The Practice Which leads to Nibbana - A Buddhist Library

soft, smooth, light, flowing, cohesion, hot, cold, supporting,pushing.6. Discarding what is unclear = anupaÊÊhŒnamu–canatoWhen you can discern all twelve characteristics and are trying todevelop calmness and concentration then you may temporarily leaveout those characteristics which are unclear. This is not advisable if itleads to pain or tension because of an imbalance of the elements.You also need to keep at least one characteristic for each one of thefour elements and you cannot just work on three, two, or oneelements. If all twelve characteristics are clear then that is the bestand you should not discard any.7. Discerning the characteristics = lakkhaöatoWhen you begin to meditate and the natural characteristics ofeach element are not clear then you can also pay attention to theirfunction. When the concentration gets better then you shouldconcentrate on the natural characteristics (sabhŒva lakkhaöa) ofeach of the four elements; the hardness and roughness of the earthelement, the flowing and cohesion of the water element, the hotnessand coldness of the fire element, and the supporting of the air element.At this point you will only see elements and see them as not a personor self.8. 9. and 10. These three suttas advise to balance the five faculties(indriyas) of faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration, andunderstanding; and to balance the seven factors of enlightenment.Please look them up for yourself: adhicitta sutta (nimitta sutta),aºguttara 1.p.258; anuttarasatibhava sutta, aºguttara 2.p.379;bojjhaºga sutta, sa×yutta 3.p.71-73.As you continue to develop concentration based upon the fourelements then when you begin to approach access (upacŒra)w 113