If you want to understand deeply about the meditation technique by chanting Buddhist Stanzas (Karmastana Sajjayana or Kamatahan or කර්මස්ථාන සජ්ජායනා) then follow along this video series.
Following Questions will be answered:
What is Metta meditation (Metta Chetho Vimukthi)?
Main Question:
Traditional Meditation is about uttering words which generates many thoughts. In that case is it better to spread just one “thought” of Metta so we can concentrate the mind on that better get it improved. So, the meditation will improve in to a stage of Mental Absorption (Dhyana)?
There are 13 parts to this video – So listen to all of them. Startting from #2816
The original question has some mis intepretations. However it questions about a very important, deep topic that leads towards Nibbana. In this case Waharaka Thero first clears the question and then covers the background knowlege in deep, before he answer to this question. That was very kind of him indeed. Otherwise if you only consider the core answer, it will not make sense to many.
This is a very deep question.
Following is a very vague, not so better translation…
..for English based search engines and Robots. Humans can reach the temple and listen to these from a live Bikku or a person who can explain, as these topics are deep, they are not easy to self interpret if you don’t have base understanding of Buddha Dhamma and it underlying technology.
What is Mind?
What are the associated parts of Mind? They are called Chitta and Chaitasica.
What ever the idea that a mind takes, the chaitasica takes the same idea. So you have to understand the nature of Citta and Chaitasica seperately.
Example: A family.
For the family to become improved and successful over time, every member of the family has to work together. Everybody has to work together to build family wealth.
This built wealth is a result of every body’s effort, but it is not any of those efforts as well. It’s a new generated “thing”.
The generated “thing” is a new thing. Taken seperately its not any of those individual parts/efforts that contributed to make that.
This is an example to understand Chitta and Chaitasica.
Chitta is the wealth generaed. Chaitasica are the helpers to build it.
Vinyapthi
What are Vachee Vinyapthi (Vaci Vinyapthi) , Kaya Vinyapthi and Manasicara?
Manasicara has the property of “isicara” (rotational/spinning power) giving birth to Vaci (wordly) and Kaya (bodily) Vinyapthi or words we talk and things we do.
Many Types of Chaitasica
(or Cetasica / Chaithasica / Chethasika — wow! there are many ways to spell… as long as message is clear)
- Touch (Sparsha Chaitasica) ස්පර්ශ
- Feel (Veadana Chaitasica) වේදනා
- Identify (Sanya Chaitasica) සංඥා
- Actions (Chetana Chaitasica) චේතනා
- Focus and Keep coming back to (Ekaggata Chaitasica) ඒකග්ගතා
- Life (Jeevita Indriya Chaitasica) ජීවිත ඉන්ද්රිය
- Mind-process (Manasicara Chaitasica) මනසිකාර
From above 7, generates a Vinyana (A mind)
What kind of Vinyana or What Kind of mind is generated? That is identified by the builders who got together to build it.
Definition of Mind
Mind is – Arammana Vijanana Lakkanan Cittan (The nature of identifying various different Citta’s is a Mind. It’s a nature.)
When we feel something that is one thing. The way we feel or the mechanism of “feel” is another thing. This is the difference.
What is Manendriya – මනේන්ද්රිය? Or the Thinking Muscle?
How the mind work when you recall memories of your mother? This is another example where Chiatasica collectively creating Minds. Eventually leading stronger emotions and even lead to create actions and visible changes in the body (like crying).
How such memories (non-solids / Nama) create tears (solids / Rupa)?
Recalling your own path of education.. or where you are today?
When you think, it creates supportive thoughts. So the same way when you think on Metta thoughts (Chaitasica) it creates powerful metta chitta (Mind).
When you think different thoughts, if they are all arranged into a simillar pattern, then it creates a collective force to generate more powerful results – as the “Wealth” in above example.
Chitta / Chaitasica / Rupa helps creates a samadhi chitta based on ingrediants heped to created it.
However, the result is not the ingredients.
Example: Growing a tree.
We apply fertilizer and water. With that, a tree grows. Tree is not fertilizer nor water.
Simillarly if you want a Metta Samadhi you have to give supportive ingredients to build it.
Similarly if you keep on building thoughts of anger or lust you will build a samadhi or a thought saturation of a powerful mind and a body that works with that.
This effect is called the “Charged by” effect – සිතුවිලි අනුව කය-චාර්ජ් වෙනවා [Ref: Abaya Thero]
2822 (In this series video tile 2822 has so important concepts as below)
04:00 What is the problem we have today? the problem in hand is our misunderstanding of Mind and Concentrated Mind. This is due to various misconceptions spread after Buddhas Pari-Nibbana (death).
2823
How to achieve Samadhi (Concentrated Mind)?
Can we concentrate mind to a one idea? Can that be done? No.
Then how to build a Metta Mind? Build with supportive builders or supportive Chaitasica.
Once build properly this is called Metta sahagatha Cheto Vimukthi or attaining to Nibbana through Metta.
According to the universal law of
Nama-Rupa Paccaya Vinyanan → Vinyana Paccaya Nama-Rupa
the mind leads to build words and body accordingly.
7:00 what kind of minds run-around? Raga or Lustful mind runs around (Monkey Mind)
2824
Lustful mind is like a frog, like a monkey.
You cant teach a frog to not to jump. It has to change within. The frog-nature has to be changed.
If you want to have super eye, you have to identify what kind of mind you need to build that.
What we have now, is like a mathematical table. We must learn how to solve the problem by using that.
Therefore, if we build minds with lustful thoughts (Chaitasica) then it results in a lustful mind (Raga-Vinyana) – by nature its like a frog/monkey. By nature runs around and unsettled. Restless.
Once you understand all this trouble is due to lustful thoughts and the greed within; you will look around to find a solution.
Buddha revealed the universal law of
Sankara Nirodho → Vinyana Nirodho
So you have to understandingly avoid any lustful thoughts, actions and words. When there is no food, the Frog becomes weak and will easily be tame and train.
07:00 What are the lustful thoughts, actions and words? How to avoid by avoiding Kaya Sankara, Vacii Sankara and Mano Sankara.
2825
How all these linked together?
Example: by a Wild Buffalo – scenario: How to tame and train a wild buffalo for useful work like farming.
Disclaimer:
If you did not understand the translation its my fault. In that case, please do approach and speak to a venerable + knowledgeable monk to get these concepts explained, if you feel like there is something beyond alms giving in Buddhism.