Vipassana Meditation : Lectures On Insight Meditation by Venerable

unpleasant feeling, he will no longer be aware of himself or his bodily form.What he realizes at that moment is just the painful sensation and the mind thatnotes it. He can differentiate between the sensation and the mind that notes it.He does not identify the pain with himself, so the pain does not disturb hisconcentration. It is like a 'friend'. Therefore, mindfulness is everything, thesource of every achievement. Though you know it theoretically, you shouldalso know it practically. By means of mindfulness, you can turn an 'enemy' intoa 'friend'. A mindful meditator has no enemies at all in the world. Allphenomena are 'friends' because they are conducive to the attainment ofinsight or enlightenment - the cessation of all suffering.The Fifth Way is that a meditator must remember the way in which heattained deep concentration. He must remember that way and practice itrepeatedly using that acquired skill to enable him to attain deep concentration.The Sixth Way is that a meditator must develop the seven Factors ofEnlightenment (bojihanga). You must develop the seven bojjhangas, as andwhen they are needed, they are: mindfulness, investigation of states, energy,happiness, tranquility, concentration and equanimityThe Seventh Way is that you must not be worried about your body or yourLife. Sometimes a meditator who strives very hard in this meditation from fourin the morning till nine or ten at right without rest, fears he may become weak.He worries and thinks that if he continues to exert in that way for a month, hemay die of fatigue or some illness. Thus he will not make sufficient effort in hispractice and his mindfulness will not be constant, continuous and sustained.When mindfulness is interrupted, it cannot cause deep concentration to arise.When concentration is weak, insight knowledge of the true nature of bodilyand mental processes will not unfold. That is why the text says that to sharpenthese Five Mental Faculties, you must not be concerned about your body andhealth. Strive to the utmost, practice strenuously for the whole day withouttaking a rest or a break, without concern for the body.The Eighth Way is that whenever mental or physical pain arises, youshould strive to note it by putting more effort into your practice. When painarises, there is a tendency or desire to change position so that it will disappearbecause you are reluctant to note it. Instead, you must put more effort intoyour practice to overcome the pain by being aware of it more energetically,attentively and precisely. Then the pain will become your 'friend' because itenables you to attain deep concentration and clear insight.The Ninth Way is that you must not stop half-way to your goal. It meansthat you must not stop your practice of mindfulness meditation until youachieve Arahantship. Because of your eagerness to achieve Arahantship, youwill put proper effort in the practice thereby making these Five MentalFaculties strong and powerful.42