Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 69because of their auspicious sign. Why? A walker in passion is not good atappreciating the auspicious sign. It (the practice of the four immeasurablesby a walker in passion) is comparable to a man affected of a disorder of phlegmpartaking of very rich food that is harmful to him.A walker in hate should not practise the ten perceptions of putrescence,because of the arising of resentment-perception. A walker in hate is notgood at appreciating it and is comparable to a man with a bilious ailmentpartaking of hot drinks and food which are harmful to him.A walker in infatuation, who has not gathered wisdom, should not workat any subject of meditation, because of his lack of skill. Owing to lack ofskill, his efforts will be fruitless. It (the practice of meditation by a walkerin infatuation) is comparable to a man who rides an elephant without a goad.A walker in passion should practise the perception of impurity andmindfulness of body, because these help overcome lust.A walker in hate should practise the four immeasurables, because thesehelp overcome hatred. Or he should practise colour kasina, because hismind attends to such.A walker in faith should practise the six recollections beginning withrecollection of the Buddha. Then his faith will gain fixity.A walker in intelligence should practise the determining of the fourelements, the perception of the foulness of food, recollection of death andrecollection of peace because he is profound.And again, a walker in intelligence is not debarred from working at anysubject of meditation.A walker in excogitation should practise mindfulness of respiration,because it eradicates discursive thought. 1A walker in infatuation should make inquiries regarding the Law, shouldhear expositions of the Law in due season, with reverential mind, and shouldhonour the Law. He should live with his teacher. He should heap upwisdom and should practise what pleases him of the thirty-eight subjects ofmeditation. Recollection of death and the determining of the four elementsare specially suited to him.And again, there is another teaching: "When I investigate the subjectsof meditation, I see their distinctive qualities. The six persons may, throughdiscernment, be reduced to three".Q. If that be so, will there be difficulties at the beginning?A. There are two kinds of men who walk in passion, namely, (the man)of dull faculties and (the man) of keen faculties. A walker in passion whohas dull faculties should practise the investigation of impurity in order toovercome lust. Thus he should practise and overcome lust.1. A. I, 449: Cetaso vikkhepassa pahdnaya dndpdnasati bhdvetahbd.