To bear on follow the full length of an inhalation,
Exhalation.
There's a kind of movement.
Place the mind to hold the object which is the breath in this case.
And then once we find the object just kind of relaxing back,
Settling back and then it becomes an experience of receiving the breath in the body,
Observing the inhalations as they come in,
A rising energy and observing the exhalations,
A sense of falling,
Sinking or release.
It's helpful.
You can gently or lightly note in as you breathe in,
Out as you breathe out,
In as the breath comes in,
Out as it leaves,
Recedes,
Termination or resolve.
The Pali word is Aditana.
It's the eighth of the ten perfections.
These are perfections of character,
Qualities of our character that are cultivated on the path to awakening.
And although it is the eighth,
We are putting it first in the hundred days of care as presented by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
I think a reason that this is done,
Putting it first even though it's eighth,
Is because it is a foundation.
Determination underlies everything we do.
Resolve,
The resolve to carry through a certain amount of strength in our resolve,
A certain amount of will.
A key feature of determination or resolve is clearly seeing and deeply understanding cause and effect.
We understand when this arises,
That arises.
We see it,
We begin to observe our actions of thought and speech,
Body.
And in these observations we can see which actions lead to which results.
When we're impulsive,
When we just want that short-term relief or gratification,
And we sacrifice our well-being or long-term goals,
Cultivation of resolve is a clear seeing of where we're going,
Where we're headed,
And being resolved to stay the course,
To take the action that leads to the long-term well-being for ourselves and others.
In this meditation consider our resolve,
Bringing to mind your goals,
Your direction,
Vision you have,
The future.
Being with yourself in this moment with your body,
Your relaxed body and the passing thoughts.
Simply holding to your determination to undertake actions that are for the benefit of yourself and others.
What is going to lead you onward to ease and well-being and peace?
It starts in this moment.
In this moment am I peaceful and relaxed?
Do I need to let go of in order to be peaceful?
What types of thoughts of this quality of ease and well-being?
So for example,
Love,
Passion,
Patience.
The other ten or the other nine of the parami or characteristics,
Being determined to follow these,
Patience,
Kindness,
Generosity,
Etc.
Here in our formal practice we are simply resting in the breath,
Observing thought,
And in this case paying particular attention to the motivation of determination,
The wisdom to choose onward leading mind.
On the one hand we can be looking qualities of minds that are uplifting,
Leading us to freedom,
Peace and ease.
And on the other hand we can look at the effects of fusion,
Giving in to short-term impulse,
Like touching a hot stove if we see these unskillful minds.
Clearly for the pain and suffering they bring,
Stop engaging,
Stop touching the hot stove of ill will,
Fear,
Jealousy,
Craving.
Cultivate our resolve on either basis,
Which leads to openness and freedom.
Following that or avoiding that which leads to constriction and entanglement and confusion.
For the last few minutes of the sit,
Just relaxing any thinking and just being in the breath,
Being in the body,
Being in the stillness.
Stillness and clarity,
Ease,
Our determination become more and more effortless.
Naturally choose a silence,
Stillness,
Continuing to sit for as long as you like or beginning to move and rouse yourself.
