Page 63 - Extinguishment of self, in search of dhamma
P. 63

there were only good thoughts. But, after awhile, the state of mind changed from happiness to peaceful. This led to all kind of trivial thoughts emerging. That is, we say that the thoughts have changed to trivial thoughts... but, how do they emerge-cease?
The new thoughts that emerge-cease differently from before—they  oat in softly then cease, they emerge lightly then cease. This is the way to relate the emergence- cessation phenomenon of thoughts. When you relate in this way, I will know that even when thoughts emerge, how much mindfulness you have. This is one thing. Another thing is—practitioners themselves will be aware that even though a lot of thoughts emerge, if we contemplate in this way, we will know how the new thoughts that emerge impact our state of mind—the same, or differently, and how. The new thoughts are vaguer than previous, lighter than previous—still, our mind remains stable and unwavering. Therefore, the new thoughts that emerge will not disturb our mind—these are general thoughts.
But, if unwholesome thoughts emerge while our mind is already peaceful, these thoughts that emerge will have the form of a dense lump. But, the lump will be less dense than before. This comparison will make us see clearly that when (bad) thoughts emerge, the unwholesome mind is briefer, lighter than before—it emerges then ceases straightaway, emerges then ceases straightaway. This
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