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The Exposition of a Summary: Neither Scattered Outside nor Stuck Inside
Training the mind

The Exposition of a Summary: Neither Scattered Outside nor Stuck Inside

Uddesavibhaṅgasuttaṃ

The Buddha gives a brief teaching: one should examine so that consciousness is not scattered externally, not stuck internally, and, not clinging, is not agitated. Mahākaccāna then explains in detail what each part means.

6 points

In the Uddesavibhaṅga Sutta of the Majjhima Nikāya, the Buddha gives a brief summary: a monk should examine in such a way that, as he examines, his consciousness is not distracted and scattered externally, not stuck internally, and by not clinging he is not agitated. When that is so, there is no further arising of birth, ageing, death and the origin of suffering. Having said this, he enters his dwelling.

The monks do not understand it in detail, so they ask Mahākaccāna to explain. He divides it into three topics — consciousness scattered externally, consciousness stuck internally, and agitation through clinging — together with the opposite of each.

When the monks report to the Buddha, he praises Mahākaccāna as wise and of great wisdom, saying that if they had asked him, he would have explained it in the same way.

  1. 1

    The Buddha's brief summary Uddesavibhaṅgasuttaṃ

    A monk should examine so that consciousness is not scattered externally, not stuck internally, and by not clinging he is not agitated. Then there is no further arising of birth, ageing, death and the origin of suffering.

    Applying it in daily life

    Use it as a quick mind-check during the day: is my mind running outwards, stuck inside, or agitated because I'm clinging to something?

  2. 2

    Consciousness scattered externally Rūpanimittānusāri

    Mahākaccāna explains that when one sees a form with the eye, consciousness follows the sign of the form, tied and bound by gratification in that sign. This is called consciousness scattered externally; likewise with ear, nose, tongue, body and mind. If consciousness does not follow the sign, it is called not scattered.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you see a product or post you like, notice the moment your mind starts running after that image, and come back to simply knowing that you saw it.

  3. 3

    The mind stuck internally Ajjhattaṃ saṇṭhitaṃ

    A monk attains the first jhāna, but his consciousness follows the rapture and pleasure born of seclusion, tied and bound by gratification in it. This is called the mind stuck internally. In the second, third and fourth jhānas, one can likewise be stuck on the rapture and pleasure, the pleasure, or the neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling of that jhāna. If one attains them without following after these, the mind is not called stuck internally.

    Applying it in daily life

    If a meditation session feels peaceful, don't set a goal of getting the same feeling tomorrow. Know that peace as you would anything else that arises and passes.

  4. 4

    Agitation through clinging Upādāparitassanā

    An uninstructed ordinary person regards form as self, self as possessing form, form as in self, or self as in form. When that form changes, his consciousness becomes preoccupied with the change; agitation arises and takes hold of his mind, so that he is frightened, distressed, anxious and agitated through clinging. Likewise with feeling, perception, formations and consciousness.

    Applying it in daily life

    When a health check or your body changes, notice that part of the worry comes from taking it as "this is me", not only from the information itself.

  5. 5

    Not clinging, not agitated Anupādā aparitassanā

    A well-instructed noble disciple does not regard the aggregates as self in any way. When they change, his consciousness is not preoccupied with the change, agitation does not take hold of his mind, and he is not frightened, distressed or agitated, because he does not cling.

    Applying it in daily life

    When something you considered yours changes — a job title, your physical strength — accept the facts and deal with the causes, without letting it define who you are.

  6. 6

    Asking the learned, then confirming with the Buddha Paṇḍito mahākaccāno

    When the monks report the explanation, the Buddha says Mahākaccāna is wise and of great wisdom; had they asked him, he would have explained it just as Mahākaccāna did, and they should remember it so.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you don't understand a brief teaching, ask someone well studied, then check it against the original source, rather than guessing the meaning yourself.

Try it in daily life

This discourse points to two traps of the mind. One is the mind running after what it sees and hears until it is scattered. The other is that, once the mind is calm, it gets stuck on that calm or pleasure itself.

People who meditate usually know the first trap well but overlook the second. Knowing that the pleasure of concentration can also become something to cling to helps keep practice balanced, without chasing pleasant experiences.

The point about agitation applies every day. When our body, feelings or thoughts change, a mind that takes them as self is shaken along with them; a mind that doesn't cling can register the change without being swallowed by it.

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