..续本文上一页ng in this way, is to reach the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha — which differ only in name, but are one and the same in their essence.

　　1. Whoever doesn”t practice in this way is asleep, both in body and mind. A person asleep can”t see or know anything at all, which is why we can say that people of this sort have yet to reach the Buddha on the level of the inner qualities.

　　B. Contemplation of feelings as a frame of reference. Be mindful of feelings as they arise within you. Feelings are results that come from your own past and present actions. There are three sorts:

　　1. Feelings of pleasure

　　2. Feelings of pain

　　3. Feelings of equanimity.

　　To practice contemplation of feelings, be mindful of each of the various kinds of feeling that occur in the body and mind. For instance, sometimes there”s physical pleasure but mental distress; sometimes physical pain but mental pleasure; sometimes pleasure both in body and mind; and sometimes pain both in body and mind. So focus in on being mindful of feelings as they arise. Examine them closely. This is called contemplation of feelings.

　　As for feelings in and of themselves, this means focusing on one type of feeling. For instance, wherever there”s pleasure, focus right there. Make the mind firm and one-pointed. You don”t have to get involved with feelings of pain or equanimity. If you”re going to focus on pleasure, keep focused right there. Or, if you want, you can focus on equanimity without getting involved with pleasure or pain. Don”t let the mind jump around in such a way that any other preoccupations come in and interfere. Keep monitoring the feeling you”ve chosen until you know its true nature through your own awareness.

　　Whichever type of feeling is easiest for you to focus on, keep your mindfulness and alertness right there as much as you can. This is what will enable you to awaken from the feelings within you. Whoever does this ranks as having developed the inner quality of "buddha" that is the cause for coming awake.

　　C. Contemplation of the mind as a frame of reference. Be mindful of the state of your own mind so that you can awaken it from the slumber of its delusions. When your mind awakens, it will be able to see and know the various things occurring in the present. This will enable it to become firmly centered in the factors of concentration and jhana, or mental absorption, which in turn lead to discernment, skilled awareness, and release.

　　There are three basic states of mind you can focus on:

　　1. Passion: The mind hankers after sensual objects and sensual moods that color it, making it intoxicated and oblivious to other things. This prevents it from experiencing states that are brighter and clearer.

　　2. Aversion: The mind at times gets irritated and angry, causing whatever internal goodness it has to deteriorate. Aversion is thus a way in which the mind destroys itself.

　　3. Delusion: absent-mindedness, forgetfulness, mental darkness, misunderstanding.

　　These states of mind arise from preoccupations concerning what we like and dislike. If you have mindfulness watching over your mind with every moment, it will enable the mind to awaken and blossom, to know the truth about itself.

　　Whenever passion arises in the mind, focus on being mindful of the mind in and of itself. Don”t focus on the object of the passion. Pay attention solely to the present, and the passion will fade. Or, if you want, you can use other methods to help, by contemplating the object of the passion in certain ways. For example, you can contemplate the unattractiveness of the body, focusing first on the insides of your own body, seeing them as filthy and disgusting. Your mind, which has been attached, will then be able to free itself from the passion in which it is immersed and to become more blooming and bright.

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