The Foundations of Mindfulness: How to Cultivate Attention, Good Judgment, and Tranquility by Eric Harrison

Author:Eric Harrison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Workman Publishing
Published: 2017-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Arising and Passing Away

An important refrain recurs throughout the Sutta: “He carefully observes how valences [sensations, or emotions, or states of mind, or thoughts] arise and how they pass away, and what causes them to do so. He observes this both in himself and in others.” The Buddha believed that to calmly observe an unhelpful thought or behavior would diminish its power on the spot and help to eradicate it in the future. To amplify this effect, he further asks that we notice not just the object but also how it “arises and passes away.”

For example, we shouldn’t just notice “anger.” We should also notice whether it is increasing or fading away, and store that episode in memory. Over time, this will help us understand the causal factors: what initiates anger and what helps it fade. Similarly, we see what contributes to healthy states of mind, and what helps sustain them.

Another aspect of the Sutta entails observing exactly the same phenomena in others: “He observes this both in himself and others.” In other words, the Buddha was a people-watcher! We can learn about the birth and decay of sensations, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors by observing the process in others as well as ourselves. This is one reason we read stories, go to movies, and gossip: it is educational as well as fun.

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