A Mind in Harmony

For sustaining and integrating the benefits of meditation, the composure of sense restraint is highly effective. The Buddha repeatedly emphasized the importance of establishing mindfulness at the doors of the senses in order to curtail self-indulgence. The bliss that arises in jhāna is completely independent of sensual pleasures. Thrills and excitement are in fact an obstruction to deep meditation. When we take our refuge in external stimulation and our hearts are preoccupied with the search for it, jhāna cannot happen. Look inwards for real and reliable happiness.

Once we have taken the steps to live virtuously and composed and are meditating daily, we will probably begin to experience the happiness of a calm mind. An obstacle that might arise at this point is the fear of attachment to that happiness. As we have already discussed, such worries are unfounded. The fear of attachment to the pleasure of samādhi will actually prevent a person from entering jhāna, denying them the pure joy praised by the Buddha and his great disciples. It is vital to willingly embrace the pleasure of peace and allow it to grow.

Success in meditation also requires consistent practice and diligent training. How often do we meditate? For how long? We have to be willing to invest energy and time without looking for non-existent shortcuts. Jhāna is most often experienced in retreat situations, where it is quiet, there are a minimum of external concerns, people are keeping silence, a teacher is encouraging them and they are meditating many hours a day. So in addition to a steady daily practice, periodically offering ourselves the gift of a meditation retreat can make a profound difference in calming a turbulent mind.

These reflections by Ajahn Chandako are from A Honed and Heavy Axe, pp. 24-29.