Factors in developing Deep Concentration
The ability of
bringing up the meditation object of concentration to the point of
access concentration just before absorption involves the building
up of the mental factors of concentration skilfully, so that it becomes
powerful enough to fall into absorption.
Some important
factors in development of deep concentration are given here:
1. MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness being the main controlling faculty of the mind is of course
indispensable. It brings the mind to the point of concentration skilfully.
Besides it guards against defilements and extraneous thoughts. Then
it causes us to take the appropriate action to remedy it. It also
keeps the mind flexible, workable, soft, and so on. Therefore there
must be plenty of mindfulness at various depths. It will, however,
have to be that suited to the tranquillity form of concentration and
not the insight form. Comparatively in tranquillity meditation, the
concentration faculty is much stronger than the energy faculty and
so its unique balance has to be maintained. It has also to be continuous
and as a result, it would be advisable for many to set up a strong
grounding of mindfulness through various satipatthana exercises before
one embarks on intensive samatha bhavana.
2. DETACHMENT
Right concentration is often referred to as concentration detached
from the five senses. We can understand this if we know that our object
is solely that of the mind door. Its concentration is that above the
five sense doors. If we still have rampant cravings for sense pleasures,
we can never get near the absorptions. However if one is really detached,
then it lifts one off from the valleys of the five senses. Detachment
has the power to remove the bondages that tie us to the lower worlds.
When metta comes with pleasantness and joy, the detached attitude
is an important consideration.
3. PATIENCE
Patience is the opposite of impatience or anger which is associated
with agitation. If we preserve patience, our mind by itself will calm
down. In this case, patience is synonymous with the undisturbed aspect
of tranquillity. It can remain with the object for longer periods
of time, for with non-anger there follows equanimity, another factor
of concentration.
Texts also inform
us that to guard the concentration, we need to take into consideration
the seven suitabilities. These external things are
1. residence
2. village where one seeks for food
3. conversation
4. company
5. food
6. season, and
7. postures.
We can consider
how these can influence our concentration and hence select the one
which is conducive.
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