Four Foundations of Mindfulness Practice Q&A 24

Question: Dust in a room is often invisible until sunlight streams in, revealing its presence. Similarly, during meditation, one becomes aware of the abundance of discursive thoughts that usually go unnoticed. It's like a ray of sunlight illuminating the dust. Why can one observe the multitude of discursive thoughts during meditation?

Answer: Ordinarily, everyone has countless discursive thoughts—big, small, and fragmented—continuously arising and ceasing, coming and going without pause. Because the mind lacks concentration or is not yet pure enough, one fails to observe the ceaseless arising and passing of these thoughts. When the mind is pure, possesses concentration power, and thoughts become focused, one realizes just how many thoughts occupy the mind. Thus, meditation is invaluable. It grants us introspective awareness, sharpens concentration, and refines the mind’s sensitivity, enabling us to uncover issues that usually escape notice. Once problems are identified, solutions can be found, leading to the emergence of wisdom.

Everyone is ordinarily burdened with many afflictions. Having grown accustomed to them, we remain unaware until we have leisure and energy to repeatedly observe ourselves, only then discovering that our inner world is filled with afflictions. Recognizing our afflictions is the first step toward resolution. Sooner or later, a sense of remorse will arise, and when mental strength is sufficient, these afflictions can be subdued. Not knowing one’s afflictions does not mean they do not exist; it stems from a lack of awakening and an unwillingness to discover and acknowledge them.