Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • The Removal of Distracting Thoughts

    MeditatingYogis, especially beginners, are often discouraged by distracting thoughts. They say that meditation is difficult and they want to give up because of distracting thoughts. Sincere yogis, can spend long periods sitting, walking or in other postures, apparently meditating but in fact, just thinking. Thoughts of the past, present and future keep arising and the…

  • Aasava, Jhaana, Kusala

    The suttas teach yogis about the practice for removing the aasava-taints so that kilesa-mental defilements no longer cause suffering. Samatha meditation also known as jhaana-absorption practice may temporarily suppress the taints but does not eliminate them. The complete removal of the taints is achieved with vipassana insight, the opening of the Dhamma eye of the…

  • Wise Attention to Eliminate Aasava-Taints

    Majjhimanikaaya MN.2. Sabbaasava Sutta: All the Taints (สัพพาสวสังวรสูตร)3. “Bhikkhus, I say that the destruction of the taints is for one who knows and sees, not for one who does not know and see. Who knows and what? Wise attention and unwise attention. When one attends unwisely, unarisen taints arise and arisen taints increase. When one…

  • Aasava – Taints are like a Seeping Abscess

    There have been moments when the mind is relatively clear and concentrated, peaceful and calm. Then an object that activates lust or anger arises and with that a subtle sensation in the chest area and at the back of the throat reminiscent of sickness also arises. Then sati-mindfulness and samaadhi-concentration declines and awareness becomes cloudy…

  • Noting the Object

    I read a few pages from Ven. Saydaw U Pandita’s book The State of Mind Called Beautiful. This is a great book for yogis practicing the technique of Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. I found many excellent passages. The following instructions struck a chord with me.p. 88. A meditator’s mind must continuously enter and penetrate the object.…

  • Dream Visions

    When I was 19, before I became Buddhist, I had three dream visions in one night. I woke each time deeply impressed. I can still remember these visions clearly almost 30 years later. I agree, I’m not a good artist, nor a skilful user of Gimp, the painting program. Mountain top storm Standing on the…

  • Escape the Sinking Burning Ship

    The following simile is one of my attempts to explain what motivates me to take the Dhamma journey, simplify life, meditate and so on. People see things in quite different ways, with different values, different assumptions and knowledge about reality. This leads people to adopt different behaviour and morality. Because of how we view reality…

  • Strategic Intent Supported by Attention

    Our habitual mental states, our daily intentions and inclinations generate kamma. Lord Buddha encouraged us to diligently restrain the six sense doors and to wisely attend the skillful mental states that lead away from suffering and toward liberation. Samyuttanikaaya SN.II.12.38. Volition (เจตนาสูตรที่) At Saavatii. “Bhikkhus, what one intends, and what one plans, and whatever one…

  • Albany – Esperance

    Last week I went on an information gathering trip from Perth to Albany and Esperance and back to Perth with a work colleague. We drove a new vehicle along the Albany Highway to Albany, the South Coast Highway via Ravensthorpe (and Hopetoun) to Esperance and passed through many small country towns along the way. We…

  • Work and Worldly Routines

    I’ve been working for two weeks in my new job. There are many similarities and differences compared with previous jobs in Canberra. I have found here there is less concern with security, people dress more casually and the amounts of money for programs are smaller. As expected, I’ve been spending a lot of time learning…

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