The Practice Which leads to Nibbana - A Buddhist Library

that with wisdom as not-self (anatta). He applies this characteristiconce internally and then once externally repeatedly. While doingthis externally he gradually extends this perception from near tofar up till the extent of the unbounded universe.When the meditator can do this then he applies the threecharacteristics in a similar way to mentality. Firstly he discerns allthe mentality that occurs at the six sense doors. This includes theconsciousness and mental factors present in each moment of eachsense door process or v´thi and also the bhavaºga consciousnessthat occurs between v´this.Then he takes that mentality together as a group and paysattention to the arising and passing away of that mentality and thenviews that with wisdom as impermanent (anicca). He applies thischaracteristic once internally and then once externally repeatedly.While doing this externally he gradually extend this perceptionfrom near to far up till the extent of the unbounded universe.Then he again takes that mentality together as a group and paysattention to the pain and suffering that one has to constantlyexperience because of the arising and passing away of that mentalityand then view that with wisdom as suffering (dukkha). He appliesthis characteristic once internally and then once externallyrepeatedly. While doing this externally he gradually extends thisperception from near to far up till the extent of the unboundeduniverse.Then he again takes that mentality together as a group and paysattention to that mentality as empty of a permanent self and thenviews that with wisdom as not-self (anatta). He applies this characteristiconce internally and then once externally repeatedly. Whiledoing this externally he gradually extends this perception from nearto far up till the extent of the unbounded universe.w 29