Sitting Meditation

One reason why the mind struggles to come to stillness

From the final column of the “Yu Nai Boon” Dhamma Journal

 


     

          Some people have been practicing meditation for a long time, yet they still haven't attained the inner Dhamma.One reason this happens is because the coarse aspects of their lives are still unsettled — such as time management, daily routines, and personal responsibilities that lack order and discipline.When the coarse matters are not in place, it becomes difficult to progress with the subtle ones.As long as outer affairs remain disorganized, the mind will carry lingering worries, concerns about the past and future — distractions that prevent the mind from becoming centered in meditation.If the coarse is not in harmony, the subtle cannot come to stillness at the center.


     

           A Simple Way to Settle Outer Affairs for Inner Stillness Managing the coarse matters in life can be made simple: we must train ourselves to be clean, orderly, polite, and punctual.If we cultivate these four habits until they become part of our nature, the coarse aspects of life will settle into harmony with ease.When everything around us is tidy, we won’t feel irritated or frustrated. When we speak politely, we are less likely to provoke anger or conflict with others.When we dress modestly, we reduce the chances of violating the third precept.When we are punctual and keep our word, we won’t need to make excuses or lie — which helps us avoid falling into the habit of deceit without realizing it.As our daily routines and external actions fall into order, the subtle aspect — the mind — begins to settle at the center.During meditation, the heart can unify more easily at the center of the body.The mind becomes free from worry, less distracted and scattered, allowing it to come to stillness more naturally.When this happens, attaining Dhamma becomes truly simple.