The Removal of Distracting Thoughts (sutra)

Soma Thera BPS translation, Vitakka-Santhana Sutta (MN 20) edited by Wisdom Quarterly

Christy Turlington, meditator, yogini, supermodel (GAP)

The Removal of Distracting Thoughts

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was in Savatthi, in Jeta's Grove, at Anathapindika's park. He called out, "practitioners," and they replied, "venerable sir." Then he taught:

"Five things should be reflected on from time to time by a practitioner intent on higher consciousness. What are the five?

1. When harmful thoughts connected with craving, hatred, or delusion arise by reflection on an adventitious object, (in order to get rid of it) one should reflect on a different object connected with something more skillful. The harmful thoughts are thereby eliminated; they disappear. With their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles down, becomes unified and concentrated within (one's of meditation).

• Just as a carpenter striking, pushing out, and replacing a coarse peg with a fine one, so should one get rid of the adventitious object and reflect on one connected with skill. Then harmful thoughts connected with craving, hatred, and delusion are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination the mind stands firm, settles down, becomes unified and concentrated within.

2. If harmful thoughts continue to arise even after doing so, one should consider and reflect on the disadvantages of unskillful thoughts: Truly such thoughts are unskillful, blameworthy, likely to produce misery. Then such thoughts are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles down, becomes unified and concentrated within.

• Just as a well dressed young person would feel humiliated, horrified, and disgusted by the carcass of a snake, dog, or human being hung around his or her neck, so should one in whom harmful thoughts continue to arise in spite of reflection on a skillful object ponder the disadvantages of unskillful thoughts: Truly these thoughts are unskillful, blameworthy, likely to produce misery. Then the evil, unskillful thoughts are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles down, becomes unified and concentrated within.

3. If harmful thoughts continue to arise in one who ponders their disadvantages, one should endeavor in regard to them to be without attention or reflection. Then such thoughts are eliminated...

• Like a keen eyed person shutting his or her eyes and looking away in order to avoid seeing what has come into view, so should one in whom harmful thoughts continue to arise in spite of pondering their disadvantages, endeavor to be without attention or reflection regarding them. Then such thoughts are eliminated...

4. If harmful thoughts continue to arise in spite of endeavoring to be without attention or reflection regarding them, one should reflect on the removal of the source of those unskillful thoughts. Then such thoughts are eliminated...

• Just as a person finding no reason for walking fast, walks slowly; finding no reason for walking slowly, stands; finding no reason for standing, sits down; finding no reason for sitting down, lies down -- and thus abandoning a strenuous posture resorts to restful one, in just the same way one in whom harmful thoughts arise, in spite of endeavoring to be without attention or reflection regarding them, reflects on the removal of the source of them. Then such thoughts are eliminated...

Meditating is easier for children, masters of beginner's mind (Delioncourt/flickr.com)

5. If harmful thoughts continue to arise in spite of reflection on the removal of a source of unskillful thoughts, one should (as a last resort) clench one's teeth and press one's tongue to the palate, and restrain, subdue, and beat down (harmful) mind with (harmless) mind. Then harmful thoughts connected with craving, hatredm and delusion are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles down, becomes unified and concentrated within.

• Just as a strong person holding a weaker one by the head or shoulders and restraining, subduing and beating that person down, so should the practitioner in whom harmful thoughts continue... Then such thoughts are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles down, becomes unified and concentrated within.

When [this is done] that practitioner is called a master of the paths along which thoughts travel.

The thought one wants to think, that one thinks; the thought one does not want to think, that one does not think. One has cut down craving, removed the fetter (bond), rightly mastered pride, and made an end of suffering (disappointment)."

The Buddha said this, and the practitioners, glad at heart, approved of his words.

• Notes and explanations by original translator, Soma Thera