Page 21 - Extinguishment of self, in search of dhamma

see clearly that each thought that emerges is distinct and separate. One thought ceases, then another thought emerges. We must really have the intention to contemplate this phenomenon, not just observe and let it go. Examine that if we have no intention to contemplate the thoughts that emerge, then, how is our state of mind? Is it still the same? It is still the same! The sufferings remain as before. So, is this the right thing to do? We can answer that for ourselves.
If we have mindfulness, why do we still suffer? It shows that with mindfulness, with concentration but without wisdom, sufferings can remain. Therefore, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom must be present together. The wilful contemplation of the Trilaksana of the thoughts that emerge is called “experiencing the mind within the mind”. As part of experiencing the mind within the mind, in addition to knowing what we are thinking; in addition to experiencing how thoughts emerge and cease, we should also know what our state of mind is. Do we feel peaceful, comfortable, happy, refreshed, gloomy, cramped, upset, uncomfortable, or whatever?. That is the nature of the state of mind or the result of our wilful contemplation of the thoughts that emerge.
Therefore, to extinguish de lements or sufferings require us to know what our current state of mind is. We see that sometimes we think about a lot of things but we can remain peaceful. This “peacefulness” is our state of
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