Happiness is a state of mind. What happens when this state becomes immovable. What happen when our inner peace during our formal meditation session becomes immovable?

If we can sustain these results of our practice, it means we have made some progress in our practice.

For serious practitioners, they even welcome challenges and adversity with open arms. This is because challenging situations in life is a test of their practice.

It is easy to remain calm and peaceful when we are in the company of good peaceful people. How we react in a tense situation is a real indication of our progress.

So how do we lessen our habitual reaction. The state is aptly summed by a Buddhist master as follows

对境无心

Let there be no mental distirbance towards situations. It is like ‘no comments’ to everything in our mind.

That means we do not allow our mind to become distracted, agitated, elated etc towards the various situations that is happening around us. We are mindful of thoughts and views arising. We are aware of emotions and feelings arising. But we do not let our mind goes out of control.

We observe and we let go.

This doesn’t mean we become heartless or thoughtless. We just do not allow our mind to engage in discursive thought flows where one idea leads to another. We train the monkey mind to rest. To find peace.

Chanting a mantra mentally helps. We just focus on a mantra like Om Mani Padme Hum or Namo Amituofo. It is in the background in our mind. It is like an anchor that prevents our mind from being swept off by the winds of discursive thoughts.

For practitioner of meditation, we can also be mindful of our breath. Or be mindful of our senses and its empty nature.

When our practice improves, we will find that our mind is stable and peaceful. Immovable.

Happiness and peace can be achieved through practice. Be a practicing Buddhist.

May all be well and happy.