One Who Is Constantly Dedicated

But, Monks, if a sensual thought, a thought of ill will, or a thought of harming arises in a Monk while walking, and he does not tolerate it but abandons it, dispels it, terminates it, and obliterates it, then that Monk is said to be dedicated and to have moral concern of wrongdoing; he is constantly and continuously energetic and determined while walking.

If a sensual thought, a thought of ill will, or a thought of harming arises in a Monk while standing, and he does not tolerate it but abandons it, dispels it, terminates it, and obliterates it, then that Monk is said to be dedicated and to have moral concern of wrongdoing; he is constantly and continuously energetic and determined while standing.

If a sensual thought, a thought of ill will, or a thought of harming arises in a Monk while sitting, and he does not tolerate it but abandons it, dispels it, terminates it, and obliterates it, then that Monk is said to be dedicated and to have moral concern of wrongdoing; he is constantly and continuously energetic and determined while sitting.

If a sensual thought, a thought of ill will, or a thought of harming arises in a Monk while wakefully lying down, and he does not tolerate it but abandons it, dispels it, terminates it, and obliterates it, then that Monk is said to be dedicated and to have moral concern of wrongdoing; he is constantly and continuously energetic and determined while wakefully lying down.

(Reference: AN 4.11)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares Teachings connecting multiple steps from The Eight Fold Path together, helping a Practitioner learn how to apply these Teachings in daily life.

Right Intention is to practice relinquishment (letting go), non-ill-will, and harmlessness.

Right Effort is to apply effort to eliminate unwholesome qualities of mind and arise wholesome qualities of mind.

Right Mindfulness is to have awareness of mind by practicing The Four Foundations of Mindfulness.

Right Concentration is to practice “singleness of mind” focusing on one task at a time.

Detailed explanation of The Eight Fold Path is available in this same book series found in Chapter 5 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).

When The Buddha shares this Teaching, he is explaining how a Practitioner should apply all four (4) of these steps of The Eight Fold Path in daily life to eliminate discontentedness from the mind. A Practitioner will need to train in meditation on a daily basis but they will also need to apply The Eight Fold Path in daily life throughout the day to actively train the mind. This Teaching is explaining the work to be done outside of meditation in order to eliminate discontentedness.

“But, Monks, if a sensual thought, a thought of ill will, or a thought of harming arises in a Monk while walking, and he does not tolerate it but abandons it, dispels it, terminates it, and obliterates it, then that Monk is said to be dedicated and to have moral concern of wrongdoing; he is constantly and continuously energetic and determined while walking”.

Right Mindfulness or awareness of mind is to be “aware” of the arising “sensual thought, a thought of ill will, or a thought of harming” by observing The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (bodily sensations, feelings, condition of mind, or mental objects).

Right Effort is to apply the effort to eliminate the unwholesome qualities and arise the wholesome qualities of mind (i.e. “he does not tolerate it but abandons it, dispels it, terminates it, and obliterates it”) practicing Right Intention.

Right Concentration is to have focus and clarity of mind being “dedicated and to have moral concern of wrongdoing; he is constantly and continuously energetic and determined”.

Through learning and practicing all the steps of The Eight Fold Path, a Practitioner is able to train the mind to attain Enlightenment eliminating 100% of all discontent feelings from the mind.

Detailed explanation of moral wrongdoing and moral concern is available in this same book series found in Chapter 25 of the book “Generosity” (Volume 13).