Light on knowing

Ajahn Sucitto

What is the knowing? It’s not the phenomena, not the mood, not the mind. It’s a basic openness that helps one get less impacted by the pleasant and unpleasant. Recognize the aggregates and how they are activated, then stay with the knowing where is no establishment, no activation. This knowing makes way for discernment to arise.

Light on concentration

Ajahn Sucitto

Samadhi is generally translated as ‘concentration’ but it is based on one-pointedness of purpose, rather than on focusing on a point in the body. As a factor of the Path, concentration represents the gathering of uplifting qualities and the removal of hindrances that block wisdom.

Light on desire

Ajahn Sucitto

This is a desire realm – we have desire. We’re not trying to eliminate it, but train it. Where it goes wrong is where desire becomes craving, when it’s shrouded by ignorance. I don’t create craving, craving creates me. Take the me out of it, and there’s the possibility to view things differently. Moments, thoughts, objects, so intensely configured, begin to lose their hard edges. There is a stilling, a chance to clear one’s residues.

Light on effort: an oar in the stream

Ajahn Sucitto

With effort, citta is the main thing. It’s both the heart quality from where intention streams and that which harvests the results. Then one knows where to best apply energy and how that’s done. Practise the application of effort to mindfulness of breathing, acknowledging and moderating the tools being used and the material they’re being applied to. When you practise rightly, there will be fortunate results.