Living Dharma: Teachings and Meditation Instructions from Twelve Theravada Masters by Kornfield Jack

Author:Kornfield, Jack [Kornfield, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Published: 2012-04-22T21:00:00+00:00

After we have realized the empty nature of mental states and matter, then we attain the first degree of insight wisdom, which is called mind-and-matter-determination-knowledge. It is the level of insight which enables us to directly perceive the separate mental state and the separate matter in all phenomena. We must understand that the mental states and matter known from the mind-and-matter-determination-knowledge are not the same as the mental states and matter we know by learning or from listening. Anyone who has not experienced this determination-knowledge cannot distinguish the difference between the knowledge arising from ‘theory’ and that of ‘realization’. So, whatever he perceives, it is still with the illusion of ‘I’ or the ‘self’ which hears or sees; he is under a delusion in spite of his theoretical knowledge of what is the mind or what is matter. For instance, if I ask whether the sitting position is mind or matter, he can answer that it is matter. But when he is actually sitting, does he realize that the sitting position is matter, and can he clearly separate the matter from the mental states involved? This is the difference between the practice and the theory. In fact, to attain mind-and-matter-determination-knowledge is not easy, even though it is the first degree of knowledge found in the development of insight. It requires strong mindfulness and concentration to be able to distinguish these clearly in every moment.

We must now proceed to develop the practice more deeply, which means we must be mindful of mental states and matter to a greater degree. At first, we had no concern for the fact that mental states and matter were factors relating to one another. We were just mindful, and only knew what was the mental state and what was matter. But now, the more we are aware of mental states and matter, the more we will see from what causes they arise. For instance, when hearing arises, we realize that sound is a factor of hearing. When there is sight, we realize that color is a factor of seeing. In this manner we will also see what kind of mental state occurs as a result of sound and color. As for the different bodily positions or the movements of the body, we must continue to be aware at all times and we will see that matter which is moving has the mind as its factor or cause. It is motivated by consciousness. It is the consciousness which directs the body to stand, sit, walk, or change positions, so that the different positions occur. All of these positions of matter occur because they have mind as their cause, and when such a kind of mental state occurs, it has matter as its factor or cause. Thus mental states and matter will be seen to arise or occur from factors. This kind of insight knowledge will occur after we have reached mind-and-matter-determination-knowledge. When we are mindful in this manner the causal relationship between mind and matter will be disclosed.

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