Page 67 - Extinguishment of self, in search of dhamma

all. We just see them, and then they disappear. There is no need to worry. If we relax, and observe, they will disappear a lot quicker than we think. We may think that they will stay for the whole day, but they stay just about half an hour or an hour, and then disappear. This is because we are relaxed; we relinquish our sense of self. No worry, no desire, no stress. As practitioners say it themselves—sometimes they ignore, go and do something else. When they come back, oh, they are gone! But, when we contemplate thoughts, we are relaxed but we observe that they have ceased, they emerge less, they emerge more lightly. Then, we observe our state of mind—does the mind feel more stable, more serene? This is the way to contemplate thoughts.
It is the same with relating natural conditions. If we relate in this way, then it will take very little time. For example, the contemplation of sensations. Now, we have begun to experience sensations—after a few minutes, sensations emerge. Now, when relating: While sitting (during meditation), sensations emerge, sensations emerge as a lump—a stationary lump. But, when we have the mindfulness to contemplate inside the lump, it gradually changes, gradually changes. After contemplating for awhile, sensations become lighter, lighter, and then only numbness remains. See, relate the phenomenon! When sensations phenomenon becomes lighter, lighter, and only numbness remains, the state of the mind becomes alert, more stable.
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