The Removal of Distracting Thoughts (sutra)

Soma Thera (trans.), Vitakka-Santhana Sutra; Dhr. Seven, Ananda (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Sutra: The Removal of Distracting Thoughts

This is how to master the mind and be free.

Thus have I heard. At one time the Blessed One was residing in Savatthi, in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's park. Then he addressed the monastics, "meditators," and they replied to him, "venerable sir." And he said:

"Five things should be reflected on, from time to time, by a meditator intent on higher consciousness. What five?

"When unskillful thoughts connected with lust, hate, and delusion arise in a meditator through reflection on an adventitious object, one should (in order to get rid of that) reflect on a different object connected with skill.

"Then the unskillful thoughts are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination, the mind (heart) stands firm, settles, becomes unified and concentrated, just within (one's subject of meditation).

"Like an experienced carpenter or carpenter's apprentice strikes, pushes out, and replaces a coarse peg with a new one, a meditator in order to get rid of an adventitious object reflects on a different object that is connected with skill.

"Then the unskillful thoughts connected with lust, hate, and delusion are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination the mind stands firm, settles, becomes unified and concentrated, just within (one's subject of meditation).

"If the unskillful thoughts continue to arise in a meditator, who in order to get rid of an adventitious object reflects on a different object connected with skill, one should ponder the disadvantages of unskillful thoughts in this way:

"In truth these thoughts are unskillful, blameworthy, and produce misery.'

"Then unskillful thoughts are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles, becomes unified and concentrated, just within (one's subject of meditation).

Don't hang any of those on me. They're disgusting!

"Just as a well-dressed youth would feel disgusted, humiliated, and horrified because of a carcass of a snake, dog, or human hung around his or her neck, just so would a meditator feel disgusted, humiliated, horrified if unskillful thoughts continue to arise in spite of the skillful reflection pondering the disadvantages of unskillful thoughts.

"Then unskillful thoughts are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles, becomes unified and concentrated, just within (one's subject of meditation).

"If unskillful thoughts continue to arise in a meditator who ponders their disadvantages, one should endeavor to deprive them of attention or reflection.

"Then unskillful thoughts are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles, becomes unified and concentrated, just within (one's subject of meditation).

If I just look away, no more catnip cravings?

"Just as a keen-eyed person shutting her or his eyes and looking away to avoid seeing visible objects that have come into view, so a meditator in whom unskillful thoughts continue to arise in spite of pondering their disadvantages and endeavoring to deprive them of attention and reflection turns away.

"Then unskillful thoughts are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles, becomes unified and concentrated, just within (one's subject of meditation).

I think what I want to think, not otherwise.

"If unskillful thoughts continue to arise in a meditator in spite of the endeavor to deprive them of attention or reflection, one should reflect on the removal of the (thought-) source of those unskillful thoughts.

"Then unskillful thoughts are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles, becomes unified and concentrated, just within (one's subject of meditation).

"Just as a person finding no reason to walk quickly walks slowly, finding no reason to walk slowly stands, finding no reason to stand sits, finding no reason to sit lies down -- and so getting rid of a stressful posture resorts to a restful posture -- a meditator in whom unskillful thoughts arise in spite of the endeavor to deprive them of attention or reflection should reflect on the removal of the source of those unskillful thoughts.

"Then unskillful thoughts are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles down, becomes unified and concentrated, just within (one's subject of meditation).

The last ditch effort

Ah, I will succeed and overcome the unskillful by removing distractions!!!

.

"Finally, if unskillful thoughts continue to arise in a meditator in spite of reflection on the removal of the source(s) of unskillful thoughts, one should with clenched teeth and tongue pressing on the palate restrain, subdue, and hold (unskillful) mind with (skillful) mind.

"Then unskillful thoughts connected with lust, hate, and delusion are eliminated; they disappear.

"By their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles, becomes unified and concentrated, just within (one's subject of meditation).

"Just as a stronger man might take a weaker man by the head and shoulders and restrain, subdue, and hold him down, so a meditator in whom unskillful thoughts continue to arise in spite of reflection on the source of unskillful thoughts, should restrain, subdue, and hold (unskillful) mind with (skillful) mind, clenching teeth and pressing tongue on palate.

"Then unskillful thoughts connected with lust, hate, and delusion are eliminated; they disappear. By their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles down, becomes unified and concentrated, just within (one's subject of meditation).

Summary

Craving's the worst distraction.

"Indeed, meditators, when unskillful thoughts due to reflection on an adventitious object are eliminated, when they disappear, the mind stands firm, settles, becomes unified and concentrated just within (one's subject of meditation) through:

• reflecting on an object connected with skill,
• pondering the disadvantages of unskillful thoughts,
• endeavoring to deprive some thoughts of attention or reflection,
• restraining, subduing, and holding unskillful mind with skillful mind with clenched teeth and tongue pressed on palate.

"In these ways a meditator comes to be called a 'master of the paths along which thoughts travel.'

"The thoughts one wants to think one thinks. The thoughts one does not want to think one does not think. One has uprooted craving, removed the fetter, rightly mastered pride, and thereby made an end of all suffering."

The Blessed One said this, and the meditators were glad at heart and approved of his words. Commentary: ... More