Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

3.8.12 The Observation of Mind¹ - Comprehending its Quality and Character

     Again, Bhikkhus, how does a Bhikkhu dwell, observing mind in mind?

     Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu, understands properly mind with craving as mind with craving, he understands properly mind free from craving as mind free from craving, he understands properly mind with aversion as mind with aversion, he understands properly mind free from aversion as mind free from aversion, he understands properly mind with delusion as mind with delusion, he understands properly mind free from delusion as mind free from delusion, he understands properly collected mind as collected mind, he understands properly a scattered mind as scattered mind, he understands properly expanded mind as expanded mind, he understands properly unexpanded mind as unexpanded mind,¹⁶ he understands properly surpassable mind as surpassable mind, he understands properly unsurpassable mind as unsurpassable mind, he understands properly concentrated mind as concentrated mind, he understands properly unconcentrated mind as unconcentrated mind, he understands properly freed mind as freed mind, he understands properly not freed mind as not freed mind.

     Thus he dwells observing mind in mind internally, or he dwells observing mind in mind externally, or he dwells observing mind in mind both internally and externally. Thus he dwells observing the phenomenon of arising in the mind, thus he dwells observing the phenomenon of passing away in the mind, thus he dwells observing the phenomenon of arising and passing away in the mind. Now his awareness is established: “This is mind!” Thus he develops his awareness to such an extent that there is mere understanding along with mere awareness. In this way he dwells detached, without clinging towards anything in the world [of mind and matter]. This is how, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu dwells observing mind in mind.