Neutral Knowing
Have you ever noticed how easily it is for our mind to become caught up and caught out; reacting, resisting, denying and distracting from just noticing and noting what is, with Calm, Clarity and Peace!
With SATI PANNA- mindfulness and wisdom, we can understand and see the ways and workings of SAMSARA – the rounds of rebirth into existence.
The energy that perpetuates SAMSARA is life energy, the universe’s energy, manifesting through the ‘Three Ills’ or defilements – KILESA, of Greed, Anger and Ignorance.
The core or fundamental defilement is that of Ignorance – AVIJJA, that fires up and fuels both Greed and Anger. People get caught into anger or greed through ignorance. The fundamental ignorance is that of the mind’s unwitting belief in, and life as, a separate egoic identity that exists in this life and persists into some future life or further state or realm of being.
Our Practice – PATIPADA and Foundation of Work – KAMMATTHANA, is to mindfully keep the mind from being caught into manifesting through Greed, Anger and Ignorance. This aids in deconditioning and decommissioning the mechanisms of SAMSARA.
Much of what makes and creates the egoic self-identity, is the making of the ‘I- me – mine’ through the time domains of the Past and the Future.
Apart from our fundamental practice of keeping attention to the present, at times there may be the need for the mind to resource and reflect on the past or consider the future. On these occasions, so as to not create or be caught into Greed, Anger or Ignorance, it is an important practice to maintain the mind’s stance of ‘Neutrality’. Calm, Clear, Neutral Knowing whilst we remember or consider the past or future.
Our Mind’s fundamental nature is that of Neutral Knowing. From this way of seeing and perceiving there is a lot less chance for the mind to be caught into relating from Greed, Anger and the Ignorance of the ‘I – my – me’ making.
Whilst this practice of ‘Neutral Knowing’ – goes against the way of the world; of excitement, attachment, wishing and wanting, of reaction, repulsion, upset and anger; it does move the mind beyond building SAMSARA. Here the world ends!
Our Neutral Knowing is the Equanimity of Enlightenment, the Peace and Calm presence of the Buddha.
John B.
