Dear Yen
by John Coleman
Thank you for your recent email. I was happy to hear that your personal problems are over for now. In truth Uncle Vasit
he is correct in recommending regular meditation for enhancing your mind and concentration. You should make a serious attempt to meditate as often as possible, even if it is for five minutes at a time. Preferably fifteen minutes or thirty minutes when it is convenient. In the present time your attention should be on the breath as it touches the skin somewhere around the entrance of the nostrils. Continuing to be aware of the sensation of touch as the air brushes the surface of the skin, with the friction of the air stimulating the nerve tissues on the skin with a feeling, an experience, a sensation of touch. When the mind is not too agitated, you can sometimes experience a cooler sensation as you inhale and a warmer sensation as you exhale.
Sometimes you may be aware of a tight, heavy, or numb sensation occurring within the structure of the flesh in the vicinity of the nose and upper lip. When the mind's attention is on the real breath while touching the real point of contact, one becomes silently aware and incapable of disappointment, attachment and aversion. During these moments of silence wisdom or understanding (as needed) will come, solving your various problems and difficulties, when you are free from the struggle to solve your problems. I'm getting angry! ... Just anger, anger. Angry tempers can be very tender people. Keep in mind the difference between being a scholar and being a person.
The time when there is a need for knowledge and the time when there is a need for wisdom. They are both important, but we cannot rely solely on knowledge alone. We have been so heavily conditioned to believe that knowledge can solve all our problems, that we neglect to develop Panna (wisdom) and position our well-being separately.
We usually struggle to solve our problems against a backdrop of ignorance, attachment, and aversion that only exacerbates the problems. Simply pay attention to the breath as it touches the surface of the skin, fully occupying the mind in silence, where we are free from ignorance, anger and desire, and the wisdom required to solve problems calmly enters our beings. While the mind is healed, there is naturally also a progress in the acquisition of knowledge. Remember that knowledge is acquired. Wisdom is given.
John
* Whenever you meditate, precede it by taking refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, so that you are open and receptive to these forces of the highest order. Take the five precepts so that your Sila is perfect during this precious assigned period. Share your merits with all beings everywhere, so that everyone benefits from what you are doing.
...
