Omaha Yoga Path Post

Fifty-one Mental Formations

Mental Formations

Currently in class we’ve been studying the Four Establishment of Mindfulness as taught by Buddha in the Satipatthana Sutta. We’ve come to the third establishment, which is observing “the mind in the mind”. In our readings and discussion we’ve run across reference to the 51 mental formations. This list of 51 is from the  Abhidharma teaching in the Pali Canon. Thich Nhat Hanh talks about these often when referring to manifestations of the mind or “mental formations”, but he seldom lists them. Jokingly he tells how as a novice he was made to memorize them, but in teaching he doesn’t go into detail about them.

However,  western students seem drawn to know what the list of 51 is. I guess we’re always looking for 12 steps or 7 effective habits to help us itemize and plan the changes in our lives. So as requested by many student of the Yoga Path and all other curious oblates here is the list of 51 mental formations.  It would be worthwhile to hear what insights come of reading and absorbing this list. Please comment.

5 Universals
contact
attention
feeling
perception
volition

5 Particulars
intention
determination
mindfulness
concentration
insight

11 Wholesome
faith
inner shame
shame before others
absence of craving
absence of hatred
absence of ignorance
diligence, energy
tranquility, ease
vigilance, energy
equanimity
non-harming

6 Primary Unwholesome
craving, covetousness
hatred
ignorance/confusion
Arrogance
doubt, suspicion
wrong view

20 Secondary Unwholesome
10 Minor Secondary Unwholesome
anger
resentment, enmity
concealment
maliciousness
jealousy
selfishness, parsimony
deceitful, fraud
guile
desire to harm
pride

2 Middle Secondary unwholesome
lack of inner shame
lack of shame before others

8 Greater Secondary Unwholesome
restlessness
drowsiness
lack of faith, unbelief
laziness
negligence
forgetfulness
distraction
lack of discernment

4 Indeterminate
regret, repentance
sleepiness
initial thought
sustained thought

10 Wholesome
(added by Thich Nhat Hanh)
non-fear
absence of anxiety
stability, solidity
loving kindness
compassion
joy
humility
happiness
feverlessness
freedom/sovereignty

3 Unwholesome
(added by Thich Nhat Hanh)
fear
anxiety
despair

• August 9th, 2012
• Posted in Education
• 3 Comments

Meditating Zombie

Meditating Zombie

One of the things that happens when practicing yoga is we calm the mind. I know that if I give myself to the practice, whether it be the poses or breathing or meditation, what starts to happen is that I can slow down enough that I can then stop thinking. Or at least thinking so much. But the operative phrase there is “stop thinking” . For many of us, this “stopping”  is the sticking point. The thought of not thinking How could we do such a thing? Many of us, myself included, have the notion that if we stop thinking, we would, by default, be thoughtless. Or to put it another way, stupid! We’d be unthinking louts walking around without discrimination or judgement. This thought is almost unconscious. Yet our intellect, our memories, our judgments is even more important to us then our faces and the bodies that carry them around. So if we stop thinking, we’d be nothing but some ambling zombie void of personality. So in the back of our meditating minds, being a successful meditator is equivalent to joining the cast of extras in Night of the Living Dead.
And this belief undercuts many of our best efforts to slow the mind down. Or even noticing the quality of our mind in the present moment. Yet sometimes this thinking isn’t all that lofty. Sometime it’s obsessing, worrying, remembering how your brother bullied you 25 years ago, reviewing a grocery list for the 17th time, wishing you had said what you really meant to say last week in that meeting, regretting your past, longing for a better future, wanting a different color car; the list goes on. The thinking mind is often like cable TV with 175 channels and nothing to watch. Wouldn’t it be nice at times to turn it off and rest?
I ran across this statement In Thich Nhat Hanh book: Breathe, You Are Alive!, ask yourself if you believe it? “When we think to much, the quality of our being is reduced. If we can stop thinking, we increase the quality of our being.”  When you read this, do you buy it? I know my busy, obsessive, thinking mind won’t allow such notion of stop thinking, but then when I practice my yoga, I find it’s true every time.

• July 26th, 2012
• Posted in Education
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What to Practice while Mark is gone

Intro Yoga Poses

Above is a link to file that lists most asanas that students at the Yoga Path would know. People have asked for a handout for these poses through the years, so in my teaching absence until July 1st, I’ve finally relented and am sharing them with you.

Remember the best way to set out to practice yoga is to only do 15 minutes a day, everyday. Sometimes these 15 minute practices turn into 30 minute or possibility an hour. Sometimes not. Doing your yoga everyday though, will bring a lot of health, joy, and peace! This is certain. So why would you deny yourself something that precious?

Remember the Five Friend of Practice:
Faith\Effort\Awareness\Concentration\Insight

• May 18th, 2012
• Posted in Education
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