The factors of awakening are the qualities that unfold as we go deeper in our practice. In the last frame we explored how mindfulness provides the fuel for the journey.
โ Recap:
๐ Mindfulness as factor of awakening
Factor #2: Investigation
“It is truth that liberates, not your effort to be free”
– Jiddu Krishnamurti
It is not the teaching or the teacher that awakens us – it is our own direct experience. Anything else can – at best – serve as invitations and pointers as to where and how to apply our mindful investigation.
When the quality of mindfulness is established we naturally become curious; we want to know the truth. Truth alone has the capacity cut through illusion and ignorance. In this way, the factor investigation has the power to awaken us.
โ Recap:
๐ INQUIRY AS A METHOD OF UNCOVERING DEEP INSIGHT
The power of unconscious intentions
Beliefs we hold about ourselves and the world have huge impact on our behavior – even when we are not aware of them. Unconscious intentions tend to overrun our willpower and conscious intentions.
With the help of mindful investigation, we begin to see the mechanics of cause and effect. We see how wholesome intentions lead to a wholesome heart and how unskilful intentions lead to suffering. When we see this deeply for ourselves, we gain the motivation and agency to let go of unskilful intentions and change our behavior.
Curiosity as a path of healing
When we can accept the reality of a situation, we can begin to respond more wisely. As judgements and resistance drop away, we see that the suffering is not actually in the situation but in our reaction to it. This is what allows us to re-frame a situation, listen to the needs underneath reactive behavior and to begin a journey of healing.
๐ง Guided RAIN practice:
โ Recap:
๐ THE 2 WINGS OF MINDFULNESS
๐ THE 2 ARROWS (PAIN โ SUFFERING)
Investigating the truth of change
When we observe reality closely, certain truths are revealed to us. One of them is the truth of change. On an intellectual level, we know that everything is in a constant flux of change. But it is something quite different to know it experientially. To see that there is nothing to hold on to – and to realise how much of our suffering comes from ignoring this basic fact of reality. We make things solid in our mind in an attempt to find comfort and certainty. This strategy is based on the illusion of permanence.
When we resist change and cling to what is impermanent, we suffer. In other words, we are looking for comfort and refuge in the wrong place. The Buddha suggested that we instead turn to the “three refuges”. The first is truth itself (Dharma).
๐ Inquiry:
Check in with yourself. What are you experiencing right now?
Notice how your experience is changing moment to moment. How thoughts, sounds, sensations and feelings come and go. Can you allow everything to unfold naturally?
Notice judgements and beliefs as just another appearance. Can you embrace the truth of this moment without clinging to ideas?
Investigation who you are
“The light of single candle can illuminate the darkness of ten thousand years”
Another place where we can find true refuge is by resting in awake awareness (Buddha). This is the only aspect of our experience that is not changing. It is the ever-present witness of all phenomena; awake awareness is always and already here.
This is not an abstract idea – it is an invitation to a shift of perspectives. It is a matter of shifting from appearance (“what we are aware of”) to awareness itself (“that which is aware”):
๐ Inquiry:
Investigation into awareness is a process of self-inquiry. Sit comfortably and allow the mind to settle. Then begin to inquire into the question “who am I?”.
Who is the one reading these words? What is aware of the this experience? Who am I, really?
Repeatedly inquire into these questions. Give your full attention to the unchanging background of all experience. Relax the focus away from anything that is changing. Allow a conscious shift to take place.
๐ง Guided glimpse practices:
๐ง Awareness of awareness – Guided meditation:
Awakening together
The third refuge is found in the sangha. This does not refer to subscribing to a particular group or belief system. It refers to the love we experience as we celebrate life and awaken with others who share the same intention. Ultimately, it is an invitation to take refuge as the inherent love at the core of your being.
๐ง Guided contemplation and inquiry:
Guided practice: investigation as awakening factor
Factor #3: Energy
The next factor of awakening is energy, or viriya. This factor is the root of all achievement. At its core, energy is the capacity to bring into being what we most long for in our lives and in the world. Viriya arises when the first two factors of mindfulness and investigation are established.
Becoming response-able
Without sufficient energy, we easily become overwhelmed. A lack of energy leads to the hindrance of sloth and torpor with its quality of stagnation and lack of movement. When these hindrances are present, we tend to fall victim to our circumstances.
When the awakening factor or energy is present, on the other hand, we are empowered to rise up against the hindrances. In this way, it serves as an antidote to stuckness. Viriya affords us to take responsibility (“ability to respond”) and to keep going when things get difficult.
