Bhikkhus, possessing three qualities, a bhikkhu is practicing the unmistaken way and has laid the groundwork for the destruction of the taints. What three? Here, a bhikkhu guards the doors of the sense faculties, observes moderation in eating, and is intent on wakefulness.
You shouldn't chase after the past or place expectations on the future. What is past is left behind. The future is as yet unreached. Whatever quality is present you clearly see right there, right there. Not taken in, unshaken, that's how you develop...
Clearly seeing that which is present without grasping with wrong view.
One should use that very intelligence to think good thoughts
According to theravadin comy: a good thought deserves to be distinguished [as a good state] on three grounds;
For it fabricates a good state; from the maturity of the faculties it involves; and from the remoteness of mental and moral infirmity which it implies.
The power of concentration is supported by the other 4 spiritual faculties
- wisdom which is knowledge, understanding, right views, non confusion, etc
- effort which is striving, exertion of effort and non complacency
- mindfulness which is rememberence, the opposite of obliviousness
- conviction which is the approving and being agreement
A person has some dominant faculties and some need more work.
Also take for instance a sotapanna, his wisdom faculty is fully developed but he has work to do in regards to concentration, he becomes distracted due to his conditioning and has work to do in regards to that heedlessness.
My advice is to focus on the basics and build on that rather than trying to do some special meditative absorbtions for a start.
I don't think anybody knows what you can and can't achieve but i think we will agree that you can do good for yourself and grow in that.
I would also advise to learn a lot and try developing many practices outlined in the texts; this will make your training versatile and easier to balance. Then you could ie train short sessions of this or that contemplation development & often reflect on healthy themes.
Eventually due to that frequent giving of attention your mind will be inclined to think along those lines and the wrong thought pathways will eventually get the atrophy.
My opinion is that having strong good wits is more important that meditative absorbtion in general.
Sir, I’m not all right, I’m not getting by. My pain is terrible and growing, not fading, its growing is evident, not its fading.”
“I hope you don’t have any remorse or regret?”
“Indeed, sir, I have no little remorse and regret.”
“I hope you have no reason to blame yourself when it comes to ethical conduct?”
“No sir, I have no reason to blame myself when it comes to ethical conduct.”
“In that case, Assaji, why do you have remorse and regret?”
“Sir, before my time of illness I meditated having completely stilled the physical process. But now I can’t get immersion. Since I can’t get immersion, I think: ‘May I not decline!’”
“Assaji, there are ascetics and brahmins for whom samādhi is the essence, equating immersion with the ascetic life. They think: ‘May we not decline!’
What do you think, Assaji? Is form permanent or impermanent?”
“Impermanent, sir.” …
“Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?” …
“So you should truly see … Seeing this … They understand: ‘… there is no return to any state of existence.’
