August 25, 1957 – A profound teaching on the necessity of unwavering intention in spiritual practice was delivered by the Venerable Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo, translated from Thai by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. This discourse, now published by Tricycle, underscores the critical importance of aligning one’s actions with one’s stated aspirations, particularly within the demanding path of Buddhist meditation and ethical conduct. Ajaan Lee posits that a lack of genuine commitment is not merely a personal failing but a form of self-deception with far-reaching detrimental consequences, akin to a child deceiving their parents about attending school.
The Peril of Divided Intentions
Ajaan Lee begins by drawing a stark analogy: an individual who resolves to undertake a specific action but then deviates entirely from that course renders their initial resolve futile. Such a person, he argues, is "stupid—an ingrate to himself, a traitor to himself." He elaborates on this with the image of a child who claims to be going to school but instead indulges in leisure activities like watching a movie. The parents, unaware of the deception, remain under the impression that their child is engaged in their studies. This deceit, Ajaan Lee explains, harms the child in four distinct ways: first, it incurs negative karma by betraying the parents’ trust; second, it squanders the financial investment made for tuition; third, it perpetuates ignorance, preventing the acquisition of knowledge; and fourth, it leads to a tragic waste of time, as the child, potentially becoming a parent themselves, remains illiterate and ill-equipped for life.
This principle, Ajaan Lee asserts, directly translates to the spiritual aspirant. When one engages in meditation practice but their mind is not fully present—wandering to thoughts of home, family, or unrelated matters—the intended benefits of stillness and concentration are lost. The eyes may be closed in meditation, but the mind is actively seeking distractions, engaging in "fun with different kinds of preoccupations." This mental wandering, even to seemingly innocuous distractions like interacting with animals, mirrors the child’s deception and results in similar fourfold harm.
- Deceiving the Teacher: The practitioner misleads their teacher, claiming to pursue concentration while not genuinely applying themselves.
- Wasted Effort: The teacher expends considerable energy and wisdom imparting teachings that yield no tangible results due to the student’s lack of focused effort.
- Perpetuated Ignorance: The practitioner remains unenlightened, unable to articulate or demonstrate progress in their practice, potentially reflecting poorly on their teacher.
- Spiritual Poverty at Death: Upon death, the individual faces suffering and hardship, lacking the inner wealth and wisdom cultivated through dedicated practice, thus perpetuating the cycle of rebirth without progress towards Nirvana.
The Four Bases of Success: A Framework for Genuine Practice
Ajaan Lee then introduces the "four bases for success" (cattāro iddhipādā) as the essential components for cultivating genuine intent and achieving desired outcomes in practice. These are:
- Chanda (Desire, Enthusiasm, Zeal): This is the foundational element, characterized by liking what one is doing. In meditation, this means finding contentment in mindful observation of the breath or chosen object of focus. It’s an active engagement, not a passive resignation.
- Viriya (Effort, Persistence, Energy): This involves unwavering persistence and the refusal to be discouraged. Even when faced with physical discomfort or mental hindrances, one must endure and continue applying effort. This is the engine of progress, preventing stagnation.
- Citta (Concentration, Mind, Will): This refers to dedicating one’s full mental faculties to the task at hand. It means avoiding superficial engagement and preventing the mind from drifting to extraneous thoughts. It is the focused application of awareness.
- Vimansa (Investigation, Discernment, Analysis): This is the crucial element of reflection and inquiry during practice. It involves contemplating what leads to a sense of peace and ease in both body and mind. This investigative aspect allows for refinement and deeper understanding of the practice’s effects.
Ajaan Lee likens the integration of these four factors to sitting on a chair with four sturdy legs. Such a chair is stable and secure, impervious to minor disturbances or even significant jostling. In contrast, a chair with only one or two legs is precarious and prone to collapse. Similarly, a mind grounded in these four bases of success becomes "fully solid and strong in the goodness of what you’re doing."
Cultivating Inner Resilience and Liberation
The benefits of this unwavering commitment and integrated practice extend far beyond the meditation cushion. Ajaan Lee asserts that when one’s mind is thus fortified, they can live with ease and equanimity, regardless of external circumstances. Whether in a monastery or at home, whether experiencing abundance or scarcity, whether engaged in strenuous work or minimal activity, the individual remains at ease. This inner stability culminates in the ability to face death without fear or suffering.
The text highlights a stark contrast in how such a state is perceived: "When anyone can do this, the devas clap their hands in joy. When anyone can’t, the devas screw up their faces, while Mara and his gang laugh and clap their hands because they’ve beat another of the Buddha’s disciples." This vivid imagery emphasizes the spiritual stakes involved, framing the choice between dedicated practice and spiritual complacency as a battle between forces of liberation and those of delusion.
The Refinement of Mind: From Hindrances to Enlightenment
Ajaan Lee further explains the process of self-refinement through "skillfulness and merit," which involves polishing one’s actions with virtue, concentration, and discernment. When the mind is trained through concentration to a state of tempered strength, it becomes "calm and cool, bright and gleaming." This cultivated mental state is likened to still water in a deep well or the clarity of the stars in the sky.
Crucially, this heightened state of awareness serves as a bulwark against the "hindrances" (nivaranas) that plague the untrained mind. These hindrances, such as sensual desire, ill-will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and worry, and doubt, are systematically overcome as the mind’s level of awareness ascends.
The analogy of ascending in altitude is used to illustrate this phenomenon: just as one feels cooler and can see further from a higher elevation, a mind that has ascended through concentration and discernment gains a broader perspective. From this elevated state, the practitioner can observe the "condition of human beings and animals, all the dangers and difficulties of life on the world beneath us." This profound insight fosters a deep concern for these dangers, creating a strong aversion to returning to the lower realms of existence.
The Apex of Awareness: Seeing Truth and Achieving Release
Ajaan Lee clarifies that the "high level" of the mind is not a literal physical elevation but a qualitative enhancement of awareness achieved through dedicated training in concentration and discernment. This heightened awareness grants the ability to perceive the intricate web of cause and effect governing all phenomena, distinguishing truth from falsehood.
The most profound consequence of this elevated awareness is the seeing of the "dangers of wandering on through death and rebirth." This realization leads to a profound sense of disenchantment with the ceaseless cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death, recognizing them as inherently painful and troublesome.
This profound seeing eradicates craving and attachment to sensory experiences and mental objects. The practitioner’s sole intent becomes the development of the heart, aiming for release from all defilements and mental fermentations. The ultimate goal, as articulated by Ajaan Lee, is to "won’t have to come swimming around through death and rebirth in the world ever again." This represents the culmination of the practice, the attainment of Nirvana, a state of profound peace and liberation from suffering.
The teachings of Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo, as translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu and published in "The Heightened Mind: Dhamma Talks," offer a timeless guide to the disciplined cultivation of intention and its transformative power. The message remains relevant for practitioners across traditions, emphasizing that genuine progress on the spiritual path is not a matter of mere attendance or superficial engagement, but of a deep, unwavering commitment to oneself and to the truth. The implications of this teaching are vast, suggesting that the fundamental cause of spiritual stagnation lies not in external obstacles but in the internal surrender to divided attention and a lack of resolute intent. By embracing the four bases of success, practitioners can build a robust inner foundation, navigate the complexities of life with equanimity, and ultimately achieve the profound liberation that lies at the heart of the Buddhist teachings.
