Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

This is the FULL DHAMMA SESSION, conducted on BAK POYA (16 April 2022) via zoom, on "TAMING THE MIND". We examine the Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta (MN 20), which is an important teaching by the Buddha on how to tackle blocks and challenges that come up in our meditation when we are intent on training in the higher mind (i.e. to enter and dwell in higher concentration)  

**Please note - this teaching from the Buddha is directed at intermediate to advanced meditators who have some experience in development of the mind, rather than beginners.**  

Our objective is to study the Buddha’s instructions on how to tame our mind and actively work with the signs that enable us to overcome any challenges that arise from unwholesome thoughts or states, see what might be preventing us from higher concentration, and figure out what makes us “wobble” or  where we find ourselves in some ways “kicked out” of those higher concentrated states, particularly in the initial stages of absorption.   

In this Dhamma session, we cover: 

• — Right Intention and development of the Noble Eightfold Path (including development of mind or bhāvitā cittā) 
• — Introduction to Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta (MN 20) 
• — What is meant by pursing the higher mind 
• — Understanding different kinds of unwholesome thoughts and the emphasis on abandoning them 
• — Examining the Buddha's reference to "mastery over the ways of thought" 
• — “Deep dive” into the five signs and similes when pursuing the higher mind 
• — Meditation / Contemplation  

Some of the suttas covered directly or indirectly in this session: 

• — Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (MN 117) 
• — Hārasampātabhūmi (Pe 7) 
• — Kalahavivādasuttaniddesa (Mnd 2/Mnd 11) 
• — Vajjiputta Sutta (AN 3.84) 
• — Paṭhamasikkhattaya Sutta (AN 3.89) 
• — Dutiyasikkhattaya Sutta (AN 3.90) 
• — Paṁsudhovaka Sutta (AN 3.101) 
• — Vitakka Sutta (Iti 80)  
• — Vassakāra Sutta (AN 4.35) 
• — Vatthūpama Sutta (MN 7) 
• — Karaṇīyametta Sutta (Snp 1.8)
• — Nimitta Sutta (AN 3.102) 
• — Cūḷakammavibhaṅga Sutta (MN 135) 
• — Katuviya Sutta (AN 3.128)  
• — Pamādavihārī Sutta (SN 35.97) 
• — Saṅgīti Sutta (DN 33) 
• — Puttamaṁsa Sutta (SN 12.63)
• — Suttavebhaṅgiya (Pe 9) 
• — Paṭiccasamuppāda Sutta (SN 12.1) 
• — Padhāna Sutta (AN 4.13) 
• — Saṁvara Sutta (AN 4.14) 
• — Sekha-patipadā Sutta (MN 53)  
• — Nagaropama Sutta (AN 7.67) 
• — Pāve­y­ya­ka­hatthi­vatthu (Dhp 327)   

Bohoma pin to the person who requested this talk.

A VIDEO of this FULL SESSION with presentation slides has been published to the Sutta Meditation Series YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI--iA79bMw

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai