While internal exercises such as Tai Chi or Yoga have a strong emphasis on the mind, it is rare to exercise system that explicitly focuses on training ones mind. In simple terms training ones mind can be split in to three parts; ethics, meditative stability, and wisdom.
In all of the three major eastern medical sciences – Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Traditional Tibetan Medicine – the foundation for all other ideas is that illness is a result of what is referred to as “afflictive emotions”. At a more superficial level it is said that illness is caused by diet, behavior and environment.
By training our mind, we become realize that our food choices and related habitual patterns, our behavior and even the environment we are exposed to, are all results of the cause of afflictive emotions. We can all experience these emotions in form of pride, jealousy, anger, desire and fear. As a result, in some populations 1 in 4 are taking mind altering medication such as SSRI depressants.
Three Types of Mind Training
Ethics forms the basis of well functioning interpersonal relationships, and the wider society. Ethical conduct is based on understanding the effects of unethical behavior, and systematically learning to avoid it.
Meditative stability is the result of regular meditation practice, and can only be achieved through such practice as regular sitting meditation. Meditation reduces stress, increases cognitive ability, and helps train the mind to face even the most difficult things in life with calm and composure.
Wisdom is the result of deliberate study of philosophy, in a way where key points are studied in a manner where the most gross aspects are clearly understood first, and then gradually moving toward understanding the same points at a more subtle level.
“There is a most wonderful way to help living beings, overcome grief and sorrow, end pain and anxiety, travel the right path, and realise freedom from suffering. The practitioner goes to an empty room, sits down cross-legged and holds his body straight.”
The Historical Buddha
OBJECTIVE #4
Establish a daily meditation practice.