[Embodied]

Hi all,

The daily practice of satipatthanna implies the activation and development of something like a ‘backstage awareness’ (neutral cetasika & vicara, this latter as sustained application of awareness) which seems to be atrophied in most people; ie the flow of images and thoughts (mindstream) imposes itself on most people instead of being the other way around.
In other words “being acutely aware of mindstream” seems to be a skill to develop to correctly practise satipatthana ?

Thanks

[Lal]

Satipatthana is simply being aware of whether defiled or unwise thoughts are arising, and to stop them.

If good thoughts arise one should cultivate those; this part involves cultivating panna.

By the way, what needs to be done is closely associated with the satara Sammappadhäna, which is conventionally translated as “Four Supreme Efforts”, in the 37 Factors of Enlightenment:

1. Prevent immoral qualities that have not yet arisen from arising.
2. Abandon immoral qualities that have arisen.
3. Maintain and cultivate moral qualities that have arisen.
4. Initiate moral qualities that have not yet arisen.

See, “Two Versions of 37 Factors of Enlightenment“.

As always, dasa akusala are the measuring stick. Of course, cultivating wisdom (panna) also involves learning Dhamma concepts like Tilakkhana is included.

So, the only skill needed is determination and knowledge.

[Embodied]

Excellent synopsis yours Lal. However many people are not enough aware that they are thinking, what they’re thinking and why, i.e. they are driving and they are thinking about alot of stuff that has nothing to do with driving. And who says driving says other tasks.They live veiled, in a state of constant split between body and mind.
Summing up in order to let’s say stop “in time” unwise thoughts it seems to me that one has to be (ideally…) unceasingly aware of one’s own mindstream.

[Tobias G]

Hi Embodied, one has to be always aware of the thought stream and should note any part of the pancakkhandha that pops up (seeing, smelling,..touching, feeling,.. ).
If akusala vinnana arises, stop and note it as something that comes automatically due to one’s gathi/asavas. Stop the wheeling process and do not go deeper into that vinnana. Observe it with sati (~ moral mindfulness and understanding of the tilakkhana) and finally discard it. That is not easy at the beginning, especially if one gets offended by someone. With time the gathi changes and one monitors automatically every “event”.

[Embodied]

Hi Tobias,

Indeed,which i started doing some years ago via Chan Buddhism.However thanks to Pure Dhamma (integrating Tilakhanna as mentioned by you and Lal) i made amazing demeanor and insight progresses.The integration of tilakhanna + the formal sessions as you suggested 2 or 3 weeks ago accelerated the “blooming of the flower”.

[Author]

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