Right Concentration is the final step of the noble eightfold path. Though it is the last step in a sequence of 8, it is by far the most complicated.
The practice of concentrating on something is arguably the same as critically meditating on everything in one’s life while engaging in it. Having the right concentration in a sense is a reiteration of having the “right mindfulness” taken to next level. During this whole week I have tried many activities that required me focusing on one thing at a time, rather than dividing my attention and concentration. Watching three hours of Boy Meets World on Monday really reaffirmed my hopeless romanticism. Reading a Clash of Kings interested me to a certain event (40% done with book 2 of the game of thrones series). I had a rather interesting conversation with some Jehovah’s witnesses this week as well. Though many people would simply just send the people away, I actually engaged in a conversation with them detailing my continued search for the right religion. Though it’s easy to focus attention on certain activities such as playing Scrabble, I truly believe a good thing can come out of a profound concentration on a person when you are speaking to them. Having a “deep conversation” so to speak reaffirms a friendship, and reaffirms one’s belief to a great extent. All week long I also had to run at the detention room at Katella. Even though I hated doing it when I first transferred schools under the Y, I now have learned very successful classroom behavior management strategies. A student that was disruptive one day who stormed out apologized me the next day. I truly believe I can have a positive impact on these students at the end of the day, despite shortcomings that might arise in the process.
Part of having the “right concentration” requires letting go of certain desires and thoughts. I have retroactively let go of certain desires this week in an effort to free myself from attachments that might be negative to my well-being in the present and the future.
To attain right mindfulness, I need to let go of both “bliss” and “suffering”. I can easily point out, as provided below, my sources of happiness in the world:
At the end of the day no matter how much I appear to be attached to the material attachments in life, I would sacrifice them to protect my abstract attachments. Material attachments remain a supplement to the abstract attachments one has in life (family, friends, love, etc.). Happiness is truly an internal state of mind. The attachments one has in life can enhance one’s chances of achieving that state of “Nirvana” so to speak. What I inevitably learned the past 8 weeks is that suffering is a natural part of life. In order to overcome suffering we must rid ourselves of our attachment to certain possessions. While I do largely believe material attachments are a bad thing (driven by our consumer society), I do think having the right abstract attachments are essential in life. What’s the point of living if we don’t have certain people we hold onto for happiness?
It’s true that suffering will come based on attachments to certain people, because everyone has to face death at one point or another in their lives. Still, the fact that we care so much when someone close to us passes away is a clear sign that we are still human. Perhaps if I ever reached Enlightenment I would be able to let go of those attachments, but until then I’ll always be playing this song to the people I have lost over the course of my life.
This song is dedicated not only to the people who have died around me, but also to the people I’ve lost contact with over the course of my entire life. I just wish everybody knew I cherish my time, friendship, and memories with all those who have made an impact in my life. Though our paths are no longer connected, I just wish you could all see me now.
Because I can’t possibly reach Enlightenment even after tackling all of the Eightfold Path, I will humbly give myself a C.
Next week: Honesty
