The Word of the Buddha Contemplation of Mind
The Word of the BuddhaIV. The Path that Leads to the Extinction of Suffering
3. Observing the Mind
And how does a bhikkhu dwell observing the mind in and of itself?
Here, a bhikkhu discerns a mind with passion as ‘a mind with passion’; discerns a mind free from passion as ‘a mind free from passion’; discerns a mind with aversion as ‘a mind with aversion’; discerns a mind free from aversion as ‘a mind free from aversion’; discerns a confused mind as ‘a confused mind’; discerns a mind free from confusion as ‘a mind free from confusion’; discerns a dull mind as ‘a dull mind’; discerns a scattered mind as ‘a scattered mind’; discerns an exalted mind as ‘an exalted mind’; discerns a mind that is not exalted as ‘a mind that is not exalted’; discerns an inferior mind as ‘an inferior mind’; discerns an unsurpassed mind as ‘an unsurpassed mind’; discerns a collected mind as ‘a collected mind’; discerns a distracted mind as ‘a distracted mind’; discerns a liberated mind as ‘a liberated mind’; discerns a mind that is not liberated as ‘a mind that is not liberated.’
Thus, he dwells observing the mind in and of itself internally, or he dwells observing the mind in and of itself externally, or he dwells observing the mind in and of itself both internally and externally. He dwells observing the arising nature in the mind, or he dwells observing the going-away nature in the mind, or he dwells observing both the arising and going-away nature in the mind. Or else, mindfulness that ‘there is a mind’ is simply established in him to the extent necessary for knowledge and remembrance. He dwells independent and does not cling to anything in the world.
In this way, a bhikkhu dwells observing the mind in and of itself.
Last updated on October 20, 2026