I want to share with you a wonderful quote from the Dhammapada, one of the traditional Buddhist texts. I am not looking for converts of any kind here, firstly because Buddhism is not a theocentric but an anthropocentric system of belief, so it does not look for pupils (it is pupils who look for it), and secondly because, as I already mentioned, I am usually too busy admiring things and people to waste my time trying to convince people of anything.
I think self brain control is necessary: if you do not control your brain, someone else will do. But, look out: there is a strong difference between control (taming the ox) and repression (squashing it). Eastern thought is very good at managing this kind of issues. I think this kind of exercises (emotional intelligence avant la létre) should be taught at school just like we have physical exercises, and quite earlier than things like the date of the invention of the light bulb, and the like. Though I am not an expert in Buddhism, I’ll try to comment on some paragraphs that require a little of explanation. The quote:
One who is intent on developing higher thought should attend to five things from time to time. What five?
If, while attending to something, evil unskillful thoughts associated with greed, hatred and delusion should arise, then one should attend instead to something that is skillful. Then these evil unskilful thoughts will subside and the mind will be steady, calmed, one-pointed and concentrated. It is just as if a carpenter or his apprentice might knock out, drive out, draw out a large peg with a small one.
“There is no better way to fight evil than a step in the direction of good”, says the I Ching. This thought goes in the same direction, using a wonderful metaphor.
If, while attending to something that is skilled, evil unskillful thoughts associated with greed, hatred and delusion still arise, then one should ponder the disadvantages of those thoughts, thinking: “Truly, these thoughts are unskillful, blameworthy and conducive to suffering.”. Then those evil unskillful thoughts will subside and the mind will be steady, calm, one-pointed and concentrated. It is just as if a well-dressed young man or woman, on having the carcass of a snake, a dog or a human being hung around his or her neck would be repelled, ashamed and disgusted.
Buddhism is quite a physical belief; it does not trust thought, an invisible thing that leads to complexity and unhappiness. The comparison “the carcass of a snake, a dog or a human being”(!), deliberately disgusting, makes that clear.
If, however, while pondering the disadvantages of these thoughts, evil unskillful thoughts associated with greed, hatred and delusion still arise, then one should forget about them, pay them no attention. Then those evil unskillful thoughts will subside and the mind will be steady, calm, one-pointed and concentrated. It is just as if a man with sight might shut his eyes or turn away in order to avoid seeing something.
Notice the carefully chosen progression. All five recommendations work on their own. But the grouping makes them even more effective. More:
But if, while trying to forget about and pay no attention to those thoughts, evil unskillful thoughts associated with greed, hatred and delusion still arise, then one should allow them to settle. Then those evil unskillful thoughts will subside and the mind will be steady, calm, onepointed and concentrated. It is just as if a man, finding no reason for running, walks; then finding no reason for walking, stands; then finding no reason for standing, sits down; then finding no reason for sitting, lies down. Thus he goes from a strenuous posture to a more relaxed one.
Surprise, surprise! Let’s let it settle. One should not resist anything. Those thoughts belong to you, too, so you would become your own enemy, become divided. Notice the flexibility of the teaching, that avoids judgemetns of the kind “oh, I’ve failed in controlling…”, etc
But if, while allowing those thoughts to settle, evil unskillful thoughts associated with greed, hatred and delusion still arise, then, with teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the palate one should restrain, subdue and suppress the mind with the mind. Then those evil unskillful thoughts will subside and the mind will be steady, calm, one-pointed and concentrated. It is just as if a strong man should hold down a weaker one by seizing his head and shoulders.
It is important to remark here that those “teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the palate” are a part of the meditation exercise, so, in addition to their plain effectiveness, they enable in any practicing Buddhist a state of conditioned calmness, backed by hundreds of hours of practice. And now, the reward:
One who does these things is called a master of the pathways of thought. The thought he wants to think, he thinks; the thought he does not want to think, he does not think. He has cut off craving, removed the fetters, mastered pride and put an end to suffering.
I think it is the French thinker Pascal who said that most of people act like they do because they are afraid of thinking. But the fact is that we think, so we better think well, we better take control. The Western world, with an arrogance of centuries, shows Buddhism as a vague, ethereal belief. But quotes like this prove that it is a very practical and resourceful system, with precise instructions and tips. It is nice to have premises like this, instead of the vagueness of other systems of belief (”not being impure”, “not having bad thoughts”); without a how-to, that kind of absolute sentences can lead to even more self-torture and discouragement. That’s what I like the most about Buddhism: it is practical, opened to experimentation. Buddha told his disciples not to believe anything unless they had experienced it themselves: not even his own words. Ain’t that great?
Any Buddhist reading? Like I said I am not an expert, so please forgive any imprecision or omission. And for non-Buddhists, have you ever practiced techniques of this kind? Maybe you’ve been a bit “Buddhist” without even noticing it?
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