June 26, 2008
*Tricycle's Daily Dharma*
Judgment
A sensation appears, then liking or disliking begins. This fleeting
moment, if we are unaware of it, is repeated and intensified intocraving
and aversion, becoming a strong emotion that eventually overpowers the
conscious mind. We become caught up in the emotion, and all our better
judgment is swept aside. The result is that we find ourselves engaged in
unwholesome speech and action, harming ourselves and others. We create
misery for ourselves, suffering now and in the future, because of
onemoment of blind reaction.
But if we are aware at the point where the process of reaction
begins--that is, if we are aware of the sensation--we can choose not to
allow any reaction to occur or to intensify . . . in those moments the
mind is free.
Perhaps at first these may be only a few moments in a meditation period,
and the rest of the time the mind remains submerged in the old habit of
reaction to sensations, the old round of craving, aversion, and misery.
But with repeated practice those few brief moments will become seconds,
will become minutes, until finally the old habit of reaction is broken,
and the mind remains continuously at peace. This is how suffering can be
stopped.
- S. N. Goenka, /The Art of Living/
From /Everyday Mind/, a /Tricycle/ book edited by Jean Smith
