Page 121 - Extinguishment of self, in search of dhamma

Do not just experience and say: It is serene, serene, serene. Try this: Once we experience, how do we feel? Does it feel good? That is why I always compare this with the time we walk into a water pool—how does it feel? Cold, comfortable. When the weather is hot, walking into the pool feels cold and comfortable. But, does the water have any density? How does the water mass make us feel? Does the water ripple? Or, is the water absolutely still? When we move into happiness, how do we feel? This is very easy: When we are outside the building, how is the ambiance outside? When we move into the building, how does the ambiance inside the building feel?
It is like our state of mind. As an observer, it appears serene. But, if we move in further, how do we feel? That is, move into the feeling of serenity. In addition to feeling serene after we move in; then we move into the serenity further, further, further... move in steadily. If there are still changes, as we move into the feeling of serenity, what do we experience? In addition to the feeling of serenity that is changing, how is this corporeality (rupa)? How is the ambiance surrounding our body? How is our state of mind changing? How does the phenomenon change each time? Each point of the question, each question, each time—observe well the results that follow. As we have the intention to go in and experience each instance—how are they the same or how are they different? This is the contemplation of the state of mind.
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