nity. This way of thinking is buried deep within everyone’s psyche.
It may be just the sort of thinking that has prevented you from
ridding yourself of dukkha all along; and it will continue to do so
if you don’t try to remedy it now.
Meditation is actually a way to counteract and alleviate all
the mental irritations and difficulties that have plagued us for so
long. Meditation is not unlike other methods used in the world
to relieve pain and discomfort; like bathing when we feel hot,
and putting on warm clothes or lighting a fire when we feel cold.
When hungry, we eat and drink; when ill, we take medicine to
relieve the symptoms. All these are methods that the world has
used to relieve pain and discomfort over the ages without anyone
ever dismissing them as being too burdensome or to difficult to do.
People of every ethnic and social group are obliged to look after
themselves in this way. Even animals have to take care of them-
selves by searching for food to alleviate their discomfort and sur-
vive from day to day. Similarly, mental development through med-
itation is a very important means of taking care of ourselves. It is
work that we should be especially interested in because it deals
directly with the mind, which is the central coordinator for all
our actions.
The mind is in the front line when it comes to anything
relating to ourselves. In other words, the citta is absolutely essen-
tial in everything. It has no choice but to accept the burden of
responsibility in all circumstances without discrimination or hes-
itation. Whatever happens, the mind feels compelled to step in
and immediately take charge, unfazed by ideas of good and bad
or right and wrong. Although some situations are so depressing
they’re nearly unbearable, the mind still boldly rushes in to shoul-
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
#1