The Third Base of Miraculous Powers: Concentration

Week of April 17, 2005 – The Third Base of Miraculous Powers: Concentration

Mindfulness consists of two magnitudes:
(i ) Shamatha or Samatha -- stillness of mind, concentration on a single object.
(ii)Vipasyana -- discernment; also, insight, correct perception or view.

The Third Base of Miraculous Powers is intense concentration; this is the eleventh aid (of the third set) to enlightenment. The third base of miraculous powers concerns itself with the Shamatha (concentration) aspect of Mindfulness and the fourth base concerns itself with the Vipasyana (discernment) aspect.

Regardless of the methods of practice a practitioner cultivates, all practices lead to the attainment of concentration. There are two aspects to concentration: the physical and the mental.

In the physical aspect, the body undergoes various changes as a result of concentration. There are eighty stages and the process is very personal. The four elements (earth, water, fire, wind) within one’s body transform or improve through concentration. Since birth, these four elements undergo growth, prosperity and deterioration. With Shamatha, these elements regenerate and may be able to slow down the deterioration process or even completely transcend the body from the Desire realm to the Form realm. This transformation of the four elements is essential for attainment of the First Jhana (Mental absorption).

In the mental aspect, concentration enables one to gain control over thoughts and to live in the moment. Human beings usually react or respond to theexternal stimulius by relying on habitual tendencies (which have a lot to do with the Karma) or learned perception. With Shamatha, one is will be able to perceive how our minds function, how thoughts arise and diminish; we may lengthen increase our reaction time, and thus be able to have better controls over our reactionsbehaviour. One is aware and in control of one’s response instead of letting habitual tendencies or learned perception takeing over the situations.

If one is familiar with the Dharmalaksana sect, which holds that all is mind in its ultimate nature; one will understand how the eight consciousnesses work. The first Five consciousnesses are the Eye, Ear, Nose, Tongue, and Body Vijnanas, the sixth consciousness is the Mind Vijnanas, the Seventh consciousness is the Manah Vijnanas and the Eighth consciousness is the Alaya Vijnanas. Through practice and Shamatha, practitioners are in their waysable to transcend the Eight Vijnanas to the Four Wisdoms.

Only when the mind is atpresentthat one cancan one truly live in the moment, or, putting it in other words, only when one is able to attain Shamatha, one isis one able to live in the moment. That is something only youone knows. YouOne cannot explain it to others or put in into words.
How long have you been practicing? Can you sense that your concentration level has beenis improving? Are you better off physically and mentally? If not, you may not be on the right path! You may need to change or adjust your practice, or you may simply not be aware of the changes that have taken place.

Have courage and faith, and, above all, practice diligently.