Advice to beginners on the Buddhist path
Be gently aware as you go through your day. Try to be present, and notice when the mind is pulled away from the present moment.
Be aware of that pull and what is happening in the mind.
When it's possible to let go of these distractions, you may wish to let them go and come back into a full experience of 1) what's happening, and, 2) how the mind is relating to that.
In formal practice especially, you may notice that your mind can settle on the breath--or another object--and become even more relaxed, wakeful, and peaceful. We're not trying to force the mind to do this. Rather, by letting go of distractions as they arise we're allowing the mind to settle. The attitude is one of kindness and interest, always.
A fork in the road
At a certain point, you may notice that the mind is no longer restless or tempted away from the present moment. The mind is content to be with experience, in the present moment, just as it is. This is known as "access concentration" (although gatheredness might be a better term). It's a state in which the mind is at ease and independent. At this point you have some choices.
- You can continue to abide in and enjoy this gathered way of being, during which time it might deepen into bright and refreshing states of mind.
- Or you can open awareness to observe the arising and passing of phenomena such as feelings, thoughts, sounds, emotions, sights, all kinds of experience. This is contemplating impermanence, a major theme of Buddhist insight practice.
- You might also wish to investigate your experience in the light of another dharmic theme, such as noticing the arising and passing of the aggregates, or exploring emptiness, if your interest takes you there.
The important thing is to keep that subtle awareness throughout your day, to the extent that you can. This enables you to learn from experience, and not become fully lost in the thoughts, fantasies, grudges, fears, and other patterns that arise for all of us.
The perfect way is not difficult;
Just avoid getting caught up in preferences.
When you are free from aversion and craving,
It reveals itself fully and without disguise.
—Jianzhi Sengcan, Third Patriarch of Chan.