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Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

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ON DISTINGUISHING CONCENTRATIONCHAPTER THE FOURTHQ. Now, what should the yogin who dwells in pure virtue do, when hehas already observed the austerities and has reached an excellent station ?A, Let him bring out concentration.Q. What is concentration? What is its salient characteristic? What isits function? What is its manifestation? What is its near cause? Whoobserves it? What differences are there between meditation, freedom, concentrationand right observance ? How many are the causes which produceconcentration? How many states are obstacles to progress in concentration?How many benefits <strong>of</strong> concentration are there? What are the requisites <strong>of</strong>concentration? How many kinds <strong>of</strong> concentration are there? What is thebringing out <strong>of</strong> concentration?MEANING OF CONCENTRATIONA. Concentration means that one has purity <strong>of</strong> mind, endeavours steadfastly,dwells with the truth having the benefit <strong>of</strong> tranquillity and is notdistracted. This is called concentration.And again, it means not allowing one's mind to be bent by the strongwind <strong>of</strong> passion. It is comparable to the unflickering flame <strong>of</strong> the lampbehind the palace.It is said in the Abhidhamma thus: "What fixes the mind aright, causes itto be not dependent on any, causes it to be unmoved, undisturbed, tranquillizedand non-attached, and rightens the faculty <strong>of</strong> concentration and the power<strong>of</strong> concentration [407] is called concentration." 1SALIENT CHARACTERISTIC ETC.What are its salient characteristic, function, manifestation and nearcause? Dwelling <strong>of</strong> mind is its salient characteristic; overcoming <strong>of</strong> hatredis its function; tranquillity is its manifestation; non-association with defilementand the mind obtaining freedom are its near cause.Who observes concentration? Namely, he who maintains the mindand the mental properties in a state <strong>of</strong> equilibrium. It is like the hand whichholds a pair <strong>of</strong> scales evenly.The even practice <strong>of</strong> mindfulness and energy is concentration. It iscomparable to the evenness <strong>of</strong> oil in an oiled bowl. Equilibrated thought,1. In his <strong>Vimuttimagga</strong> and Visuddhimagga, p. 26, Pr<strong>of</strong>. Dr. P. V. Bapat has traced thispassage to Vbh. 217: Yd cittassa thiti santhiti avatthiti avisdharo avikkhepo avisdhatamdnasatdsamatho samddhindriyam samddhibalam sammdsamddhi: ay am vuccati samddhi.39

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