Energy brings courage
When there is a lack of energy, we tend to see threats everywhere. We feel the need to protect ourselves and cover our hearts, creating separation and discouragement.
Viriya gives us courage (the word courage comes from the latin cor, meaning “heart”). It is the awakening factor that enables us to show up for life with an open heart.
Viriya needs to be wielded wisely
The power of viriya is not a wholesome factor by itself – it can lead to joy and freedom or destruction and suffering depending on how it is used. Energy that is not balanced with concentration leads to excessive thinking, stress, worry and lack of attention. On the other end of the spectrum, a lack of energy results in discouragement, depression and sloth (๐ก remember the analogy of water being overgrown with algae and a sense of stagnation).
All of these extremes (stress, over-stimulation, burnout and depression) are becoming increasingly obvious problems in society. Although external remedies can be helpful, these problems ultimately need to be resolved within. The key lies in learning how to use the mind and direct our energy wisely. Fortunately, this is a skill that can be trained just like any other skill.
๐ Inquiry:
Bring to mind a situation in your life where there is some difficulty. Perhaps a behavior you would like to change. It can be a situation in your professional life, or a pattern in a relationship. Whatever comes to mind, take a moment to look at it with a quality of mindfulness and the sprit of investigation:
What is your typical response in this situation? What effects does this response lead to? Be honest and gentle with yourself. Feel into your body. There is no need for self judgement, we are simply examining the cause and effect of our behavior. What would be a skilful response in this situation? What effects might this response lead to?
Set an intention to bring non-judgemental awareness to this situation in your life. Connect with your deeper intention. Stay curious and resist the temptation to shut-down or fall into reactivity.
Awareness (not willpower) is the key
When the foundation of mindfulness is in place, the other factors will grow naturally. The cultivation of energy is not about forcefully mustering willpower. Rather, it is about relaxing into the mindful awareness that brings about curiosity and clarity. This is the place from which energy and empowerment to act skilfully emerges.
In the following practice, we will combine mindfulness meditation with some inquiry questions:
๐ง Guided contemplation:
Guided practice: energy as awakening factor (Viriya)
When we stop grinding negative thoughts and emotions about the past and worrying about the future, huge amounts of energy is freed up. When we stop generating negativity, we encounter the intrinsically joyful state of the mind. This brings us the next factor of awakening.
Factor #4: Natural joy
To reiterate, the factors of awakening are sequential. The core of our practice is to develop mindfulness. As our mindfulness deepens, the other qualities will unfold. As we investigate our experience with curiosity, we gain access to energy. As viriya builds up, it leads us to the next factor of awakening; joy or pฤซti.
Joy does not arise through force or striving. It is not something that we need to generate or strive to maintain. Rather, it is a sign of right effort and skilful use of the mind. When energy is no longer tied up in negativity and destructive thought patterns, we experience the natural state of joy.
The cultivation of joy leads to a virtuous cycle
Mindful investigation leads to energy and an intense interest that is sometimes called dharmic joy. This, in turn, increases our mindfulness and motivates us to investigate further, resulting in a virtuous cycle.
Joy is a reminder of what is possible – it shows us the fruit of our practice. As we cultivate joy by feeling into its quality of energetic lightness, we are gaining a direct understanding of the dharmic joy.
“It is not a game of sensation”
While being what is called a “wholesome state”, joy presents a risk. When we experience intense joy and bliss as a result of practice, our natural tendency is to hold on and grasp after more. At this point, it becomes important to our mind in relation to “piti” / joy.
๐ Inquiry:
How do you experience the difference between pleasant sensations (vedana) and unconditional joy? What is your relationship to uncontrived joy? Is there a subtle clinging or attachment? Or perhaps some resistance? What are you believing in relation to unconditional joy?
“An object can never be boring – boredom is simply a lack of attention”
Investigation and inquiry allows us to see the mind’s relation to what is occurring. When we inquire and investigate our intentions, we see beyond beliefs and propositions. This is direct knowing; gnosis.
This type of discernment often leads to joy even thought the content of mind is not necessarily joyful. This points us to quality of joy that is inherent to our mind.
๐ง Guided contemplation and inquiry:
Guided practice: JOY as awakening factor
Reflections on peace
Throughout our lives, we experience moments of peace. These moments provide an opportunity to stop and take in the experience of freedom. When we cultivate these moments, we see that liberation is not a far-off goal in the distance future. It is not achieved by perfect circumstances. Peace is at the core of our being. It is who we are.
“The path is the goal”
Continue:
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