The Practice Which leads to Nibbana - A Buddhist Library

When a person wishes to develop a tranquillity object it is appropriateto have very strong faith. If a person thinks, ÒI will certainlyreach jhŒna if I develop concentration on the paÊibhŒga nimittaÓ thenby the power of that belief and by concentrating on the object of thepaÊibhŒga nimitta they will surely achieve jhŒna. This is becauseJhŒna is primarily based on concentration.For a person developing vipassanŒ it is appropriate that wisdombe strong because when wisdom is strong they will be able topenetratively see the three characteristics and achieve knowledgethat realises the three characteristics.When concentration and wisdom are balanced then lokiya jhŒna'scan arise and also because the Buddha has taught to develop bothtranquillity and insight together the lokuttara jhŒna can also onlyarise when concentration and wisdom are balanced.Mindfulness is always necessary in order to balance faith withwisdom, concentration with effort, and concentration with wisdom.Mindfulness is desirable in any circumstance because mindfulnessprotects the mind from falling into agitation because of an excess offaith, effort, or wisdom which would otherwise produce agitation.Mindfulness also protects the mind from falling into laziness becauseof an excess in concentration which would otherwise producelaziness.So that mindfulness is appropriate in all circumstances as a seasoningof salt in all sauces, as a prime minister in all the king's business.Hence it has been taught in the ancient commentaries that theBlessed One said, ÒMindfulness is always necessary in any meditationsubjectÓ. Why is that? It is because mindfulness is a refuge andprotection to the meditating mind. Mindfulness is a refuge becauseit helps the mind to arrive at the special and high states that it has notyet reached or known. Without mindfulness the mind is not capableof attaining any special and extraordinary states. Mindfulness pro-w 57