What to Train when Mind is High and Alert?
The Blessed Buddha once explained:
On any occasion, Bhikkhus, when mind is excited and high, then it is time
for training the
Tranquillity
Link to Awakening, the
Concentration
Link
to Awakening, and the
Equanimity
Link to Awakening. Why is it so?
Because when the mind is excited and high, Bhikkhus, then it is easy to
calm it down with exactly those mental states...
Imagine, Bhikkhus, a man wants to extinguish a great fire. If he throws
wet grass, wet cow-dung, wet timber into it, sprays it with water, and
scatters soil over it, would he be able to extinguish that great bonfire?
Yes, Venerable Sir.
Even so here, Bhikkhus, on any occasion, when the mind is excited and high,
then it is convenient to train & develop the
Tranquillity
Link to Awakening,
the
Concentration
Link to Awakening, & the
Equanimity
Link to Awakening.
Why is it so? Because when the mind is excited and high, Bhikkhus, then it
is easy to calm it down & still it with the qualities of exactly those states!
Awareness, however, Bhikkhus, I tell you, is always useful & good to train!
Ultra Aware and Alert, but not
the least Agitated!
On
the training these condensing mental
abilities:
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Tranquillity_Passaddhi.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Concentration_Samadhi.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Equanimity_Upekkha.htm
Sources (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha.
Samyutta Nikāya.
Book [V:
114-5] 46: Links. 53: Fire....
Agitation and Irritation can be
converted into Advantageous
Alertness!
