taints.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 02:21:07 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015