2021-06-02 Kusala (8 of 10) Skillfulness

Insight Meditation Center13min

Gil Fronsdal

00:00

Let us continue our discussion of kusala this week – talking about it as a skill, and doing what is skillful.

Gil Fronsdal

00:28

The Buddha used lots of analogies of craftspeople, farmers and animal trainers to make similes, metaphors, or comparisons to developing of meditation skills along the path of liberation. Because all these similes have to do with craftspeople, farmers, musicians and animal trainers, elephant trainers, back in ancient India, the idea of skill seems a better translation than wholesome.

Gil Fronsdal

01:10

These two are closely connected. One of the skillful practices or skillful states is mindfulness practice. The simile for mindfulness practice is becoming a skilled cook – bringing together all the ingredients, bringing ourselves completely here. We are the pot, and we are bringing all these good qualities together. We are really here, cooking something really wonderful.

Gil Fronsdal

01:51

This idea that mindfulness is a wholesome, skillful practice – it is a craft we are developing. This suggests, it is something that develops slowly over time. The Buddha had this wonderful teaching: "When based on ethical conduct, established on ethical conduct, you develop the four foundations of mindfulness. Then, whether night or day, you may expect only growth in skillful states, not decline."

Gil Fronsdal

02:40

Mindfulness itself is considered to be a skillful "skill" to develop. As we develop this skill of mindfulness, it brings with it the development and growth of skillful states. We find another theme for this week is how much the Buddha emphasized personal growth, development and certain qualities that are helpful and good for us to have.

Gil Fronsdal

03:10

There are lots of lists in the early tradition of these skillful states, qualities of being. In fact, there are many more lists, enumerations, of skillful states than there are for unskillful states. It is as if there are relatively few unskillful or unwholesome movements of mind that we can have, and many different options for skillful ones. Unfortunately, we spend a lot of time with the ones that are the few, and do not explore the range of all the good qualities that we can develop and cultivate.

Processing audio...